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Al-Hawary SIS, Alsalamy A, Gupta R, Alsaab HO, Hjazi A, Edilboyev U, Ramadan MF, Hussien BM, Ahmed M, Hosseini-Fard SR. VAV3 in human cancers: Mechanism and clinical implication. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 248:154681. [PMID: 37467637 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) are primarily involved in signal transmission between cell membrane receptors and intracellular mediators. Upon replacing GDP with GTP, GEFs can alter their conformation, resulting in their binding to downstream effectors, such as GTPases like Ras homologous (Rho). VAV GEF family are versatile proteins working as an adaptor mediator and GEF for Rho GTPase. They act as a phosphorylation-dependent molecular switcher, fluctuating between active (tyrosine phosphorylated) and inactive (non-phosphorylated) conformation in cell signaling. Accumulating data showed that VAV3 is implicated in cancer progression. The higher levels of VAV3 in human cancers proposed that it may have an oncogenic role in cancer progression. Available studies demonstrated that VAV3 promoted cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), colony formation, cell cycle, survival, migration and invasion, and suppressed cell apoptosis. In addition, other studies indicated that VAV3 may have a prognostic value in cancer as well as it may act as a mediator in cancer chemoresistance. Here, we aimed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of VAV3 in cancer progression as well as to review its value as a prognostic biomarker and chemoresistance mediator in human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Alsalamy
- College of Engineering, Imam Ja'afar Al-Sadiq University, Al-Muthanna 66002, Iraq
| | - Reena Gupta
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Research, GLA University, District-Mathura, U.P., 281406, India
| | - Hashem O Alsaab
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Unarbek Edilboyev
- Department of Engineering Graphics and Design Theory, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, National Research University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
| | | | - Beneen M Hussien
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Muhja Ahmed
- Medical Technical College, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Seyed Reza Hosseini-Fard
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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2
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Badaoui M, Sobolewski C, Luscher A, Bacchetta M, Köhler T, van Delden C, Foti M, Chanson M. Targeting HuR-Vav3 mRNA interaction prevents Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion to the cystic fibrosis airway epithelium. JCI Insight 2023; 8:161961. [PMID: 36602863 PMCID: PMC9977432 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.161961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by chronic bacterial infections leading to progressive bronchiectasis and respiratory failure. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) is the predominant opportunistic pathogen infecting the CF airways. The guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav3 plays a critical role in Pa adhesion to the CF airways by inducing luminal fibronectin deposition that favors bacteria trapping. Here we report that Vav3 overexpression in CF is caused by upregulation of the mRNA-stabilizing protein HuR. We found that HuR accumulates in the cytoplasm of CF airway epithelial cells and that it binds to and stabilizes Vav3 mRNA. Interestingly, disruption of the HuR-Vav3 mRNA interaction improved the CF epithelial integrity, inhibited the formation of the fibronectin-made bacterial docking platforms, and prevented Pa adhesion to the CF airway epithelium. These findings indicate that targeting HuR represents a promising antiadhesive approach in CF that can prevent initial stages of Pa infection in a context of emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alexandre Luscher
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Thilo Köhler
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christian van Delden
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland
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3
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Li C, Yu S, Chen J, Hou Q, Wang S, Qian C, Yin S. Risk stratification based on DNA damage-repair-related signature reflects the microenvironmental feature, metabolic status and therapeutic response of breast cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1127982. [PMID: 37033959 PMCID: PMC10080010 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1127982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA damage-repair machinery participates in maintaining genomic integrity and affects tumorigenesis. Molecular signatures based on DNA damage-repair-related genes (DRGs) capable of comprehensively indicating the prognosis, tumor immunometabolic profile and therapeutic responsiveness of breast cancer (BRCA) patients are still lacking. Integrating public datasets and bioinformatics algorithms, we developed a robust prognostic signature based on 27 DRGs. Multiple patient cohorts identified significant differences in various types of survival between high- and low-risk patients stratified by the signature. The signature correlated well with clinicopathological factors and could serve as an independent prognostic indicator for BRCA patients. Furthermore, low-risk tumors were characterized by more infiltrated CD8+ T cells, follicular helper T cells, M1 macrophages, activated NK cells and resting dendritic cells, and fewer M0 and M2 macrophages. The favorable immune infiltration patterns of low-risk tumors were also accompanied by specific metabolic profiles, decreased DNA replication, and enhanced antitumor immunity. Low-risk patients may respond better to immunotherapy, and experience improved outcomes with conventional chemotherapy or targeted medicine. Real-world immunotherapy and chemotherapy cohorts verified the predictive results. Additionally, four small molecule compounds promising to target high-risk tumors were predicted. In vitro experiments confirmed the high expression of GNPNAT1 and MORF4L2 in BRCA tissues and their association with immune cells, and the knockdown of these two DRGs suppressed the proliferation of human BRCA cells. In summary, this DNA damage-repair-related signature performed well in predicting patient prognosis, immunometabolic profiles and therapeutic sensitivity, hopefully contributing to precision medicine and new target discovery of BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Cheng Qian
- *Correspondence: Cheng Qian, ; Shulei Yin,
| | - Shulei Yin
- *Correspondence: Cheng Qian, ; Shulei Yin,
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Correlation between DNA Methylation and Cell Proliferation Identifies New Candidate Predictive Markers in Meningioma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246227. [PMID: 36551712 PMCID: PMC9776514 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Meningiomas are the most common primary tumors of the central nervous system. Based on the 2021 WHO classification, they are classified into three grades reflecting recurrence risk and aggressiveness. However, the WHO's histopathological criteria defining these grades are somewhat subjective. Together with reliable immunohistochemical proliferation indices, other molecular markers such as those studied with genome-wide epigenetics promise to revamp the current prognostic classification. In this study, 48 meningiomas of various grades were randomly included and explored for DNA methylation with the Infinium MethylationEPIC microarray over 850k CpG sites. We conducted differential and correlative analyses on grade and several proliferation indices and markers, such as mitotic index and Ki-67 or MCM6 immunohistochemistry. We also set up Cox proportional hazard models for extensive associations between CpG methylation and survival. We identified loci highly correlated with cell growth and a targeted methylation signature of regulatory regions persistently associated with proliferation, grade, and survival. Candidate genes under the control of these regions include SMC4, ESRRG, PAX6, DOK7, VAV2, OTX1, and PCDHA-PCDHB-PCDHG, i.e., the protocadherin gene clusters. This study highlights the crucial role played by epigenetic mechanisms in shaping dysregulated cellular proliferation and provides potential biomarkers bearing prognostic and therapeutic value for the clinical management of meningioma.
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Wu X, Li Y, Zhang W, Zhang J, Chen B, Ge Z. RAC1, a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker for Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Cells 2022; 11:cells11244039. [PMID: 36552804 PMCID: PMC9776810 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene changes for diagnosis and prognosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) still remain unclear. RAC1 was reported to be asso;ciated with the B cell receptor signal pathway, but its relations with DLBCL have not yet been systematically explored. In this study, we have conducted molecular, bioinformatics and clinical analyses by using publicly available data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Wilcoxon signed-rank test and logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between RAC1 and clinical features in patients. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods were used to examine the impacts of RAC1 expression level on overall survival, and a nomogram was performed to illustrate the correlation between RAC1 and the risk of DLBCL. Our results revealed that the expression level of RAC1 in DLBCL was higher than that in normal tissues or lymphadenitis. High-level expression of RAC1 was significantly associated with clinical stage, as well as being an independent factor affecting overall survival. RAC1 was negatively correlated with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). The association between RAC1 gene expression and the risk of DLBCL was presented in a nomogram. In conclusion, RAC1 expression patterns may be used to predict the development and prognosis of DLBCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wu
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Hematology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Wandong Zhang
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Hematology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Baoan Chen
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Hematology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zheng Ge
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Hematology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-025-83262468
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Schäfer I, Bauch J, Wegrzyn D, Roll L, van Leeuwen S, Jarocki A, Faissner A. The guanine nucleotide exchange factor Vav3 intervenes in the migration pathway of oligodendrocyte precursor cells on tenascin-C. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1042403. [DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1042403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are the exclusive source of myelination in the central nervous system (CNS). Prior to myelination, OPCs migrate to target areas and mature into myelinating oligodendrocytes. This process is underpinned by drastic changes of the cytoskeleton and partially driven by pathways involving small GTPases of the Rho subfamily. In general, the myelination process requires migration, proliferation and differentiation of OPCs. Presently, these processes are only partially understood. In this study, we analyzed the impact of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Vav3 on the migration behavior of OPCs. Vav3 is known to regulate RhoA, Rac1 and RhoG activity and is therefore a promising candidate with regard to a regulatory role concerning the rearrangement of the cytoskeleton. Our study focused on the Vav3 knockout mouse and revealed an enhanced migration capacity of Vav3−/− OPCs on the extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein tenascin-C (TnC). The migration behavior of individual OPCs on further ECM molecules such as laminin-1 (Ln1), laminin-2 (Ln2) and tenascin-R (TnR) was not affected by the elimination of Vav3. The migration process was further investigated with regard to intracellular signal transmission by pharmacological blockade of downstream pathways of specific Rho GTPases. Our data suggest that activation of RhoA GTPase signaling compromises migration, as inhibition of RhoA-signaling promoted migration behavior. This study provides novel insights into the control of OPC migration, which could be useful for further understanding of the complex differentiation and myelination process.
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Bai Y, Zheng J, Cheng L, Liu Q, Zhao G, Li J, Gu Y, Xu W, Wang M, Wei Q, Zhang R. Potentially functional genetic variants of VAV2 and PSMA4 in the immune-activation pathway and non-small cell lung cancer survival. J Gene Med 2022; 24:e3447. [PMID: 36039727 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer ranks the highest mortality among cancers, represented by a low 5-year survival rate. The function of the immune system has a profound influence on the development and progression of lung cancer. Thus genetic variants of the immune-related genes may serve as potential predictors of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survival. METHODS In the present study, we conducted a two-stage survival analysis in 1,531 NSCLC patients and assessed the associations between genetic variants in the immune-activation gene-set and overall survival (OS) of NSCLC. The validated variants were further subjected to functional annotation and in vitro experiments. RESULTS We identified 25 SNPs spanning 6 loci associated with NSCLC OS after multiple-testing corrections in all datasets, in which two variants, PSMA4 rs12901682 A>C and VAV2 rs12002767 C>T were shown to potentially affect lung cancer OS by cis-regulating the expression of the corresponding genes [(HR (95% CI) = 0.76 (0.65-0.89) and 1.36 (1.12-1.65), P=4.29E-04 and 0.002, respectively)]. CONCLUSION Our findings provide new insights into the role of genetic variants in the immune-activation pathway genes in lung cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yushun Bai
- School of Public Health|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ji Zheng
- School of Public Health|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- Department of Pulmonary, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Genming Zhao
- School of Public Health|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingrao Li
- School of Public Health|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanzi Gu
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanghong Xu
- School of Public Health|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengyun Wang
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingyi Wei
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ruoxin Zhang
- School of Public Health|Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai, China
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8
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Nuclear Vav3 is required for polycomb repression complex-1 activity in B-cell lymphoblastic leukemogenesis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3056. [PMID: 35650206 PMCID: PMC9160250 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30651-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) results from oligo-clonal evolution of B-cell progenitors endowed with initiating and propagating leukemia properties. The activation of both the Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor (Rac GEF) Vav3 and Rac GTPases is required for leukemogenesis mediated by the oncogenic fusion protein BCR-ABL. Vav3 expression becomes predominantly nuclear upon expression of BCR-ABL signature. In the nucleus, Vav3 interacts with BCR-ABL, Rac, and the polycomb repression complex (PRC) proteins Bmi1, Ring1b and Ezh2. The GEF activity of Vav3 is required for the proliferation, Bmi1-dependent B-cell progenitor self-renewal, nuclear Rac activation, protein interaction with Bmi1, mono-ubiquitination of H2A(K119) (H2AK119Ub) and repression of PRC-1 (PRC1) downstream target loci, of leukemic B-cell progenitors. Vav3 deficiency results in de-repression of negative regulators of cell proliferation and repression of oncogenic transcriptional factors. Mechanistically, we show that Vav3 prevents the Phlpp2-sensitive and Akt (S473)-dependent phosphorylation of Bmi1 on the regulatory residue S314 that, in turn, promotes the transcriptional factor reprogramming of leukemic B-cell progenitors. These results highlight the importance of non-canonical nuclear Rho GTPase signaling in leukemogenesis. Ph+ and Ph-like B-ALL remain poor prognosis leukemias. VAV3, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is activated and overexpressed in these leukemias. Here the authors reveal that leukemic VAV3 is predominantly nuclear. Nuclear VAV3, through its guanine nucleotide exchange factor and its effector nuclear RAC2, controls the repressive transcriptional activity of the polycomb repression complex-1 via nuclear AKT/PHLPP2 regulated BMI1.
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Lorenzo-Martín LF, Menacho-Márquez M, Fernández-Parejo N, Rodríguez-Fdez S, Pascual G, Abad A, Crespo P, Dosil M, Benitah SA, Bustelo XR. The Rho guanosine nucleotide exchange factors Vav2 and Vav3 modulate epidermal stem cell function. Oncogene 2022; 41:3341-3354. [PMID: 35534539 PMCID: PMC9187518 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02341-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
It is known that Rho GTPases control different aspects of the biology of skin stem cells (SSCs). However, little information is available on the role of their upstream regulators under normal and tumorigenic conditions in this process. To address this issue, we have used here mouse models in which the activity of guanosine nucleotide exchange factors of the Vav subfamily has been manipulated using both gain- and loss-of-function strategies. These experiments indicate that Vav2 and Vav3 regulate the number, functional status, and responsiveness of hair follicle bulge stem cells. This is linked to gene expression programs related to the reinforcement of the identity and the quiescent state of normal SSCs. By contrast, in the case of cancer stem cells, they promote transcriptomal programs associated with the identity, activation state, and cytoskeletal remodeling. These results underscore the role of these Rho exchange factors in the regulation of normal and tumor epidermal stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Francisco Lorenzo-Martín
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Mauricio Menacho-Márquez
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Natalia Fernández-Parejo
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sonia Rodríguez-Fdez
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Antonio Abad
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Piero Crespo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, CSIC-University of Cantabria, 39011, Santander, Spain
| | - Mercedes Dosil
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Xosé R Bustelo
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain. .,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
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Winkler S, Winkler I, Figaschewski M, Tiede T, Nordheim A, Kohlbacher O. De novo identification of maximally deregulated subnetworks based on multi-omics data with DeRegNet. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:139. [PMID: 35439941 PMCID: PMC9020058 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-04670-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With a growing amount of (multi-)omics data being available, the extraction of knowledge from these datasets is still a difficult problem. Classical enrichment-style analyses require predefined pathways or gene sets that are tested for significant deregulation to assess whether the pathway is functionally involved in the biological process under study. De novo identification of these pathways can reduce the bias inherent in predefined pathways or gene sets. At the same time, the definition and efficient identification of these pathways de novo from large biological networks is a challenging problem. Results We present a novel algorithm, DeRegNet, for the identification of maximally deregulated subnetworks on directed graphs based on deregulation scores derived from (multi-)omics data. DeRegNet can be interpreted as maximum likelihood estimation given a certain probabilistic model for de-novo subgraph identification. We use fractional integer programming to solve the resulting combinatorial optimization problem. We can show that the approach outperforms related algorithms on simulated data with known ground truths. On a publicly available liver cancer dataset we can show that DeRegNet can identify biologically meaningful subgraphs suitable for patient stratification. DeRegNet can also be used to find explicitly multi-omics subgraphs which we demonstrate by presenting subgraphs with consistent methylation-transcription patterns. DeRegNet is freely available as open-source software. Conclusion The proposed algorithmic framework and its available implementation can serve as a valuable heuristic hypothesis generation tool contextualizing omics data within biomolecular networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Winkler
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) "From Molecules to Organism", Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Ivana Winkler
- International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) "From Molecules to Organism", Tübingen, Germany.,Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology (IFIZ), University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mirjam Figaschewski
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Tiede
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alfred Nordheim
- Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology (IFIZ), University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Leibniz Institute on Aging (FLI), Jena, Germany
| | - Oliver Kohlbacher
- Applied Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Translational Bioinformatics, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tübingen, Germany
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11
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Vav Proteins in Development of the Brain: A Potential Relationship to the Pathogenesis of Congenital Zika Syndrome? Viruses 2022; 14:v14020386. [PMID: 35215978 PMCID: PMC8874935 DOI: 10.3390/v14020386] [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: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in a significant impact on the brain and eye of the developing fetus, termed congenital zika syndrome (CZS). At a morphological level, the main serious presentations of CZS are microcephaly and retinal scarring. At a cellular level, many cell types of the brain may be involved, but primarily neuronal progenitor cells (NPC) and developing neurons. Vav proteins have guanine exchange activity in converting GDP to GTP on proteins such as Rac1, Cdc42 and RhoA to stimulate intracellular signaling pathways. These signaling pathways are known to play important roles in maintaining the polarity and self-renewal of NPC pools by coordinating the formation of adherens junctions with cytoskeletal rearrangements. In developing neurons, these same pathways are adopted to control the formation and growth of neurites and mediate axonal guidance and targeting in the brain and retina. This review describes the role of Vavs in these processes and highlights the points of potential ZIKV interaction, such as (i) the binding and entry of ZIKV in cells via TAM receptors, which may activate Vav/Rac/RhoA signaling; (ii) the functional convergence of ZIKV NS2A with Vav in modulating adherens junctions; (iii) ZIKV NS4A/4B protein effects on PI3K/AKT in a regulatory loop via PPI3 to influence Vav/Rac1 signaling in neurite outgrowth; and (iv) the induction of SOCS1 and USP9X following ZIKV infection to regulate Vav protein degradation or activation, respectively, and impact Vav/Rac/RhoA signaling in NPC and neurons. Experiments to define these interactions will further our understanding of the molecular basis of CZS and potentially other developmental disorders stemming from in utero infections. Additionally, Vav/Rac/RhoA signaling pathways may present tractable targets for therapeutic intervention or molecular rationale for disease severity in CZS.
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12
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García-Jiménez I, Cervantes-Villagrana RD, Del-Río-Robles JE, Castillo-Kauil A, Beltrán-Navarro YM, García-Román J, Reyes-Cruz G, Vázquez-Prado J. Gβγ mediates activation of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor ARHGEF17 that promotes metastatic lung cancer progression. J Biol Chem 2021; 298:101440. [PMID: 34808208 PMCID: PMC8703085 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic lung cancer is a major cause of death worldwide. Dissemination of cancer cells can be facilitated by various agonists within the tumor microenvironment, including by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). We postulate that Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs), which integrate signaling cues driving cell migration, are critical effectors in metastatic cancer. Specifically, we addressed the hypothetical role of ARHGEF17, a RhoGEF, as a potential effector of Gβγ in metastatic lung cancer cells responding to LPA. Here, we show that ARHGEF17, originally identified as a tumor endothelial marker, is involved in tumor growth and metastatic dissemination of lung cancer cells in an immunocompetent murine model. Gene expression–based analysis of lung cancer datasets showed that increased levels of ARHGEF17 correlated with reduced survival of patients with advanced-stage tumors. Cellular assays also revealed that this RhoGEF participates in the invasive and migratory responses elicited by Gi protein–coupled LPA receptors via the Gβγ subunit complex. We demonstrate that this signaling heterodimer promoted ARHGEF17 recruitment to the cell periphery and actin fibers. Moreover, Gβγ allosterically activates ARHGEF17 by the removal of inhibitory intramolecular restrictions. Taken together, our results indicate that ARHGEF17 may be a valid potential target in the treatment of metastatic lung cancer.
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13
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FARP1, ARHGEF39, and TIAM2 are essential receptor tyrosine kinase effectors for Rac1-dependent cell motility in human lung adenocarcinoma. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109905. [PMID: 34731623 PMCID: PMC8627373 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the undisputable role of the small GTPase Rac1 in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton reorganization, the Rac guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (Rac-GEFs) involved in Rac1-mediated motility and invasion in human lung adenocarcinoma cells remain largely unknown. Here, we identify FARP1, ARHGEF39, and TIAM2 as essential Rac-GEFs responsible for Rac1-mediated lung cancer cell migration upon EGFR and c-Met activation. Noteworthily, these Rac-GEFs operate in a non-redundant manner by controlling distinctive aspects of ruffle dynamics formation. Mechanistic analysis reveals a leading role of the AXL-Gab1-PI3K axis in conferring pro-motility traits downstream of EGFR. Along with the positive association between the overexpression of Rac-GEFs and poor lung adenocarcinoma patient survival, we show that FARP1 and ARHGEF39 are upregulated in EpCam+ cells sorted from primary human lung adenocarcinomas. Overall, our study reveals fundamental insights into the complex intricacies underlying Rac-GEF-mediated cancer cell motility signaling, hence underscoring promising targets for metastatic lung cancer therapy.
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14
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Cuadrado M, Robles-Valero J. VAV Proteins as Double Agents in Cancer: Oncogenes with Tumor Suppressor Roles. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10090888. [PMID: 34571765 PMCID: PMC8466051 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary The role of the VAV family (comprised of VAV1, VAV2, and VAV3) in proactive pathways involved in cell transformation has been historically assumed. Indeed, the discovery of potential gain-of-function VAV1 mutations in specific tumor subtypes reinforced this functional archetype. Contrary to this paradigm, we demonstrated that VAV1 could unexpectedly act as a tumor suppressor in some in vivo contexts. In this review, we discuss recent findings in the field, where the emerging landscape is one in which GTPases and their regulators, such as VAV proteins, can exhibit tumor suppressor functions. Abstract Guanosine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) are responsible for catalyzing the transition of small GTPases from the inactive (GDP-bound) to the active (GTP-bound) states. RHO GEFs, including VAV proteins, play essential signaling roles in a wide variety of fundamental cellular processes and in human diseases. Although the most widespread archetype in the field is that RHO GEFs exert proactive functions in cancer, recent studies in mice and humans are providing new insights into the in vivo function of these proteins in cancer. These results suggest a more complex scenario where the role of GEFs is not so clearly defined. For example, VAV1 can unexpectedly play non-catalytic tumor suppressor functions in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) by controlling the levels of the active form of NOTCH1 (ICN1). This review focuses on emerging work unveiling tumor suppressor roles for these proteins that should prompt a reevaluation of the role of VAV GEF family in tumor biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Cuadrado
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier Robles-Valero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Correspondence:
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15
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Boudria R, Laurienté V, Oudar A, Harouna-Rachidi S, Dondi E, Le Roy C, Gardano L, Varin-Blank N, Guittat L. Regulatory interplay between Vav1, Syk and β-catenin occurs in lung cancer cells. Cell Signal 2021; 86:110079. [PMID: 34252536 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Vav1 exhibits two signal transducing properties as an adaptor protein and a regulator of cytoskeleton organization through its Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factor module. Although the expression of Vav1 is restricted to the hematopoietic lineage, its ectopic expression has been unraveled in a number of solid tumors. In this study, we show that in lung cancer cells, as such in hematopoietic cells, Vav1 interacts with the Spleen Tyrosine Kinase, Syk. Likewise, Syk interacts with β-catenin and, together with Vav1, regulates the phosphorylation status of β-catenin. Depletion of Vav1, Syk or β-catenin inhibits Rac1 activity and decreases cell migration suggesting the interplay of the three effectors to a common signaling pathway. This model is further supported by the finding that in turn, β-catenin regulates the transcription of Syk gene expression. This study highlights the elaborated connection between Vav1, Syk and β-catenin and the contribution of the trio to cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rofia Boudria
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France
| | - Vanessa Laurienté
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France
| | - Antonin Oudar
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France
| | - Souleymane Harouna-Rachidi
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France
| | - Elisabetta Dondi
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France
| | - Christine Le Roy
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France
| | - Laura Gardano
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France
| | - Nadine Varin-Blank
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France.
| | - Lionel Guittat
- INSERM, UMR 978, Bobigny, France; Labex Inflamex, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France.
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16
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Lorenzo-Martín LF, Fernández-Parejo N, Menacho-Márquez M, Rodríguez-Fdez S, Robles-Valero J, Zumalave S, Fabbiano S, Pascual G, García-Pedrero JM, Abad A, García-Macías MC, González N, Lorenzano-Menna P, Pavón MA, González-Sarmiento R, Segrelles C, Paramio JM, Tubío JMC, Rodrigo JP, Benitah SA, Cuadrado M, Bustelo XR. VAV2 signaling promotes regenerative proliferation in both cutaneous and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4788. [PMID: 32963234 PMCID: PMC7508832 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18524-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Regenerative proliferation capacity and poor differentiation are histological features usually linked to poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (hnSCC). However, the pathways that regulate them remain ill-characterized. Here, we show that those traits can be triggered by the RHO GTPase activator VAV2 in keratinocytes present in the skin and oral mucosa. VAV2 is also required to maintain those traits in hnSCC patient-derived cells. This function, which is both catalysis- and RHO GTPase-dependent, is mediated by c-Myc- and YAP/TAZ-dependent transcriptomal programs associated with regenerative proliferation and cell undifferentiation, respectively. High levels of VAV2 transcripts and VAV2-regulated gene signatures are both associated with poor hnSCC patient prognosis. These results unveil a druggable pathway linked to the malignancy of specific SCC subtypes. The Rho signalling pathway is frequently activated in squamous carcinomas. Here, the authors find that the Rho GEF VAV2 is over expressed in both cutaneous and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and that at the molecular level VAV2 promotes a pro-tumorigenic stem cell-like signalling programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Francisco Lorenzo-Martín
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Natalia Fernández-Parejo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Mauricio Menacho-Márquez
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER, CONICET-UNR). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Universidad Nacional de Rosario (M.M.-M.) and CellPress editorial office (S.F.), S2000LRJ, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Sonia Rodríguez-Fdez
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier Robles-Valero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sonia Zumalave
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Salvatore Fabbiano
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Inmunología Clínica y Experimental de Rosario (IDICER, CONICET-UNR). Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Universidad Nacional de Rosario (M.M.-M.) and CellPress editorial office (S.F.), S2000LRJ, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Gloria Pascual
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, 33011, Barcelona, Spain.,The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, 33011, Spain
| | - Juana M García-Pedrero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo University, 33011, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Antonio Abad
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - María C García-Macías
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Nazareno González
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pablo Lorenzano-Menna
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and National University of Quilmes, Buenos Aires, B1876BXD, Argentina.,National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), National University of Quilmes, Buenos Aires, B1876BXD, Argentina
| | - Miguel A Pavón
- Institut Català d'Oncologia, 08908, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Centro Biomédica de Investigación en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERESP), 08908, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Rogelio González-Sarmiento
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carmen Segrelles
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús M Paramio
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M C Tubío
- Center for Research in Molecular Medicine and Chronic Diseases (CiMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan P Rodrigo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo University, 33011, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Salvador A Benitah
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, 33011, Barcelona, Spain.,The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, 33011, Spain.,Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), 33011, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Myriam Cuadrado
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain. .,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
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17
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Li Q, Sun X, Tang Y, Qu Y, Zhou Y, Zhang Y. EZH2 reduction is an essential mechanoresponse for the maintenance of super-enhancer polarization against compressive stress in human periodontal ligament stem cells. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:757. [PMID: 32934212 PMCID: PMC7493952 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-02963-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Despite the ubiquitous mechanical cues at both spatial and temporal dimensions, cell identities and functions are largely immune to the everchanging mechanical stimuli. To understand the molecular basis of this epigenetic stability, we interrogated compressive force-elicited transcriptomic changes in mesenchymal stem cells purified from human periodontal ligament (PDLSCs), and identified H3K27me3 and E2F signatures populated within upregulated and weakly downregulated genes, respectively. Consistently, expressions of several E2F family transcription factors and EZH2, as core methyltransferase for H3K27me3, decreased in response to mechanical stress, which were attributed to force-induced redistribution of RB from nucleoplasm to lamina. Importantly, although epigenomic analysis on H3K27me3 landscape only demonstrated correlating changes at one group of mechanoresponsive genes, we observed a genome-wide destabilization of super-enhancers along with aberrant EZH2 retention. These super-enhancers were tightly bounded by H3K27me3 domain on one side and exhibited attenuating H3K27ac deposition and flattening H3K27ac peaks along with compensated EZH2 expression after force exposure, analogous to increased H3K27ac entropy or decreased H3K27ac polarization. Interference of force-induced EZH2 reduction could drive actin filaments dependent spatial overlap between EZH2 and super-enhancers and functionally compromise the multipotency of PDLSC following mechanical stress. These findings together unveil a specific contribution of EZH2 reduction for the maintenance of super-enhancer stability and cell identity in mechanoresponse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Orthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiwen Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyi Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Qu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yanheng Zhou
- Department of Orthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, National Engineering Laboratory for Digital and Material Technology of Stomatology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Digital Stomatology, Beijing, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
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18
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Xiao Y, Li C, Wang H, Liu Y. LINC00265 targets miR-382-5p to regulate SAT1, VAV3 and angiogenesis in osteosarcoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:20212-20225. [PMID: 33109774 PMCID: PMC7655165 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
We explored the mechanism by which LINC00265 regulates angiogenesis of osteosarcoma cells via the miR-382-5p/spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase-1 (SAT1) and miR-382-5p/vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 3 (VAV3) axis. Cell scratch assay, Transwell assay and tube formation assay were applied to detect cell migration, invasion and tube formation abilities. The effects of LINC00265 targeting miR-382-5p in osteosarcoma in vivo were studied using a tumour-burden assay. A total of 70 genes potentially involved in osteosarcoma angiogenesis were identified, and a Gene Ontology (GO) analysis found that SAT1 and VAV3 were closely related to angiogenesis. Bioinformatics analysis and clinical experiments confirmed that LINC00265, SAT1 and VAV3 were overexpressed in osteosarcoma and related to a poor prognosis, whereas miR-382-5p was downregulated and associated with a poor prognosis. It was confirmed that LINC00265 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of osteosarcoma cells by targeting miR-382-5p to mediate SAT1 and VAV3. Collectively, LINC00265 might promote proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis by targeting miR-382-5p/SAT1 and miR-382-5p/VAV3 in osteosarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiao
- Department of Operating Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Chunling Li
- Department of Operating Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Hongyue Wang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
| | - Yijun Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, China
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19
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Guvakova MA, Prabakaran I, Wu Z, Hoffman DI, Huang Y, Tchou J, Zhang PJ. CDH2/N-cadherin and early diagnosis of invasion in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2020; 183:333-346. [PMID: 32683564 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-020-05797-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This proof-of-concept study investigates gene expression in core needle biopsies (CNB) to predict whether individuals diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) on CNB were affected by invasion at the time of diagnosis. METHODS Using a QuantiGene Plex 2.0 assay, 14 gene expression profiling was performed in 303 breast tissue samples. Preoperative diagnostic performance of a gene was measured by area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The gene mRNA positivity cutoff was computed using Gaussian mixture model (GMM); protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry; DNA methylation was evaluated by targeted bisulfite sequencing. RESULTS mRNA from 69% (34/49) mammoplasties, 72% (75/104) CNB DCIS, and 89% (133/150) invasive breast cancers (IBC) were analyzed. Based on pre-and post-surgery DCIS chart reviews, 21 cases were categorized as DCIS synchronous with invasion and 54 DCIS were pure DCIS without pathologic evidence of invasive disease. The ectopic expression of neuronal cadherin CDH2 was probable in 0% mammoplasties, 6% pure DCIS, 29% synchronous DCIS, and 26% IBC. The CDH2 mRNA positivity in preoperative biopsies showing pure DCIS was predictive of a final diagnosis of invasion (AUC = 0.67; 95% CI 0.53-0.80; P = 0.029). Site-specific methylation of the CDH2 promoter (AUC = 0.76; 95% CI 0.54-0.97; P = 0.04) and measurements of N-cadherin, a pro-invasive cell-cell adhesion receptor encoded by CDH2 (AUC = 0.8; 95% CI 0.66-0.99; P < 0.005) had a discriminating power allowing for discernment of CDH2-positive biopsy. CONCLUSIONS Evidence of CDH2/N-cadherin expression, predictive of invasion synchronous with DCIS, may help to clarify a diagnosis and direct the course of therapy earlier in a patient's care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A Guvakova
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Indira Prabakaran
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zhengdong Wu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, 220 S 33rd St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Daniel I Hoffman
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ye Huang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Julia Tchou
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Paul J Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 6 Founders, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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20
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Ojala VK, Knittle AM, Kirjalainen P, Merilahti JAM, Kortesoja M, Tvorogov D, Vaparanta K, Lin S, Kast J, Pulliainen AT, Kurppa KJ, Elenius K. The guanine nucleotide exchange factor VAV3 participates in ERBB4-mediated cancer cell migration. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:11559-11571. [PMID: 32561640 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
ERBB4 is a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/ERBB subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases that regulates cellular processes including proliferation, migration, and survival. ERBB4 signaling is involved in embryogenesis and homeostasis of healthy adult tissues, but also in human pathologies such as cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Here, an MS-based analysis revealed the Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 3 (VAV3), an activator of Rho family GTPases, as a critical ERBB4-interacting protein in breast cancer cells. We confirmed the ERBB4-VAV3 interaction by targeted MS and coimmunoprecipitation experiments and further defined it by demonstrating that kinase activity and Tyr-1022 and Tyr-1162 of ERBB4, as well as the intact phosphotyrosine-interacting SH2 domain of VAV3, are necessary for this interaction. We found that ERBB4 stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the VAV3 activation domain, known to be required for guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity of VAV proteins. In addition to VAV3, the other members of the VAV family, VAV1 and VAV2, also coprecipitated with ERBB4. Analyses of the effects of overexpression of dominant-negative VAV3 constructs or shRNA-mediated down-regulation of VAV3 expression in breast cancer cells indicated that active VAV3 is involved in ERBB4-stimulated cell migration. These results define the VAV GEFs as effectors of ERBB4 activity in a signaling pathway relevant for cancer cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veera K Ojala
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.,Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Anna M Knittle
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Peppi Kirjalainen
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Johannes A M Merilahti
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.,Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Maarit Kortesoja
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Denis Tvorogov
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Katri Vaparanta
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.,Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Shujun Lin
- Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, and Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jürgen Kast
- Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, and Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Arto T Pulliainen
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Kari J Kurppa
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Klaus Elenius
- Institute of Biomedicine and Medicity Research Laboratories, University of Turku, Turku, Finland .,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.,Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
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21
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Vav2 pharmaco-mimetic mice reveal the therapeutic value and caveats of the catalytic inactivation of a Rho exchange factor. Oncogene 2020; 39:5098-5111. [PMID: 32528129 PMCID: PMC7610363 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1353-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The current paradigm holds that the inhibition of Rho guanosine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), the enzymes that stimulate Rho GTPases, can be a valuable therapeutic strategy to treat Rho-dependent tumors. However, formal validation of this idea using in vivo models is still missing. In this context, it is worth remembering that many Rho GEFs can mediate both catalysis-dependent and independent responses, thus raising the possibility that the inhibition of their catalytic activities might not be sufficient per se to block tumorigenic processes. On the other hand, the inhibition of these enzymes can trigger collateral side effects that could preclude the practical implementation of anti-GEF therapies. To address those issues, we have generated mouse models to mimic the effect of the systemic application of an inhibitor for the catalytic activity of the Rho GEF Vav2 at the organismal level. Our results indicate that lowering the catalytic activity of Vav2 below specific thresholds is sufficient to block skin tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. They also reveal that the negative side effects typically induced by the loss of Vav2 can be bypassed depending on the overall level of Vav2 inhibition achieved in vivo. These data underscore the pros and cons of anti-Rho GEF therapies for cancer treatment. They also support the idea that Vav2 could represent a viable drug target.
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22
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Hidalgo-Estévez AM, Stamatakis K, Jiménez-Martínez M, López-Pérez R, Fresno M. Cyclooxygenase 2-Regulated Genes an Alternative Avenue to the Development of New Therapeutic Drugs for Colorectal Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:533. [PMID: 32410997 PMCID: PMC7201075 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common and recurrent types of cancer, with high mortality rates. Several clinical trials and meta-analyses have determined that the use of pharmacological inhibitors of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), the enzyme that catalyses the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of prostaglandins (PG) from arachidonic acid, can reduce the incidence of CRC as well as the risk of recurrence of this disease, when used together with commonly used chemotherapeutic agents. These observations suggest that inhibition of COX-2 may be useful in the treatment of CRC, although the current drugs targeting COX-2 are not widely used since they increase the risk of health complications. To overcome this difficulty, a possibility is to identify genes regulated by COX-2 activity that could give an advantage to the cells to form tumors and/or metastasize. The modulation of those genes as effectors of COX-2 may cancel the beneficial effects of COX-2 in tumor transformation and metastasis. A review of the available databases and literature and our own data have identified some interesting molecules induced by prostaglandins or COX-2 that have been also described to play a role in colon cancer, being thus potential pharmacological targets in colon cancer. Among those mPGES-1, DUSP4, and 10, Programmed cell death 4, Trop2, and many from the TGFβ and p53 pathways have been identified as genes upregulated in response to COX-2 overexpression or PGs in colon carcinoma lines and overexpressed in colon tumor tissue. Here, we review the available evidence of the potential roles of those molecules in colon cancer in the context of PG/COX signaling pathways that could be critical mediators of some of the tumor growth and metastasis advantage induced by COX-2. At the end, this may allow defining new therapeutic targets/drugs against CRC that could act specifically against tumor cells and would be effective in the prevention and treatment of CRC, lacking the unwanted side effects of COX-2 pharmacological inhibitors, providing alternative approaches in colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Konstantinos Stamatakis
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Sanitario de Investigación Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Jiménez-Martínez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo López-Pérez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Fresno
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Sanitario de Investigación Princesa, Madrid, Spain
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23
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Rac1 activation in human breast carcinoma as a prognostic factor associated with therapeutic resistance. Breast Cancer 2020; 27:919-928. [PMID: 32314182 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-020-01091-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND RAS-related C3 botulinus toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) is a molecular switch fluctuating between GDP-bound inactive form (Rac1-GDP) and GTP-bound active form (Rac1-GTP) and involved in diverse function in both normal and malignant cells such as breast carcinoma cells. Although several studies have demonstrated immunolocalization of Rac1 protein in human breast carcinoma tissues, activation status of Rac1 still remains to be elucidated. METHODS We immunolocalized active form of Rac1 (Rac1-GTP) as well as total Rac1 using antibody specific for them in 115 invasive breast carcinoma tissues and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcomes. RESULTS Rac1-GTP was frequently immunolocalized in the cytoplasm or cell membrane of breast carcinoma cells and it was positively correlated with Ki-67 labeling index and total Rac1 while negatively correlated with progesterone receptor. On the other hand, immunohistochemical Rac1-GTP status was significantly correlated with increased risk of recurrence and breast cancer-specific mortality of breast cancer patients and multivariate analyses did demonstrate Rac1-GTP as an independent worse prognostic factor for both disease-free and breast cancer-specific survival. In addition, Rac1-GTP was still correlated with worse prognosis in the patients who had received adjuvant chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. CONCLUSION These findings suggested Rac1 activation played pivotal roles in the progression and therapeutic resistance of breast cancers and Rac1 might be an important therapeutic target for improvement of the therapy for breast cancer patients.
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24
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González N, Cardama GA, Chinestrad P, Robles-Valero J, Rodríguez-Fdez S, Lorenzo-Martín LF, Bustelo XR, Lorenzano Menna P, Gomez DE. Computational and in vitro Pharmacodynamics Characterization of 1A-116 Rac1 Inhibitor: Relevance of Trp56 in Its Biological Activity. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:240. [PMID: 32351958 PMCID: PMC7174510 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last years, the development of new drugs in oncology has evolved notably. In particular, drug development has shifted from empirical screening of active cytotoxic compounds to molecularly targeted drugs blocking specific biologic pathways that drive cancer progression and metastasis. Using a rational design approach, our group has developed 1A-116 as a promising Rac1 inhibitor, with antitumoral and antimetastatic effects in several types of cancer. Rac1 is over activated in a wide range of tumor types and and it is one of the most studied proteins of the Rho GTPase family. Its role in actin cytoskeleton reorganization has effects on endocytosis, vesicular trafficking, cell cycle progression and cellular migration. In this context, the regulatory activity of Rac1 affects several key processes in the course of the cancer including invasion and metastasis. The purpose of this preclinical study was to focus on the mode of action of 1A-116, conducting an interdisciplinary approach with in silico bioinformatics tools and in vitro assays. Here, we demonstrate that the tryptophan 56 residue is necessary for the inhibitory effects of 1A-116 since this compound interferes with protein-protein interactions (PPI) of Rac1GTPase involving several GEF activators. 1A-116 is also able to inhibit the oncogenic Rac1P29S mutant protein, one of the oncogenic drivers found in sun-exposed melanoma. It also inhibits numerous Rac1-regulated cellular processes such as membrane ruffling and lamellipodia formation. These results deepen our knowledge of 1A-116 inhibition of Rac1 and its biological impact on cancer progression. They also represent a good example of how in silico analyses represent a valuable approach for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazareno González
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National University of Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Georgina A Cardama
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National University of Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricio Chinestrad
- Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, National University of Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Javier Robles-Valero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sonia Rodríguez-Fdez
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - L Francisco Lorenzo-Martín
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pablo Lorenzano Menna
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, National University of Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Daniel E Gomez
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National University of Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina.,National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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25
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Liu C, Zhang L, Cui W, Du J, Li Z, Pang Y, Liu Q, Shang H, Meng L, Li W, Song L, Wang P, Xie Y, Wang Y, Liu Y, Hu J, Zhang W, Li F. Epigenetically upregulated GEFT-derived invasion and metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma via epithelial mesenchymal transition promoted by the Rac1/Cdc42-PAK signalling pathway. EBioMedicine 2019; 50:122-134. [PMID: 31761617 PMCID: PMC6921210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.10.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Metastasis of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the primary cause of tumour-related deaths. Previous studies have shown that overexpression of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor T (GEFT) is correlated with a poorer RMS prognosis, but the mechanism remains largely unexplored. Methods We focused on determining the influence of the GEFT-Rho-GTPase signalling pathway and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) or mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) on RMS progression and metastasis by using RMS cell lines, BALB/c nude mice and cells and molecular biology techniques. Findings GEFT promotes RMS cell viability, migration, and invasion; GEFT also inhibits the apoptosis of RMS cells and accelerates the growth and lung metastasis of RMS by activating the Rac1/Cdc42 pathways. Interestingly, GEFT upregulates the expression levels of N-cadherin, Snail, Slug, Twist, Zeb1, and Zeb2 and reduces expression level of E-cadherin. Thus, GEFT influences the expression of markers for EMT and MET in RMS cells via the Rac1/Cdc42-PAK1 pathways. We also found that the level of GEFT gene promoter methylation in RMS is lower than that in normal striated muscle tissue. Significant differences were observed in the level of GEFT gene methylation in different histological subtypes of RMS. Interpretation These findings suggest that GEFT accelerates the tumourigenicity and metastasis of RMS by activating Rac1/Cdc42-PAK signalling pathway-induced EMT; thus, it may serve as a novel therapeutic target. Fund This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81660441, 81460404, and 81160322) and Shihezi University Initiative Research Projects for Senior Fellows (RCZX201447). Funders had no role in the design of the study, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, or the writing of this report.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxia Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China.
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Wenwen Cui
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Li
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Yuwen Pang
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Qianqian Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Hao Shang
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Lian Meng
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Wanyu Li
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Lingxie Song
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Yuwen Xie
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Jianming Hu
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Wenjie Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Pathology, Shihezi University School of Medicine and The Key Laboratories for Xinjiang Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Chinese Ministry of Education, Shihezi 832002, Xinjiang, PR China; Department of Pathology and Medical Research Center, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, PR China.
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26
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RHO Family GTPases in the Biology of Lymphoma. Cells 2019; 8:cells8070646. [PMID: 31248017 PMCID: PMC6678807 DOI: 10.3390/cells8070646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
RHO GTPases are a class of small molecules involved in the regulation of several cellular processes that belong to the RAS GTPase superfamily. The RHO family of GTPases includes several members that are further divided into two different groups: typical and atypical. Both typical and atypical RHO GTPases are critical transducers of intracellular signaling and have been linked to human cancer. Significantly, both gain-of-function and loss-of-function mutations have been described in human tumors with contradicting roles depending on the cell context. The RAS family of GTPases that also belong to the RAS GTPase superfamily like the RHO GTPases, includes arguably the most frequently mutated genes in human cancers (K-RAS, N-RAS, and H-RAS) but has been extensively described elsewhere. This review focuses on the role of RHO family GTPases in human lymphoma initiation and progression.
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27
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The Vav GEF Family: An Evolutionary and Functional Perspective. Cells 2019; 8:cells8050465. [PMID: 31100928 PMCID: PMC6562523 DOI: 10.3390/cells8050465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vav proteins play roles as guanosine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho GTPases and signaling adaptors downstream of protein tyrosine kinases. The recent sequencing of the genomes of many species has revealed that this protein family originated in choanozoans, a group of unicellular organisms from which animal metazoans are believed to have originated from. Since then, the Vav family underwent expansions and reductions in its members during the evolutionary transitions that originated the agnates, chondrichthyes, some teleost fish, and some neoaves. Exotic members of the family harboring atypical structural domains can be also found in some invertebrate species. In this review, we will provide a phylogenetic perspective of the evolution of the Vav family. We will also pay attention to the structure, signaling properties, regulatory layers, and functions of Vav proteins in both invertebrate and vertebrate species.
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28
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Gao Y, Bado I, Wang H, Zhang W, Rosen JM, Zhang XHF. Metastasis Organotropism: Redefining the Congenial Soil. Dev Cell 2019; 49:375-391. [PMID: 31063756 PMCID: PMC6506189 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2019.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is the most devastating stage of cancer progression and causes the majority of cancer-related deaths. Clinical observations suggest that most cancers metastasize to specific organs, a process known as "organotropism." Elucidating the underlying mechanisms may help identify targets and treatment strategies to benefit patients. This review summarizes recent findings on tumor-intrinsic properties and their interaction with unique features of host organs, which together determine organ-specific metastatic behaviors. Emerging insights related to the roles of metabolic changes, the immune landscapes of target organs, and variation in epithelial-mesenchymal transitions open avenues for future studies of metastasis organotropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Igor Bado
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hai Wang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Weijie Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Rosen
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiang H-F Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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29
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Lorenzo–Martín LF, Menacho–Márquez M, Fabbiano S, Al–Massadi O, Abad A, Rodríguez–Fdez S, Sevilla MA, Montero MJ, Diéguez C, Nogueiras R, Bustelo XR. Vagal afferents contribute to sympathoexcitation-driven metabolic dysfunctions. J Endocrinol 2019; 240:483-496. [PMID: 30703063 PMCID: PMC6368248 DOI: 10.1530/joe-18-0623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Multiple crosstalk between peripheral organs and the nervous system are required to maintain physiological and metabolic homeostasis. Using Vav3-deficient mice as a model for chronic sympathoexcitation-associated disorders, we report here that afferent fibers of the hepatic branch of the vagus nerve are needed for the development of the peripheral sympathoexcitation, tachycardia, tachypnea, insulin resistance, liver steatosis and adipose tissue thermogenesis present in those mice. This neuronal pathway contributes to proper activity of the rostral ventrolateral medulla, a sympathoregulatory brainstem center hyperactive in Vav3-/- mice. Vagal afferent inputs are also required for the development of additional pathophysiological conditions associated with deregulated rostral ventrolateral medulla activity. By contrast, they are dispensable for other peripheral sympathoexcitation-associated disorders sparing metabolic alterations in liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Francisco Lorenzo–Martín
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Mauricio Menacho–Márquez
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Salvatore Fabbiano
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Omar Al–Massadi
- Departamento de Fisioloxía, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer sobre la Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Antonio Abad
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sonia Rodríguez–Fdez
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - María A. Sevilla
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - María J. Montero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Carlos Diéguez
- Departamento de Fisioloxía, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer sobre la Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Rubén Nogueiras
- Departamento de Fisioloxía, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular e Enfermidades Crónicas, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer sobre la Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Xosé R. Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC–University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Corresponding author: XRB ()
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30
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Sheng H, Li X, Xu Y. Knockdown of FOXP1 promotes the development of lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Biol Ther 2018; 20:537-545. [PMID: 30409062 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2018.1537999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, which accounts for about 27% of all cancer deaths. However, the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of lung cancer cells remain largely elusive. In this study, we examined the role of the Forkhead box protein P1 (FOXP1) in lung cancer development. Our Oncomine analysis shows that FOXP1 is downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma compared with normal lung tissue. Knockdown of FOXP1 promotes the growth and invasion of PC9 and A549 cells by regulating genes of chemokine signaling molecules, including CCR1, ADCY5, GNG7, VAV3, and PLCB1. Simultaneous knockdown of CCR1 and FOXP1 attenuated FOXP1 knockdown-induced increase of lung cancer cell growth. Finally, knockdown of FOXP1 in PC9 cells promotes the tumorigenesis via CCR1 signaling in xenograft mouse model. Taken together, our data suggest that FOXP1 plays important roles in preventing lung adenocarcinoma development via suppressing chemokine signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Sheng
- a Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , China
| | - Xiangyang Li
- a Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , China
| | - Yi Xu
- a Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , China
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31
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Vav proteins maintain epithelial traits in breast cancer cells using miR-200c-dependent and independent mechanisms. Oncogene 2018; 38:209-227. [PMID: 30087437 PMCID: PMC6230471 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0433-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The bidirectional regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) is key in tumorigenesis. Rho GTPases regulate this process via canonical pathways that impinge on the stability of cell-to-cell contacts, cytoskeletal dynamics, and cell invasiveness. Here, we report that the Rho GTPase activators Vav2 and Vav3 utilize a new Rac1-dependent and miR-200c-dependent mechanism that maintains the epithelial state by limiting the abundance of the Zeb2 transcriptional repressor in breast cancer cells. In parallel, Vav proteins engage a mir-200c-independent expression prometastatic program that maintains epithelial cell traits only under 3D culture conditions. Consistent with this, the depletion of endogenous Vav proteins triggers mesenchymal features in epithelioid breast cancer cells. Conversely, the ectopic expression of an active version of Vav2 promotes mesenchymal-epithelial transitions using E-cadherin-dependent and independent mechanisms depending on the mesenchymal breast cancer cell line used. In silico analyses suggest that the negative Vav anti-EMT pathway is operative in luminal breast tumors. Gene signatures from the Vav-associated proepithelial and prometastatic programs have prognostic value in breast cancer patients.
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32
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Bustelo XR. RHO GTPases in cancer: known facts, open questions, and therapeutic challenges. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:741-760. [PMID: 29871878 PMCID: PMC7615761 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RHO GTPases have been traditionally associated with protumorigenic functions. While this paradigm is still valid in many cases, recent data have unexpectedly revealed that RHO proteins can also play tumor suppressor roles. RHO signaling elements can also promote both pro- and antitumorigenic effects using GTPase-independent mechanisms, thus giving an extra layer of complexity to the role of these proteins in cancer. Consistent with these variegated roles, both gain- and loss-of-function mutations in RHO pathway genes have been found in cancer patients. Collectively, these observations challenge long-held functional archetypes for RHO proteins in both normal and cancer cells. In this review, I will summarize these data and discuss new questions arising from them such as the functional and clinical relevance of the mutations found in patients, the mechanistic orchestration of those antagonistic functions in tumors, and the pros and cons that these results represent for the development of RHO-based anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)-University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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33
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Hu J, Meng Y, Zeng J, Zeng B, Jiang X. Ubiquitin E3 Ligase MARCH7 promotes proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells through VAV2-RAC1-CDC42 pathway. Oncol Lett 2018; 16:2312-2318. [PMID: 30008934 PMCID: PMC6036418 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin E3 Ligase MARCH7 is involved in T cell proliferation and neuronal development. In our previous study, we demonstrated MARCH7 promoted malignant behavior of ovarian cancer via the nuclear factor (NF)-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. However, the expression and function of MARCH7 in cervical cancer remains unknown. The present study aimed to unravel the expression and function of MARCH7 in cervical cancer to elucidate its potential role in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Results indicated that the expression of MARCH7 was abnormally high in cervical cancer tissues than normal cervical tissues. However, silencing the expression of MARCH7 in HeLa cells resulted in decreased cell proliferation and invasion. Mechanistic investigations revealed that MARCH7 interacted with VAV2. Silencing the expression of MARCH7 in HeLa cells inhibited the VAV2-RAC1-CDC42 signaling pathway. Overall, the results of the present study identified MARCH7 as a candidate oncogene in cervical cancer, and a potential target for cervical cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, P.R. China
| | - Ying Meng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, P.R. China
| | - Jianhua Zeng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, P.R. China
| | - Biao Zeng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, P.R. China
| | - Xingwei Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, P.R. China
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34
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Hilfenhaus G, Nguyen DP, Freshman J, Prajapati D, Ma F, Song D, Ziyad S, Cuadrado M, Pellegrini M, Bustelo XR, Iruela-Arispe ML. Vav3-induced cytoskeletal dynamics contribute to heterotypic properties of endothelial barriers. J Cell Biol 2018; 217:2813-2830. [PMID: 29858212 PMCID: PMC6080943 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201706041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Through multiple cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, epithelial and endothelial sheets form tight barriers. Modulators of the cytoskeleton contribute to barrier stability and act as rheostats of vascular permeability. In this study, we sought to identify cytoskeletal regulators that underlie barrier diversity across vessels. To achieve this, we correlated functional and structural barrier features to gene expression of endothelial cells (ECs) derived from different vascular beds. Within a subset of identified candidates, we found that the guanosine nucleotide exchange factor Vav3 was exclusively expressed by microvascular ECs and was closely associated with a high-resistance barrier phenotype. Ectopic expression of Vav3 in large artery and brain ECs significantly enhanced barrier resistance and cortical rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. Mechanistically, we found that the barrier effect of Vav3 is dependent on its Dbl homology domain and downstream activation of Rap1. Importantly, inactivation of Vav3 in vivo resulted in increased vascular leakage, highlighting its function as a key regulator of barrier stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Hilfenhaus
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Dai Phuong Nguyen
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jonathan Freshman
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Divya Prajapati
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Feiyang Ma
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Dana Song
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Safiyyah Ziyad
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Myriam Cuadrado
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and University of Salamanca, Campus Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and University of Salamanca, Campus Unamuno, Salamanca, Spain
| | - M Luisa Iruela-Arispe
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA .,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
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35
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Zuo Y, Ulu A, Chang JT, Frost JA. Contributions of the RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factor Net1 to polyoma middle T antigen-mediated mammary gland tumorigenesis and metastasis. Breast Cancer Res 2018; 20:41. [PMID: 29769144 PMCID: PMC5956559 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-018-0966-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The RhoA activating protein Net1 contributes to breast cancer cell proliferation, motility, and invasion in vitro, yet little is known about its roles in mammary gland tumorigenesis and metastasis. Methods Net1 knockout (KO) mice were bred to mice with mammary gland specific expression of the polyoma middle T antigen (PyMT) oncogene. Mammary gland tumorigenesis and lung metastasis were monitored. Individual tumors were assessed for proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, RhoA activation, and activation of PyMT-dependent signaling pathways. Primary tumor cells from wild-type and Net1 KO mice were transplanted into the mammary glands of wild-type, nontumor-bearing mice, and tumor growth and metastasis were assessed. Gene expression in wild-type and Net1 KO tumors was analyzed by gene ontology enrichment and for relative activation of gene expression signatures indicative of signaling pathways important for breast cancer initiation and progression. A gene expression signature indicative of Net1 function was identified. Human breast cancer gene expression profiles were screened for the presence of a Net1 gene expression signature. Results We show that Net1 makes fundamental contributions to mammary gland tumorigenesis and metastasis. Net1 deletion delays tumorigenesis and strongly suppresses metastasis in PyMT-expressing mice. Moreover, we observe that loss of Net1 reduces cancer cell proliferation, inhibits tumor angiogenesis, and promotes tumor cell apoptosis. Net1 is required for maximal RhoA activation within tumors and for primary tumor cell motility. Furthermore, the ability of PyMT to initiate oncogenic signaling to ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt1 is inhibited by Net1 deletion. Primary tumor cell transplantation indicates that the reduction in tumor angiogenesis and lung metastasis observed upon Net1 deletion are tumor cell autonomous effects. Using a gene expression signature indicative of Net1 activity, we show that Net1 signaling is activated in 10% of human breast cancers, and that this correlates with elevated proliferation and PI3K pathway activity. We also demonstrate that human breast cancer patients with a high Net1 gene expression signature experience shorter distant metastasis-free survival. Conclusions These data indicate that Net1 is required for tumor progression in the PyMT mouse model and suggest that Net1 may contribute to breast cancer progression in humans. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13058-018-0966-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zuo
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Arzu Ulu
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Chang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,School of Biomedical Informatics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Frost
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin St, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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36
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Bustelo XR, Lorenzo-Martín LF, Cuadrado M, Fernández-Pisonero I, Robles-Valero J. An unexpected tumor suppressor role for VAV1 a. Mol Cell Oncol 2018; 5:e1432257. [PMID: 30250888 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2018.1432257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
RHO GDP/GTP exchange factors, including VAV1, are considered key protumorigenic factors. Against this paradigm, we have found that VAV1 plays tumor suppressor roles by buffering NOTCH1 signals in thymocytes. The silencing of this pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia of the early cortical, TLX+ subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - L Francisco Lorenzo-Martín
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Myriam Cuadrado
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernández-Pisonero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier Robles-Valero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
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37
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Guerrero-Martínez JA, Reyes JC. High expression of SMARCA4 or SMARCA2 is frequently associated with an opposite prognosis in cancer. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2043. [PMID: 29391527 PMCID: PMC5794756 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20217-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene encoding the ATPase of the chromatin remodeling SWI/SNF complexes SMARCA4 (BRG1) is often mutated or silenced in tumors, suggesting a role as tumor suppressor. Nonetheless, recent reports show requirement of SMARCA4 for tumor cells growth. Here, we performed a computational meta-analysis using gene expression, prognosis, and clinicopathological data to clarify the role of SMARCA4 and the alternative SWI/SNF ATPase SMARCA2 (BRM) in cancer. We show that while the SMARCA4 gene is mostly overexpressed in tumors, SMARCA2 is almost invariably downexpressed in tumors. High SMARCA4 expression was associated with poor prognosis in many types of tumors, including liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). In contrast, high SMARCA2 expression was associated with good prognosis. We compared tumors with high versus low expression of SMARCA4 or SMARCA2 in LIHC and KIRC cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas. While a high expression of SMARCA4 is associated with aggressive tumors, a high expression of SMARCA2 is associated with benign differentiated tumors, suggesting that SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 play opposite roles in cancer. Our results demonstrate that expression of SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 have a high prognostic value and challenge the broadly accepted general role of SMARCA4 as a tumor suppressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Guerrero-Martínez
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa-CABIMER, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Sevilla-Universidad Pablo de Olavide (CSIC-USE-UPO). Av. Americo Vespucio 24, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Jose C Reyes
- Centro Andaluz de Biología Molecular y Medicina Regenerativa-CABIMER, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universidad de Sevilla-Universidad Pablo de Olavide (CSIC-USE-UPO). Av. Americo Vespucio 24, 41092, Seville, Spain.
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38
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Robles-Valero J, Lorenzo-Martín LF, Fernández-Pisonero I, Bustelo XR. Rho guanosine nucleotide exchange factors are not such bad guys after all in cancer a. Small GTPases 2018; 11:233-239. [PMID: 29313423 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2018.1423851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rho GDP/GTP exchange factors (GEFs), the enzymes that trigger the stimulation of Rho GTPases during cell signaling, are widely deemed as potential therapeutic targets owing to their protumorigenic functions. However, the sparse use of animal models has precluded a full understanding of their pathophysiological roles at the organismal level. In a recent article in Cancer Cell, we have reported that the Vav1 GEF unexpectedly acts as a tumor suppressor by mediating the noncatalytic nucleation of cytoplasmic complexes between the E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b and the active Notch1 intracellular domain (ICN1). These complexes favor the ubiquitinylation-mediated degradation of ICN1 in the proteosome and, therefore, the dampening of ICN1 signals in cells. The elimination of Vav1 in mice exacerbates ICN1 signaling in specific thymocyte subpopulations and, in collaboration with ancillary mutations, prompts the development of ICN1-driven T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). This new Vav1-dependent pathway antagonizes the fitness of T-ALL of the TLX+ clinical subtype in humans. As a result, VAV1 is found recurrently silenced in both TLX+ T-ALL cell lines and patients. These results call for an overall reevaluation of Rho GEF function in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Robles-Valero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain
| | - L Francisco Lorenzo-Martín
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain
| | - Isabel Fernández-Pisonero
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain.,Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain
| | - Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), CSIC-University of Salamanca , Salamanca, Spain
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Jin L, Han B, Siegel E, Cui Y, Giuliano A, Cui X. Breast cancer lung metastasis: Molecular biology and therapeutic implications. Cancer Biol Ther 2018; 19:858-868. [PMID: 29580128 PMCID: PMC6300341 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2018.1456599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Distant metastasis accounts for the vast majority of deaths in patients with cancer. Breast cancer exhibits a distinct metastatic pattern commonly involving bone, liver, lung, and brain. Breast cancer can be divided into different subtypes based on gene expression profiles, and different breast cancer subtypes show preference to distinct organ sites of metastasis. Luminal breast tumors tend to metastasize to bone while basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) displays a lung tropism of metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying this organ-specific pattern of metastasis still remain to be elucidated. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances regarding the molecular signaling pathways as well as the therapeutic strategies for treating breast cancer lung metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liting Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingchen Han
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Siegel
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yukun Cui
- Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Armando Giuliano
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiaojiang Cui
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- CONTACT Xiaojiang Cui Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Davis Building 2065, Los Angeles, CA 90048
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40
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Transcription factor CUX1 is required for intestinal epithelial wound healing and targets the VAV2-RAC1 Signalling complex. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2017; 1864:2347-2355. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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41
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EZH2 promotes neoplastic transformation through VAV interaction-dependent extranuclear mechanisms. Oncogene 2017; 37:461-477. [PMID: 28967906 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we reported that the histone methyltransferase, EZH2, controls leukocyte migration through interaction with the cytoskeleton remodeling effector, VAV, and direct methylation of the cytoskeletal regulatory protein, Talin. However, it is unclear whether this extranuclear, epigenetic-independent function of EZH2 has a profound impact on the initiation of cellular transformation and metastasis. Here, we show that EZH2 increases Talin1 methylation and cleavage, thereby enhancing adhesion turnover and promoting accelerated tumorigenesis. This transforming capacity is abolished by targeted disruption of EZH2 interaction with VAV. Furthermore, our studies demonstrate that EZH2 in the cytoplasm is closely associated with cancer stem cell properties, and that overexpression of EZH2, a mutant EZH2 lacking its nuclear localization signal (EZH2ΔNLS), or a methyl-mimicking Talin1 mutant substantially promotes JAK2-dependent STAT3 activation and cellular transformation. Taken together, our results suggest a critical role for the VAV interaction-dependent, extranuclear action of EZH2 in neoplastic transformation.
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A Novel Vav3 Homolog Identified in Lamprey, Lampetra japonica, with Roles in Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Immune Response. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18102035. [PMID: 28937614 PMCID: PMC5666717 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 3 (Vav3), a Rho family GTPase, regulates multiple cell signaling pathways including those of T- and B-cell receptors in vertebrates through mediating the activities of the Rho family members. Whether the lamprey possesses Vav3 homolog and what role it plays in immune response remain unknown. Gene cloning, recombinant expression, antibody production and expression pattern analyses were performed to characterize the lamprey Vav3 in the current study. The lamprey Vav3 is closer to jawed vertebrates' Vav3 molecules (about 53% identities in general) than to Vav2 molecules of jawless and jawed vertebrates (about 51% identities in general) in sequence similarity. Conserved motif analysis showed that the most distinguished parts between Vav3 and Vav2 proteins are their two Src-homology 3 domains. The relative expression levels of lamprey vav3 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated in lamprey lymphocytes and supraneural myeloid bodies after mixed-antigens stimulation, respectively. In addition, lamprey Vav3 were up-regulated drastically in lymphocytes and supraneural myeloid bodies after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) rather than phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. Lamprey Vav3 distributed in the cytoplasm of variable lymphocyte receptor B positive (VLRB⁺) lymphocytes, and the number of plasmacytes (VLRB and lamprey Vav3 double positive) in blood lymphocytes also increased after LPS stimulation. Our results proved that lamprey Vav3 was involved in the LPS-mediated immune reaction of lamprey and provided a clue for the further study of the precise role lamprey Vav3 played in the signaling pathway of lamprey VLRB⁺ lymphocytes.
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Baumgart M, Barth E, Savino A, Groth M, Koch P, Petzold A, Arisi I, Platzer M, Marz M, Cellerino A. A miRNA catalogue and ncRNA annotation of the short-living fish Nothobranchius furzeri. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:693. [PMID: 28874118 PMCID: PMC5584509 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-3951-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The short-lived fish Nothobranchius furzeri is the shortest-lived vertebrate that can be cultured in captivity and was recently established as a model organism for aging research. Small non-coding RNAs, especially miRNAs, are implicated in age dependent control of gene expression. RESULTS Here, we present a comprehensive catalogue of miRNAs and several other non-coding RNA classes (ncRNAs) for Nothobranchius furzeri. Analyzing multiple small RNA-Seq libraries, we show most of these identified miRNAs are expressed in at least one of seven Nothobranchius species. Additionally, duplication and clustering of N. furzeri miRNAs was analyzed and compared to the four fish species Danio rerio, Oryzias latipes, Gasterosteus aculeatus and Takifugu rubripes. A peculiar characteristic of N. furzeri, as compared to other teleosts, was a duplication of the miR-29 cluster. CONCLUSION The completeness of the catalogue we provide is comparable to that of the zebrafish. This catalogue represents a basis to investigate the role of miRNAs in aging and development in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Baumgart
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Emanuel Barth
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Bioinformatics/High Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Marco Groth
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Philipp Koch
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Ivan Arisi
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Rome, Italy
| | - Matthias Platzer
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Bioinformatics/High Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Alessandro Cellerino
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Wang H, Li M, Tao X, Qian Y, Chen L, Tao G. ARHGEF39 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration via Akt signaling pathway. Mol Cell Biochem 2017; 440:33-42. [PMID: 28871449 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-017-3153-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/05/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Dbl-family guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) can activate RhoGTPases by facilitating the exchange of GDP for GTP, the aberrant expression of which has been implicated in tumorigenicity and metastasis of human cancers. ARHGEF39, as a member of Dbl-family GEFs, was reported to be a potential oncogene in human hepatocellular carcinoma previously. However, the role of ARHGEF39 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear so far. In the current study, we demonstrated that ARHGEF39 expression was significantly upregulated in GC tissues compared with paired adjacent normal tissues by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Functional analyses revealed that ARHGEF39 overexpression could promote proliferation, colony formation, and migration of GC cells in vitro, whereas ARHGEF39 knockdown markedly suppressed these phenotypes. Moreover, ARHGEF39 enhanced tumorigenicity and lung metastasis potential of GC cells in nude mice model. Mechanistically, we found that overexpressed ARHGEF39 significantly increased the phosphorylation level of Akt (p-Akt), and its effect on cell proliferation was attenuated by PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Thus, our findings suggest that ARHGEF39 may contribute to cell proliferation and migration in GC via a possible mechanism involving Akt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixiao Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, 223300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Miaomiao Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, 223300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaobao Tao
- Department of Psychiatry, Huai'an Third People's Hospital, Huai'an, 223001, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Qian
- Department of General Surgery, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, 223300, Jiangsu, China
| | - Linfang Chen
- Department of Neurology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, 223300, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Guoquan Tao
- Department of General Surgery, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, 223300, Jiangsu, China.
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45
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Sho S, Court CM, Winograd P, Russell MM, Tomlinson JS. A prognostic mutation panel for predicting cancer recurrence in stages II and III colorectal cancer. J Surg Oncol 2017; 116:996-1004. [PMID: 28767131 DOI: 10.1002/jso.24781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Approximately 20-40% of stage II/III colorectal cancer (CRC) patients develop relapse. Clinicopathological factors alone are limited in detecting these patients, resulting in potential under/over-treatment. We sought to identify a prognostic tumor mutational profile that could predict CRC recurrence. METHODS Whole-exome sequencing data were obtained for 207 patients with stage II/III CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Mutational landscape in relapse-free versus relapsed cohort was compared using Fisher's exact test, followed by multivariate Cox regression to identify genes associated with cancer recurrence. Bootstrap-validation was used to examine internal/external validity. RESULTS We identified five prognostic genes (APAF1, DIAPH2, NTNG1, USP7, and VAV2), which were combined to form a prognostic mutation panel. Patients with ≥1 mutation(s) within this five-gene panel had worse prognosis (3-yr relapse-free survival [RFS]: 53.0%), compared to patients with no mutation (3-yr RFS: 84.3%). In multivariate analysis, the five-gene panel remained prognostic for cancer recurrence independent of stage and high-risk features (hazard ratio 3.63, 95%CI [1.93-6.83], P < 0.0001). Furthermore, its prognostic accuracy was superior to the American Joint Commission on Cancer classification (concordance-index: 0.70 vs 0.54). CONCLUSIONS Our proposed mutation panel identifies CRC patients at high-risk for recurrence, which may help guide adjuvant therapy and post-operative surveillance protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shonan Sho
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Surgery, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | - Colin M Court
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Surgery, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | - Paul Winograd
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Surgery, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | - Marcia M Russell
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Surgery, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | - James S Tomlinson
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Department of Surgery, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California.,UCLA Center for Pancreatic Diseases, Los Angeles, California
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46
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Tan BB, Li Y, Fan LQ, Zhao Q, Liu QW, Liu Y, Wang D, Jia N. Upregulated Vav2 in gastric cancer tissues promotes tumor invasion and metastasis. Tumour Biol 2017; 39:1010428317698392. [PMID: 28459214 DOI: 10.1177/1010428317698392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have proved that Vav2 gene is associated with the carcinogenesis of some tumors, but the relationship between Vav2 gene and gastric cancer remains unclear. Purpose of this study is to detect the expression of Vav2 protein in gastric cancer tissues and to evaluate the clinical value of Vav2. Furthermore, both effect of Vav2 gene on invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer cells and its mechanism are investigated in vitro. Results showed that positive rate of Vav2 protein was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than in adjacent tissues and notably higher in metastatic lymph nodes than in gastric cancer tissues. Results of western blot were consistent with immunohistochemistry. Expression of Vav2 protein in gastric cancer tissues was related to degree of tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stages. Inhibition of endogenous Vav2 in BGC823 cells led to significantly decreased cell activity, migration, and invasion ability in vitro, and expression of Rac1, MMP-2, and MMP-9 decreased, whereas expression of TIMP-1 increased. We concluded that Vav2 might promote invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer by regulating some invasion and metastasis-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bi-bo Tan
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Li-qiao Fan
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Qun Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Qing-wei Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yü Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Nan Jia
- Department of General Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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47
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Das V, Kalyan G, Hazra S, Pal M. Understanding the role of structural integrity and differential expression of integrin profiling to identify potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer. J Cell Physiol 2017; 233:168-185. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Das
- Biological Sciences and Technology DivisionCSIR‐North East Institute of Science and TechnologyJorhat, AssamIndia
| | - Gazal Kalyan
- Department of BiotechnologyIndian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR)RoorkeeUttarakhandIndia
| | - Saugata Hazra
- Department of BiotechnologyIndian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR)RoorkeeUttarakhandIndia
- Centre for NanotechnologyIndian Institute of Technology RoorkeeRoorkeeUttarakhandIndia
| | - Mintu Pal
- Biological Sciences and Technology DivisionCSIR‐North East Institute of Science and TechnologyJorhat, AssamIndia
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Ruggiero C, Doghman-Bouguerra M, Sbiera S, Sbiera I, Parsons M, Ragazzon B, Morin A, Robidel E, Favier J, Bertherat J, Fassnacht M, Lalli E. Dosage-dependent regulation of VAV2 expression by steroidogenic factor-1 drives adrenocortical carcinoma cell invasion. Sci Signal 2017; 10:10/469/eaal2464. [PMID: 28270555 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aal2464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with a dismal prognosis. Genomic studies have enabled progress in our understanding of the molecular bases of ACC, but factors that influence its prognosis are lacking. Amplification of the gene encoding the transcription factor steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1; also known as NR5A1) is one of the genetic alterations common in ACC. We identified a transcriptional regulatory mechanism involving increased abundance of VAV2, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for small GTPases that control the cytoskeleton, driven by increased expression of the gene encoding SF-1 in ACC. Manipulating SF-1 and VAV2 abundance in cultured ACC cells revealed that VAV2 was a critical factor for SF-1-induced cytoskeletal remodeling and invasion in culture (Matrigel) and in vivo (chicken chorioallantoic membrane) models. Analysis of ACC patient cohorts indicated that greater VAV2 abundance robustly correlated with poor prognosis in ACC patients. Because VAV2 is a druggable target, our findings suggest that blocking VAV2 may be a new therapeutic approach to inhibit metastatic progression in ACC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Ruggiero
- Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.,CNRS UMR7275, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.,NEOGENEX CNRS International Associated Laboratory, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.,Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Mabrouka Doghman-Bouguerra
- Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.,CNRS UMR7275, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.,NEOGENEX CNRS International Associated Laboratory, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.,Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
| | - Silviu Sbiera
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Iuliu Sbiera
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maddy Parsons
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, U.K
| | - Bruno Ragazzon
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, 75014 Paris, France.,CNRS UMR8104, 75014 Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 74014 Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Morin
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 74014 Paris, France.,Inserm, UMR970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Centre, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Estelle Robidel
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 74014 Paris, France.,Inserm, UMR970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Centre, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Judith Favier
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 74014 Paris, France.,Inserm, UMR970, Paris Cardiovascular Research Centre, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Bertherat
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, 75014 Paris, France.,CNRS UMR8104, 75014 Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 74014 Paris, France
| | - Martin Fassnacht
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Enzo Lalli
- Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France. .,CNRS UMR7275, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.,NEOGENEX CNRS International Associated Laboratory, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France.,Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Sophia Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
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Erasmus JC, Bruche S, Pizarro L, Maimari N, Pogglioli T, Tomlinson C, Lees J, Zalivina I, Wheeler A, Alberts A, Russo A, Braga VMM. Defining functional interactions during biogenesis of epithelial junctions. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13542. [PMID: 27922008 PMCID: PMC5150262 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In spite of extensive recent progress, a comprehensive understanding of how actin cytoskeleton remodelling supports stable junctions remains to be established. Here we design a platform that integrates actin functions with optimized phenotypic clustering and identify new cytoskeletal proteins, their functional hierarchy and pathways that modulate E-cadherin adhesion. Depletion of EEF1A, an actin bundling protein, increases E-cadherin levels at junctions without a corresponding reinforcement of cell–cell contacts. This unexpected result reflects a more dynamic and mobile junctional actin in EEF1A-depleted cells. A partner for EEF1A in cadherin contact maintenance is the formin DIAPH2, which interacts with EEF1A. In contrast, depletion of either the endocytic regulator TRIP10 or the Rho GTPase activator VAV2 reduces E-cadherin levels at junctions. TRIP10 binds to and requires VAV2 function for its junctional localization. Overall, we present new conceptual insights on junction stabilization, which integrate known and novel pathways with impact for epithelial morphogenesis, homeostasis and diseases. Formation and reinforcement of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion depends on intracellular trafficking and interactions with the actin cytoskeleton, but how these are coordinated is not known. Here the authors conduct a focused phenotypic screen to identify new pathways regulating cell–cell junction homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Erasmus
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - S Bruche
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - L Pizarro
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.,Computing Department, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - N Maimari
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.,Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - T Pogglioli
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - C Tomlinson
- Department of Surgery &Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - J Lees
- Department Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - I Zalivina
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - A Wheeler
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - A Alberts
- Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, USA
| | - A Russo
- Computing Department, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - V M M Braga
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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50
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Kazanietz MG, Barrio-Real L, Casado-Medrano V, Baker MJ, Lopez-Haber C. The P-Rex1/Rac signaling pathway as a point of convergence for HER/ErbB receptor and GPCR responses. Small GTPases 2016; 9:297-303. [PMID: 27588611 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2016.1221273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanine nucleotide Exchange Factors (GEFs) are responsible for mediating GDP/GTP exchange for specific small G proteins, such as Rac. There has been substantial evidence for the involvement of Rac-GEFs in the control of cancer cell migration and metastatic progression. We have previously established that the Rac-GEF P-Rex1 is a mediator of actin cytoskeleton rearrangements and cell motility in breast cancer cells downstream of HER/ErbB receptors and the G-Protein Coupled Receptor (GPCR) CXCR4. P-Rex1 is highly expressed in luminal A and B breast cancer compared to normal mammary tissue, whereas expression is very low in basal breast cancer, and its expression correlates with the appearance of metastasis in patients. Here, we discuss the involvement of P-Rex1 as an effector of oncogenic/metastatic receptors in breast cancer and underscore its relevance in the convergence of receptor-triggered motile signals. In addition, we provide an overview of our recent findings describing a cross-talk between HER/ErbB receptors and CXCR4, and how this impacts on the activation of P-Rex1/Rac1 signaling, as well as highlight challenges that lie ahead. We propose a model in which P-Rex1 acts as a crucial node for the integration of upstream inputs from HER/ErbB receptors and CXCR4 in luminal breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo G Kazanietz
- a Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics , Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Laura Barrio-Real
- a Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics , Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Victoria Casado-Medrano
- a Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics , Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Martin J Baker
- a Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics , Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA
| | - Cynthia Lopez-Haber
- a Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics , Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA
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