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Wang QL, Wang L, Li QY, Li HY, Lin L, Wei D, Xu JY, Luo XJ. Micafungin exerts antitumor effect on breast cancer and osteosarcoma through preventing EMT in tumor cells in an USP7/AKT/GSK-3β pathway-dependent manner. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:4447-4459. [PMID: 38108838 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02903-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer and osteosarcoma are common cancers in women and children, respectively, but ideal drugs for treating patients with breast cancer or osteosarcoma remain to be found. Micafungin is an antifungal drug with antitumor activity on leukemia. Based on the notion of drug repurposing, this study aims to evaluate the antitumor effects of micafungin on breast cancer and osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Five breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, BT-549, SK-BR-3, MCF-7, and 4T1) and one osteosarcoma cell line (143B) were chosen for the in vitro studies. Micafungin exerted an inhibitory effect on the viability of all cell lines, and MCF-7 cells were most sensitive to micafungin among the breast cancer cell lines. In addition, micafungin showed an inhibitory effect on the proliferation, clone formation, and migration in MCF7 and 143B cells. The inhibitory effect of micafungin on the growth of breast cancer and osteosarcoma was further confirmed with xenograft tumor mouse models. To explore the underlying mechanisms, the effect of micafungin on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was examined. As expected, the levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and vimentin in MCF-7 and 143B cells were notably reduced in the presence of micafungin, concomitant with the decreased levels of ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), p-AKT, and p-GSK-3β. Based on these observations, we conclude that micafungin exerts antitumor effect on breast cancer and osteosarcoma through preventing EMT in an USP7/AKT/GSK-3β pathway-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Lin Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changsha Blood Central, Changsha, 410005, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Qiong-Yu Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Hui-Yin Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Ling Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Dan Wei
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Jin-Yun Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
| | - Xiu-Ju Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
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Wen L, Liu Z, Zhou L, Liu Z, Li Q, Geng B, Xia Y. Bone and Extracellular Signal-Related Kinase 5 (ERK5). Biomolecules 2024; 14:556. [PMID: 38785963 PMCID: PMC11117709 DOI: 10.3390/biom14050556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Bones are vital for anchoring muscles, tendons, and ligaments, serving as a fundamental element of the human skeletal structure. However, our understanding of bone development mechanisms and the maintenance of bone homeostasis is still limited. Extracellular signal-related kinase 5 (ERK5), a recently identified member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of various diseases, especially neoplasms. Recent studies have highlighted ERK5's significant role in both bone development and bone-associated pathologies. This review offers a detailed examination of the latest research on ERK5 in different tissues and diseases, with a particular focus on its implications for bone health. It also examines therapeutic strategies and future research avenues targeting ERK5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wen
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (L.W.); (Z.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.L.); (Q.L.); (B.G.)
- Orthopedic Clinical Medical Research Center and Intelligent Orthopedic Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Zirui Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (L.W.); (Z.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.L.); (Q.L.); (B.G.)
- Orthopedic Clinical Medical Research Center and Intelligent Orthopedic Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Libo Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (L.W.); (Z.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.L.); (Q.L.); (B.G.)
- Orthopedic Clinical Medical Research Center and Intelligent Orthopedic Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Zhongcheng Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (L.W.); (Z.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.L.); (Q.L.); (B.G.)
- Orthopedic Clinical Medical Research Center and Intelligent Orthopedic Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Qingda Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (L.W.); (Z.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.L.); (Q.L.); (B.G.)
- Orthopedic Clinical Medical Research Center and Intelligent Orthopedic Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Bin Geng
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (L.W.); (Z.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.L.); (Q.L.); (B.G.)
- Orthopedic Clinical Medical Research Center and Intelligent Orthopedic Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
| | - Yayi Xia
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China; (L.W.); (Z.L.); (L.Z.); (Z.L.); (Q.L.); (B.G.)
- Orthopedic Clinical Medical Research Center and Intelligent Orthopedic Industry Technology Center of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730030, China
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Yang C, Jin X, Liu X, Wu G, Yang W, Pang B, Jiang J, Liao D, Zhang Y. TRIM15 forms a regulatory loop with the AKT/FOXO1 axis and LASP1 to modulate the sensitivity of HCC cells to TKIs. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:47. [PMID: 36670097 PMCID: PMC9859813 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
For patients with advanced or metastatic Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who are not suitable for surgical resection, systemic therapy has been considered to be the standard treatment. In recent years, a small subset of patients with unresectable HCC have been benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and the overall survival time of these patients is significantly increased. However, all responders ultimately develop resistance to TKI treatment. The tripartite motif (TRIM) family member TRIM15 acts as an E3 ligase to mediate the polyubiquitination of substrates in cells. However, the biological role of TRIM15 in HCC is still an enigma. In our study, our results demonstrated that TRIM15 was abnormally upregulated in liver cancer cells after treated with TKIs and that this upregulation of TRIM15 contributed to TKI resistance in liver cancer cells. Then, we demonstrated that the upregulation of TRIM15 after TKI treatment was mediated by the AKT/FOXO1 axis. Moreover, we demonstrated that TRIM15 induced the nuclear translocation of LASP1 by mediating its K63-linked polyubiquitination, which modulated sensitivity to TKIs by increasing the phosphorylation of AKT and the expression of Snail in liver cancer cells. Collectively, we identified a novel AKT/FOXO1/TRIM15/LASP1 loop in cells, which provided potential candidates for overcoming TKI resistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Yang
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Uro-Oncology Institute of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xingchao Liu
- Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Gang Wu
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenhao Yang
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Beichuan Pang
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
| | - Jipeng Jiang
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Dongxu Liao
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.
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Katsuta E, Takabe K, Vujcic M, Gottlieb PA, Dai T, Mercado-Perez A, Beyder A, Wang Q, Opyrchal M. Mechano-Sensing Channel PIEZO2 Enhances Invasive Phenotype in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:9909. [PMID: 36077309 PMCID: PMC9455988 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mechanically gated PIEZO channels lead to an influx of cations, activation of additional Ca2+ channels, and cell depolarization. This study aimed to investigate PIEZO2's role in breast cancer. METHODS The clinical relevance of PIEZO2 expression in breast cancer patient was analyzed in a publicly available dataset. Utilizing PIEZO2 overexpressed breast cancer cells, and in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted. RESULTS High expression of PIEZO2 was correlated with a worse survival in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) but not in other subtypes. Increased PEIZO2 channel function was confirmed in PIEZO2 overexpressed cells after mechanical stimulation. PIEZO2 overexpressed cells showed increased motility and invasive phenotypes as well as higher expression of SNAIL and Vimentin and lower expression of E-cadherin in TNBC cells. Correspondingly, high expression of PIEZO2 was correlated with the increased expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes in a TNBC patient. Activated Akt signaling was observed in PIEZO2 overexpressed TNBC cells. PIEZO2 overexpressed MDA-MB-231 cells formed a significantly higher number of lung metastases after orthotopic implantation. CONCLUSION PIEZO2 activation led to enhanced SNAIL stabilization through Akt activation. It enhanced Vimentin and repressed E-cadherin transcription, resulting in increased metastatic potential and poor clinical outcomes in TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eriko Katsuta
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Kazuaki Takabe
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Yokohama City University, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
| | - Marija Vujcic
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Philip A. Gottlieb
- Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Tao Dai
- Department of Cell Stress Biology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Arnaldo Mercado-Perez
- Enteric Neuroscience Program, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Arthur Beyder
- Enteric Neuroscience Program, Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Qingfei Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Mateusz Opyrchal
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Clinical Significance and Regulation of ERK5 Expression and Function in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020348. [PMID: 35053510 PMCID: PMC8773716 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is a unique kinase among MAPKs family members, given its large structure characterized by the presence of a unique C-terminal domain. Despite increasing data demonstrating the relevance of the ERK5 pathway in the growth, survival, and differentiation of normal cells, ERK5 has recently attracted the attention of several research groups given its relevance in inflammatory disorders and cancer. Accumulating evidence reported its role in tumor initiation and progression. In this review, we explore the gene expression profile of ERK5 among cancers correlated with its clinical impact, as well as the prognostic value of ERK5 and pERK5 expression levels in tumors. We also summarize the importance of ERK5 in the maintenance of a cancer stem-like phenotype and explore the major known contributions of ERK5 in the tumor-associated microenvironment. Moreover, although several questions are still open concerning ERK5 molecular regulation, different ERK5 isoforms derived from the alternative splicing process are also described, highlighting the potential clinical relevance of targeting ERK5 pathways.
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6
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Raudenska M, Balvan J, Masarik M. Crosstalk between autophagy inhibitors and endosome-related secretory pathways: a challenge for autophagy-based treatment of solid cancers. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:140. [PMID: 34706732 PMCID: PMC8549397 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01423-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is best known for its role in organelle and protein turnover, cell quality control, and metabolism. The autophagic machinery has, however, also adapted to enable protein trafficking and unconventional secretory pathways so that organelles (such as autophagosomes and multivesicular bodies) delivering cargo to lysosomes for degradation can change their mission from fusion with lysosomes to fusion with the plasma membrane, followed by secretion of the cargo from the cell. Some factors with key signalling functions do not enter the conventional secretory pathway but can be secreted in an autophagy-mediated manner.Positive clinical results of some autophagy inhibitors are encouraging. Nevertheless, it is becoming clear that autophagy inhibition, even within the same cancer type, can affect cancer progression differently. Even next-generation inhibitors of autophagy can have significant non-specific effects, such as impacts on endosome-related secretory pathways and secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Many studies suggest that cancer cells release higher amounts of EVs compared to non-malignant cells, which makes the effect of autophagy inhibitors on EVs secretion highly important and attractive for anticancer therapy. In this review article, we discuss how different inhibitors of autophagy may influence the secretion of EVs and summarize the non-specific effects of autophagy inhibitors with a focus on endosome-related secretory pathways. Modulation of autophagy significantly impacts not only the quantity of EVs but also their content, which can have a deep impact on the resulting pro-tumourigenic or anticancer effect of autophagy inhibitors used in the antineoplastic treatment of solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Raudenska
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Balvan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Masarik
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, CZ-613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Pathological Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ-625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
- BIOCEV, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prumyslova 595, CZ-252 50, Vestec, Czech Republic.
- Center for Advanced Functional Nanorobots, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, Technická 5, CZ-166 28, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Inhibition of Cell Proliferation and Metastasis by Scutellarein Regulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Signaling through PTEN Activation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168841. [PMID: 34445559 PMCID: PMC8396260 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Scutellarein (SCU) is a well-known flavone with a broad range of biological activities against several cancers. Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is major cancer type due to its poor prognosis even after treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs, which causes a variety of side effects in patients. Therefore, efforts have been made to develop effective biomarkers in the treatment of HCC in order to improve therapeutic outcomes using natural based agents. The current study used SCU as a treatment approach against HCC using the HepG2 cell line. Based on the cell viability assessment up to a 200 μM concentration of SCU, three low-toxic concentrations of (25, 50, and 100) μM were adopted for further investigation. SCU induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and inhibited cell migration and proliferation in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, increased PTEN expression by SCU led to the subsequent downregulation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins. In addition, SCU regulated the metastasis with EMT and migration-related proteins in HepG2 cells. In summary, SCU inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in HepG2 cells through PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling by upregulation of PTEN, suggesting that SCU might be used as a potential agent for HCC therapy.
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Xu Q, Zhang J, Telfer BA, Zhang H, Ali N, Chen F, Risa B, Pearson AJ, Zhang W, Finegan KG, Ucar A, Giurisato E, Tournier C. The extracellular-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) enhances metastatic burden in triple-negative breast cancer through focal adhesion protein kinase (FAK)-mediated regulation of cell adhesion. Oncogene 2021; 40:3929-3941. [PMID: 33981002 PMCID: PMC8195737 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01798-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
There is overwhelming clinical evidence that the extracellular-regulated protein kinase 5 (ERK5) is significantly dysregulated in human breast cancer. However, there is no definite understanding of the requirement of ERK5 in tumor growth and metastasis due to very limited characterization of the pathway in disease models. In this study, we report that a high level of ERK5 is a predictive marker of metastatic breast cancer. Mechanistically, our in vitro data revealed that ERK5 was critical for maintaining the invasive capability of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells through focal adhesion protein kinase (FAK) activation. Specifically, we found that phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr397 was controlled by a kinase-independent function of ERK5. Accordingly, silencing ERK5 in mammary tumor grafts impaired FAK phosphorylation at Tyr397 and suppressed TNBC cell metastasis to the lung without preventing tumor growth. Collectively, these results establish a functional relationship between ERK5 and FAK signaling in promoting malignancy. Thus, targeting the oncogenic ERK5-FAK axis represents a promising therapeutic strategy for breast cancer exhibiting aggressive clinical behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuping Xu
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jingwei Zhang
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Brian A Telfer
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nisha Ali
- Manchester University NHS FT, Wythenshawe hospital, Manchester, UK
| | - Fuhui Chen
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Blanca Risa
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Adam J Pearson
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Wei Zhang
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Katherine G Finegan
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ahmet Ucar
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Emanuele Giurisato
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Department of Biotechnology Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Cathy Tournier
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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9
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Zengin T, Önal-Süzek T. Analysis of genomic and transcriptomic variations as prognostic signature for lung adenocarcinoma. BMC Bioinformatics 2020; 21:368. [PMID: 32998690 PMCID: PMC7526001 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-020-03691-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lung cancer is the leading cause of the largest number of deaths worldwide and lung adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer. In order to understand the molecular basis of lung adenocarcinoma, integrative analysis have been performed by using genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics and clinical data. Besides, molecular prognostic signatures have been generated for lung adenocarcinoma by using gene expression levels in tumor samples. However, we need signatures including different types of molecular data, even cohort or patient-based biomarkers which are the candidates of molecular targeting. Results We built an R pipeline to carry out an integrated meta-analysis of the genomic alterations including single-nucleotide variations and the copy number variations, transcriptomics variations through RNA-seq and clinical data of patients with lung adenocarcinoma in The Cancer Genome Atlas project. We integrated significant genes including single-nucleotide variations or the copy number variations, differentially expressed genes and those in active subnetworks to construct a prognosis signature. Cox proportional hazards model with Lasso penalty and LOOCV was used to identify best gene signature among different gene categories. We determined a 12-gene signature (BCHE, CCNA1, CYP24A1, DEPTOR, MASP2, MGLL, MYO1A, PODXL2, RAPGEF3, SGK2, TNNI2, ZBTB16) for prognostic risk prediction based on overall survival time of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma. The patients in both training and test data were clustered into high-risk and low-risk groups by using risk scores of the patients calculated based on selected gene signature. The overall survival probability of these risk groups was highly significantly different for both training and test datasets. Conclusions This 12-gene signature could predict the prognostic risk of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma in TCGA and they are potential predictors for the survival-based risk clustering of the patients with lung adenocarcinoma. These genes can be used to cluster patients based on molecular nature and the best candidates of drugs for the patient clusters can be proposed. These genes also have a high potential for targeted cancer therapy of patients with lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talip Zengin
- Department of Bioinformatics, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey
| | - Tuğba Önal-Süzek
- Department of Bioinformatics, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey. .,Department of Computer Engineering, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, Muğla, Turkey.
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10
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Hoang VT, Matossian MD, Ucar DA, Elliott S, La J, Wright MK, Burks HE, Perles A, Hossain F, King CT, Browning VE, Bursavich J, Fang F, Del Valle L, Bhatt AB, Cavanaugh JE, Flaherty PT, Anbalagan M, Rowan BG, Bratton MR, Nephew KP, Miele L, Collins-Burow BM, Martin EC, Burow ME. ERK5 Is Required for Tumor Growth and Maintenance Through Regulation of the Extracellular Matrix in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1164. [PMID: 32850332 PMCID: PMC7416559 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members regulate diverse cellular processes involved in tumor initiation and progression, yet the role of ERK5 in cancer biology is not fully understood. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents a clinical challenge due to the aggressive nature of the disease and a lack of targeted therapies. ERK5 signaling contributes to drug resistance and metastatic progression through distinct mechanisms, including activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). More recently a role for ERK5 in regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been proposed, and here we investigated the necessity of ERK5 in TNBC tumor formation. Depletion of ERK5 expression using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in MDA-MB-231 and Hs-578T cells resulted in loss of mesenchymal features, as observed through gene expression profile and cell morphology, and suppressed TNBC cell migration. In vivo xenograft experiments revealed ERK5 knockout disrupted tumor growth kinetics, which was restored using high concentration Matrigel™ and ERK5-ko reduced expression of the angiogenesis marker CD31. These findings implicated a role for ERK5 in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and matrix integrity. RNA-sequencing analyses demonstrated downregulation of matrix-associated genes, integrins, and pro-angiogenic factors in ERK5-ko cells. Tissue decellularization combined with cryo-SEM and interrogation of biomechanical properties revealed that ERK5-ko resulted in loss of key ECM fiber alignment and mechanosensing capabilities in breast cancer xenografts compared to parental wild-type cells. In this study, we identified a novel role for ERK5 in tumor growth kinetics through modulation of the ECM and angiogenesis axis in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T. Hoang
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Margarite D. Matossian
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Deniz A. Ucar
- Department of Genetics, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Steven Elliott
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Jacqueline La
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Maryl K. Wright
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Hope E. Burks
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Aaron Perles
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Fokhrul Hossain
- Department of Genetics, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Connor T. King
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Valentino E. Browning
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Jacob Bursavich
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Fang Fang
- Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Luis Del Valle
- Department of Pathology, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Akshita B. Bhatt
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jane E. Cavanaugh
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Patrick T. Flaherty
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Muralidharan Anbalagan
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Brian G. Rowan
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Melyssa R. Bratton
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Core, Xavier University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Kenneth P. Nephew
- Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Bridgette M. Collins-Burow
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Elizabeth C. Martin
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Matthew E. Burow
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
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11
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Jiang W, Cai F, Xu H, Lu Y, Chen J, Liu J, Cao N, Zhang X, Chen X, Huang Q, Zhuang H, Hua ZC. Extracellular signal regulated kinase 5 promotes cell migration, invasion and lung metastasis in a FAK-dependent manner. Protein Cell 2020; 11:825-845. [PMID: 32144580 PMCID: PMC7647985 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-020-00701-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate ERK5 expression in lung cancer and malignant melanoma progression and to ascertain the involvement of ERK5 signaling in lung cancer and melanoma. We show that ERK5 expression is abundant in human lung cancer samples, and elevated ERK5 expression in lung cancer was linked to the acquisition of increased metastatic and invasive potential. Importantly, we observed a significant correlation between ERK5 activity and FAK expression and its phosphorylation at the Ser910 site. Mechanistically, ERK5 increased the expression of the transcription factor USF1, which could transcriptionally upregulate FAK expression, resulting in FAK signaling activation to promote cell migration. We also provided evidence that the phosphorylation of FAK at Ser910 was due to ERK5 but not ERK1/2, and we then suggested a role for Ser910 in the control of cell motility. In addition, ERK5 had targets in addition to FAK that regulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cell motility in cancer cells. Taken together, our findings uncover a cancer metastasis-promoting role for ERK5 and provide the rationale for targeting ERK5 as a potential therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Jiang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Fangfang Cai
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Huangru Xu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yanyan Lu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jia Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Jia Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Nini Cao
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qilai Huang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Hongqin Zhuang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Zi-Chun Hua
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China. .,Changzhou High-Tech Research Institute of Nanjing University and Jiangsu TargetPharma Laboratories Inc., Changzhou, 213164, China.
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12
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Targeted Avenues for Cancer Treatment: The MEK5-ERK5 Signaling Pathway. Trends Mol Med 2020; 26:394-407. [PMID: 32277933 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Twenty years have passed since extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) and its upstream activator, mitogen-activated protein kinase 5 (MEK5), first emerged onto the cancer research scene. Although we have come a long way in defining the liaison between dysregulated MEK5-ERK5 signaling and the pathogenesis of epithelial and nonepithelial malignancies, selective targeting of this unique pathway remains elusive. Here, we provide an updated review of the existing evidence for a correlation between aberrant MEK5-ERK5 (phospho)proteomic/transcriptomic profiles, aggressive cancer states, and poor patient outcomes. We then focus on emerging insights from preclinical models regarding the relevance of upregulated ERK5 activity in promoting tumor growth, metastasis, therapy resistance, undifferentiated traits, and immunosuppression, highlighting the opportunities, prospects, and challenges of selectively blocking this cascade for antineoplastic treatment and chemosensitization.
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13
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Yee LD, Mortimer JE, Natarajan R, Dietze EC, Seewaldt VL. Metabolic Health, Insulin, and Breast Cancer: Why Oncologists Should Care About Insulin. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:58. [PMID: 32153503 PMCID: PMC7045050 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies investigating the potential link between adult pre-menopausal obesity [as measured by body mass index (BMI)] and triple-negative breast cancer have been inconsistent. Recent studies show that BMI is not an exact measure of metabolic health; individuals can be obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and metabolically healthy or lean (BMI < 25 kg/m2) and metabolically unhealthy. Consequently, there is a need to better understand the molecular signaling pathways that might be activated in individuals that are metabolically unhealthy and how these signaling pathways may drive biologically aggressive breast cancer. One key driver of both type-2 diabetes and cancer is insulin. Insulin is a potent hormone that activates many pathways that drive aggressive breast cancer biology. Here, we review (1) the controversial relationship between obesity and breast cancer, (2) the impact of insulin on organs, subcellular components, and cancer processes, (3) the potential link between insulin-signaling and cancer, and (4) consider time points during breast cancer prevention and treatment where insulin-signaling could be better controlled, with the ultimate goal of improving overall health, optimizing breast cancer prevention, and improving breast cancer survival.
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14
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Chen J, Zhu H, Liu Q, Ning D, Zhang Z, Zhang L, Mo J, Du P, Liu X, Song S, Fan Y, Liang H, Liu J, Zhang B, Chen X. DEPTOR induces a partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis via autocrine TGFβ1 signaling and is associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:273. [PMID: 31228948 PMCID: PMC6588925 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1220-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background DEPTOR is an endogenous inhibitor of mTORC1 and mTORC2 that plays a vital role in the progression of human malignances. However, the biological function of DEPTOR in HCC metastasis and the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Methods Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry(IHC) were employed to examine DEPTOR expression in HCC cell lines and tissues. A series of in vivo and in vitro assays were performed to determine the function of DEPTOR and the possible mechanisms underlying its role in HCC metastasis. Results We found that DEPTOR was frequently overexpressed in HCC tissues, and its high expression was associated with high serum AFP levels, increased tumor size, vascular invasion and more advanced TMN and BCLC stage, as well as an overall poor prognosis. Functional experiments demonstrated that DEPTOR silencing inhibited the proliferation and mobility of HCC cells in vitro and suppressed tumor growth and metastasis of HCC cells in vivo. Accordingly, DEPTOR overexpression promoted the invasion and metastasis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, but had no effect on cell proliferation in vitro. Overexpression of DEPTOR induced EMT by snail induction. Conversely, knockdown of snail expression impaired the DEPTOR-induced migration, invasion and EMT of HCC cells. Furthermore, we found that the increase of snail expression by DEPTOR overexpression was due to an activation of TGF-β1-smad3/smad4 signaling possibly through feedback inhibition of mTOR. Conclusion DEPTOR promotes the EMT and metastasis of HCC cells by activating the TGF-β1-smad3/smad4-snail pathway via mTOR inhibition. Therefore, targeting DEPTOR may be an ideal treatment strategy for inhibiting the growth and metastasis of HCC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1220-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Chen
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Haidan Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiumeng Liu
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Deng Ning
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoqi Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Long Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Mo
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Pengcheng Du
- Department of Biliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Liu
- Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery Department, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Shasha Song
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yawei Fan
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Huifang Liang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Jikui Liu
- Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery Department, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Bixiang Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Impact of ERK5 on the Hallmarks of Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061426. [PMID: 30901834 PMCID: PMC6471124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family that consists of highly conserved enzymes expressed in all eukaryotic cells and elicits several biological responses, including cell survival, proliferation, migration, and differentiation. In recent years, accumulating lines of evidence point to a relevant role of ERK5 in the onset and progression of several types of cancer. In particular, it has been reported that ERK5 is a key signaling molecule involved in almost all the biological features of cancer cells so that its targeting is emerging as a promising strategy to suppress tumor growth and spreading. Based on that, in this review, we pinpoint the hallmark-specific role of ERK5 in cancer in order to identify biological features that will potentially benefit from ERK5 targeting.
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16
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Pan J, Fan Z, Wang Z, Dai Q, Xiang Z, Yuan F, Yan M, Zhu Z, Liu B, Li C. CD36 mediates palmitate acid-induced metastasis of gastric cancer via AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:52. [PMID: 30717785 PMCID: PMC6360779 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1049-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) has a clear predilection for metastasis toward the omentum which is primarily composed of adipose tissue, indicating that fatty acids may contribute to this phenomenon. However their function remains poorly understood in GC. In this study, we investigated the role of palmitate acid (PA) and its cellular receptor CD36 in the progression of GC. METHODS Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed to detect CD36 expression in GC tissues and its clinical significance was determined statistically. CD36 over-expression and knock-down expression cell models were developed and tested in vitro. Wound-healing assays, migration assays, and invasion assays were performed and peritoneal implants into nude mice were done to assess the biological effects of PA and CD36. The underlying mechanisms were investigated using western blot, immunofluorescence (IF), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and antibody blocking assays. RESULTS PA promoted the metastasis of GC by phosphorylation of AKT, which facilitated the nuclear localization of β-catenin through inactivation of GSK-3β via phosphorylation. This tumor-promoting effect of PA was mediated by CD36, a cell surface receptor of fatty acids (FAs). The higher the CD36 expression levels in GC tissues correlated with the poorer the prognosis of patients according to the TCGA database, the GEO database and our own clinical data. CONCLUSIONS Our experiments established CD36 as a key mediator of FA-induced metastasis of GC via the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. CD36 might, therefore, constitute a potential therapeutic target for clinical intervention in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaomeng Pan
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Fan
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenqiang Wang
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingqiang Dai
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Xiang
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Fei Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Yan
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenggang Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingya Liu
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.
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Caron A, Briscoe DM, Richard D, Laplante M. DEPTOR at the Nexus of Cancer, Metabolism, and Immunity. Physiol Rev 2018; 98:1765-1803. [PMID: 29897294 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00064.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
DEP domain-containing mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)-interacting protein (DEPTOR) is an important modulator of mTOR, a kinase at the center of two important protein complexes named mTORC1 and mTORC2. These highly studied complexes play essential roles in regulating growth, metabolism, and immunity in response to mitogens, nutrients, and cytokines. Defects in mTOR signaling have been associated with the development of many diseases, including cancer and diabetes, and approaches aiming at modulating mTOR activity are envisioned as an attractive strategy to improve human health. DEPTOR interaction with mTOR represses its kinase activity and rewires the mTOR signaling pathway. Over the last years, several studies have revealed key roles for DEPTOR in numerous biological and pathological processes. Here, we provide the current state of the knowledge regarding the cellular and physiological functions of DEPTOR by focusing on its impact on the mTOR pathway and its role in promoting health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Caron
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hypothalamic Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas ; Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts ; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts ; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (CRIUCPQ), Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval , Québec , Canada ; and Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l'Université Laval, Université Laval , Québec , Canada
| | - David M Briscoe
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hypothalamic Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas ; Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts ; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts ; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (CRIUCPQ), Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval , Québec , Canada ; and Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l'Université Laval, Université Laval , Québec , Canada
| | - Denis Richard
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hypothalamic Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas ; Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts ; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts ; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (CRIUCPQ), Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval , Québec , Canada ; and Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l'Université Laval, Université Laval , Québec , Canada
| | - Mathieu Laplante
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hypothalamic Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas, Texas ; Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts ; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts ; Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (CRIUCPQ), Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval , Québec , Canada ; and Centre de Recherche sur le Cancer de l'Université Laval, Université Laval , Québec , Canada
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18
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Yu X, Wang M, Han Q, Zhang X, Mao X, Wang X, Li X, Ma W, Jin F. ZNF326 promotes a malignant phenotype of breast cancer by interacting with DBC1. Mol Carcinog 2018; 57:1803-1815. [PMID: 30175866 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xinmiao Yu
- Department of Breast Surgery; The First Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang China
| | - Minghao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery; The First Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang China
| | - Qiang Han
- Department of Pathology; College of Basic Medical Sciences and The First Hospital; China Medical University; Shenyang China
| | - Xiupeng Zhang
- Department of Pathology; College of Basic Medical Sciences and The First Hospital; China Medical University; Shenyang China
| | - Xiaoyun Mao
- Department of Breast Surgery; The First Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery; The First Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang China
| | - Xiaoying Li
- Department of Breast Surgery; The First Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang China
| | - Wei Ma
- Department of Breast Surgery; The First Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang China
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery; The First Hospital of China Medical University; Shenyang China
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19
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Zhao Y, Song K, Zhang Y, Xu H, Zhang X, Wang L, Fan C, Jiang G, Wang E. TMEM17 promotes malignant progression of breast cancer via AKT/GSK3β signaling. Cancer Manag Res 2018; 10:2419-2428. [PMID: 30122991 PMCID: PMC6080873 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s168723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Current knowledge of TMEM17, a recently identified protein of the transmembrane (TMEM) family, is limited, especially with respect to its expression and biological functions in malignant tumors. This study analyzed TMEM17 expression in invasive breast cancer tissue and breast cell lines and its relevance to clinicopathological factors, and investigated the mechanisms underlying the biological effects of TMEM17 on breast cancer cells. Patients and methods TMEM17 protein expression was determined in 20 freshly harvested specimens (tumor and paired normal tissues) by Western blotting. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to determine the expression and subcellular localization of TMEM17 in samples from 167 patients (mean age, 49 years) diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (38 with triple-negative breast cancer; 129 with non-triple-negative breast cancer) who underwent complete resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University between 2011 and 2013. Furthermore, TMEM17 was knocked down by small interfering RNAs in breast cancer cell lines. Results TMEM17 was found to be significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues compared to the corresponding normal breast tissues by Western blotting (p=0.015). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TMEM was significantly upregulated in invasive breast cancer cells compared to adjacent normal breast duct glandular epithelial cells (10.78% vs 76.05%, p<0.001), and its expression was closely related to the patient’s T-stage (p=0.022), advanced TNM stages (p=0.007), and lymph node metastasis (p=0.012). After TMEM17 knockdown or overexpression in breast cancer cell lines, TMEM17 upregulated p-AKT, p-GSK3β, active β-catenin, and Snail, and downstream target proteins c-myc and cyclin D1, and downregulated E-cadherin, resulting in increased cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. These effects were reversed by the AKT inhibitor LY294002. Conclusion Our results indicate that TMEM17 is upregulated in breast cancer tissues and can promote malignant progression of breast cancer cells by activating the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhao
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Kuiyuan Song
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Yong Zhang
- Departments of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, China
| | - Hongtao Xu
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Xiupeng Zhang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Chuifeng Fan
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Guiyang Jiang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
| | - Enhua Wang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital and College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China,
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Hu X, Wu LW, Weng X, Lin NM, Zhang C. Synergistic antitumor activity of aspirin and erlotinib: Inhibition of p38 enhanced aspirin plus erlotinib-induced suppression of metastasis and promoted cancer cell apoptosis. Oncol Lett 2018; 16:2715-2724. [PMID: 30013667 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
High-dose erlotinib is effective for non-small cell lung cancer patients with brain metastases. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether aspirin could increase the anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of regular erlotinib treatment. The data demonstrated that combining aspirin with erlotinib significantly induced apoptosis and inhibited tumor cell proliferation in several human cancer types. Furthermore, aspirin plus erlotinib significantly induced the activation of E-cadherin and suppression of p38. The data also indicated that the p38/E-cadherin pathway may be involved in the apoptosis caused by the combination of aspirin and erlotinib. As p38 and E-cadherin also serve a key role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer metastasis, we hypothesized that the combination of aspirin and erlotinib may significantly inhibit tumor metastasis. First, aspirin plus erlotinib achieved potent inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion, which are crucial for cancer metastasis. Next, the results demonstrated that aspirin plus erlotinib inhibited angiogenesis by suppressing endothelial cell migration and invasion. Moreover, it was confirmed that aspirin plus erlotinib exerted synergistic anti-angiogenic effects. Finally, the synergistic anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of the combination of aspirin with erlotinib were further validated in an A549 xenograft model in vivo. In conclusion, aspirin plus erlotinib may be an effective combination regimen for patients with metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Hu
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310015, P.R. China.,College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China
| | - Lin-Wen Wu
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310015, P.R. China.,College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China
| | - Xu Weng
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China.,Hangzhou Translational Medicine Research Center, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Neng-Ming Lin
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China.,Hangzhou Translational Medicine Research Center, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, P.R. China
| | - Chong Zhang
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310015, P.R. China
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21
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Pavan S, Meyer-Schaller N, Diepenbruck M, Kalathur RKR, Saxena M, Christofori G. A kinome-wide high-content siRNA screen identifies MEK5-ERK5 signaling as critical for breast cancer cell EMT and metastasis. Oncogene 2018; 37:4197-4213. [PMID: 29713055 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0270-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
An epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been correlated to malignant tumor progression and metastasis by promoting cancer cell migration and invasion and chemoresistance. Hence, finding druggable EMT effectors is critical to efficiently interfere with metastasis formation and to overcome therapy resistance. We have employed a high-content microscopy screen in combination with a kinome and phosphatome-wide siRNA library to identify signaling pathways underlying an EMT of murine mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer cells. This screen identified the MEK5-ERK5 axis as a critical player in TGFβ-mediated EMT. Suppression of MEK5-ERK5 signaling completely prevented the morphological and molecular changes occurring during a TGFβ-induced EMT and, conversely, forced highly metastatic breast cancer cells into a differentiated epithelial state. Inhibition of MEK5-ERK5 signaling also repressed breast cancer cell migration and invasion and substantially reduced lung metastasis without affecting primary tumor growth. The results suggest that the MEK5-ERK5 signaling axis via activation of MEF2B and other transcription factors plays an important role in the induction and maintenance of breast cancer cell migration and invasion and thus represents an exploitable target for the pharmacological inhibition of cancer cell metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Pavan
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, 4058, Switzerland.
| | | | - Maren Diepenbruck
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
| | | | - Meera Saxena
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
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22
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Pseudomonas aeruginosa mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin inhibits proliferation and invasion via the PTEN/AKT pathway in HeLa cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:37121-37131. [PMID: 27206797 PMCID: PMC5095063 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (PA-MSHA) on the proliferation and invasion of human cervical cancer cell lines, as well as the molecular pathways underlying these effects. MTT cell proliferation assays revealed a time- and concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect of PA-MSHA on HeLa cells but not H8 cells. Flow cytometry with propidium iodide and annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate labeling (FITC) indicated that various concentrations of PA-MSHA could induce apoptosis and G2-M cell cycle arrest in HeLa cells. PA-MSHA also impaired the migration and invasion abilities of HeLa cells in Wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. Western blot results demonstrated that PA-MSHA reduced the expression of p-AKT, p-GSK3β, BCL-2, Vimentin and β-catenin, but increased the levels of PTEN, BAD, BAX and E-cadherin in HeLa cells. Importantly, PTEN siRNA induced the activity of p-AKT, while PA-MSHA partly inhibited this induction, indicating that PA-MSHA may reduce the cell proliferation and invasion potential by activating PTEN and thus inhibiting the AKT pathway in vitro. These data suggest the potential application of PA-MSHA to the treatment of human cervical cancer.
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23
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Song Z, Feng C, Lu Y, Gao Y, Lin Y, Dong C. Overexpression and biological function of MEF2D in human pancreatic cancer. Am J Transl Res 2017; 9:4836-4847. [PMID: 29218083 PMCID: PMC5714769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
To explore the expression, clinical significance, biological function, and potential mechanism of MEF2D in pancreatic cancer, the expression of MEF2D in human pancreatic cancer tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissues was analyzed through immunohistochemical staining. The association between MEF2D expression, clinicopathological parameters, overall survival, and disease-free survival was evaluated. Human pancreatic cancer cell lines BxPC-1 and SW1990 were selected to investigate the effect of MEF2D knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot analysis was used to assess the effect of MEF2D expression on the Akt/GSK pathway, as well as the protein expression of cyclin B1, cyclin D1, matrix metalloprotein (MMP)-2, and MMP-9. Our results revealed that the expression of MEF2D was increased in pancreatic cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues and the increased expression of MEF2D was associated with tumor size, histological differentiation, and TNM stage of pancreatic cancer patients. Moreover, the expression of MEF2D was an independent prognostic indicator for pancreatic cancer patients. In addition, knockdown of MEF2D in pancreatic cancer cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by down-regulating the protein expression of cyclin B1, cyclin D1, MMP-2, and MMP-9. Knockdown of MEF2D reduced the levels of phosphorylated Akt and GSK-3β. Our data indicated that MEF2D expression was increased in pancreatic cancer and was an independent molecular prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer patients. Furthermore, we showed that MEF2D controlled cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities in pancreatic cancer via the Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwang Song
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chan Feng
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonglin Lu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Lin
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Dong
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of MedicineShanghai, People's Republic of China
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Hoang VT, Yan TJ, Cavanaugh JE, Flaherty PT, Beckman BS, Burow ME. Oncogenic signaling of MEK5-ERK5. Cancer Lett 2017; 392:51-59. [PMID: 28153789 PMCID: PMC5901897 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate diverse cellular processes including proliferation, cell survival, differentiation, and apoptosis. While conventional MAPK constituents have well-defined roles in oncogenesis, the MEK5 pathway has only recently emerged in cancer research. In this review, we consider the MEK5 signaling cascade, focusing specifically on its involvement in drug resistance and regulation of aggressive cancer phenotypes. Moreover, we explore the role of MEK5/ERK5 in tumorigenesis and metastatic progression, discussing the discrepancies in preclinical studies and assessing its viability as a therapeutic target for anti-cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T Hoang
- Department of Medicine-Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Thomas J Yan
- Department of Medicine-Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jane E Cavanaugh
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Patrick T Flaherty
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Matthew E Burow
- Department of Medicine-Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA; Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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25
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Targeting BMK1 Impairs the Drug Resistance to Combined Inhibition of BRAF and MEK1/2 in Melanoma. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46244. [PMID: 28387310 PMCID: PMC5384194 DOI: 10.1038/srep46244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined inhibition of BRAF and MEK1/2 (CIBM) improves therapeutic efficacy of BRAF-mutant melanoma. However, drug resistance to CIBM is inevitable and the drug resistance mechanisms still remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that BMK1 pathway contributes to the drug resistance to CIBM. Considering that ERK1/2 pathway regulates cellular processes by phosphorylating, we first performed a SILAC phosphoproteomic profiling of CIBM. Phosphorylation of 239 proteins was identified to be downregulated, while phosphorylation of 47 proteins was upregulated. Following siRNA screening of 47 upregulated proteins indicated that the knockdown of BMK1 showed the most significant ability to inhibit the proliferation of CIBM resistant cells. It was found that phosphorylation of BMK1 was enhanced in resistant cells, which suggested an association of BMK1 with drug resistance. Further study indicated that phospho-activation of BMK1 by MEK5D enhanced the resistance to CIBM. Conversely, inhibition of BMK1 by shRNAi or BMK1 inhibitor (XMD8-92) impaired not only the acquirement of resistance to CIBM, but also the proliferation of CIBM resistant cells. Further kinome-scale siRNA screening demonstrated that SRC\MEK5 cascade promotes the phospho-activation of BMK1 in response to CIBM. Our study not only provides a global phosphoproteomic view of CIBM in melanoma, but also demonstrates that inhibition of BMK1 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of melanoma.
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26
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Shi Y, Daniels-Wells TR, Frost P, Lee J, Finn RS, Bardeleben C, Penichet ML, Jung ME, Gera J, Lichtenstein A. Cytotoxic Properties of a DEPTOR-mTOR Inhibitor in Multiple Myeloma Cells. Cancer Res 2016; 76:5822-5831. [PMID: 27530328 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-1019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
DEPTOR is a 48 kDa protein that binds to mTOR and inhibits this kinase in TORC1 and TORC2 complexes. Overexpression of DEPTOR specifically occurs in a model of multiple myeloma. Its silencing in multiple myeloma cells is sufficient to induce cytotoxicity, suggesting that DEPTOR is a potential therapeutic target. mTORC1 paralysis protects multiple myeloma cells against DEPTOR silencing, implicating mTORC1 in the critical role of DEPTOR in multiple myeloma cell viability. Building on this foundation, we interrogated a small-molecule library for compounds that prevent DEPTOR binding to mTOR in a yeast-two-hybrid assay. One compound was identified that also prevented DEPTOR-mTOR binding in human myeloma cells, with subsequent activation of mTORC1 and mTORC2. In a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, the compound bound to recombinant DEPTOR but not to mTOR. The drug also prevented binding of recombinant DEPTOR to mTOR in the SPR assay. Remarkably, although activating TORC1 and TORC2, the compound induced apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in multiple myeloma cell lines and prevented outgrowth of human multiple myeloma cells in immunodeficient mice. In vitro cytotoxicity against multiple myeloma cell lines was directly correlated with DEPTOR protein expression and was mediated, in part, by the activation of TORC1 and induction of p21 expression. Additional cytotoxicity was seen against primary multiple myeloma cells, whereas normal hematopoietic colony formation was unaffected. These results further support DEPTOR as a viable therapeutic target in multiple myeloma and suggest an effective strategy of preventing binding of DEPTOR to mTOR. Cancer Res; 76(19); 5822-31. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijiang Shi
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Tracy R Daniels-Wells
- Department of Surgery, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Patrick Frost
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jihye Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Richard S Finn
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Carolyne Bardeleben
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Manuel L Penichet
- Department of Surgery, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California. Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael E Jung
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Joseph Gera
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Alan Lichtenstein
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
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Gastrointestinal Factor GDDR Attenuates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer via Inhibiting AKT Signal. Dig Dis Sci 2016; 61:1941-9. [PMID: 27017226 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-016-4115-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gastric dramatic down-related gene (GDDR) is an abundantly expressed secretory protein in normal gastric epithelia, while its expression is distinctly decreased in gastric cancer. However, the role of GDDR in gastric cancer remains poorly understood. AIMS This study aims to detect the expression and clinical significance of GDDR in gastric cancer and investigate its effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition. METHODS The expression of GDDR in gastric cancer was examined by immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and Western blotting. The relationships between GDDR expression and clinicopathological factors were evaluated. The effects of GDDR on epithelial-mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer cells were investigated in vitro. RESULTS GDDR was absent in gastric cancer tissue or dramatically downregulated in gastric cancer cell lines. Loss of GDDR expression in gastric cancer was strongly correlated with clinicopathological factors, such as tumor differentiation (p = 0.037), T stage (p < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.008) and TNM stage (p < 0.001). Patients with decreased GDDR expression presented shortened overall survival (p = 0.033). Functional studies demonstrated that GDDR elevation augmented cell-cell adhesion and suppressed cell motility, concomitant with increased expression of E-cadherin and decreased expression of β-catenin and vimentin. Conversely, GDDR depletion increased cell motility, concomitant with decreased expression of E-cadherin and increased expression of β-catenin and vimentin. Moreover, GDDR had an inhibitory effect on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggested that GDDR expression was significantly associated with the progression of gastric cancer and GDDR may function as a tumor suppressor via inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
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28
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Parvani JG, Davuluri G, Wendt MK, Espinosa C, Tian M, Danielpour D, Sossey-Alaoui K, Schiemann WP. Deptor enhances triple-negative breast cancer metastasis and chemoresistance through coupling to survivin expression. Neoplasia 2015; 17:317-28. [PMID: 25810016 PMCID: PMC4372649 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2015.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 02/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) functions to suppress tumorigenesis in normal mammary tissues and early-stage breast cancers and, paradoxically, acts to promote the metastasis and chemoresistance in late-stage breast cancers, particularly triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). Precisely how TGF-β acquires oncogenic characteristics in late-stage breast cancers remains unknown, as does the role of the endogenous mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, Dep domain-containing mTOR-interacting protein (Deptor), in coupling TGF-β to TNBC development and metastatic progression. Here we demonstrate that Deptor expression was downregulated in basal-like/TNBCs relative to their luminal counterparts. Additionally, Deptor expression was 1) inversely correlated with the metastatic ability of human (MCF10A) and mouse (4T1) TNBC progression series and 2) robustly repressed by several inducers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition programs. Functional disruption of Deptor expression in 4T07 cells significantly inhibited their proliferation and organoid growth in vitro, as well as prevented their colonization and tumor formation in the lungs of mice. In stark contrast, elevated Deptor expression was significantly associated with poorer overall survival of patients harboring estrogen receptor α-negative breast cancers. Accordingly, enforced Deptor expression in MDA-MB-231 cells dramatically enhanced their 1) organoid growth in vitro, 2) pulmonary outgrowth in mice, and 3) resistance to chemotherapies, an event dependent on the coupling of Deptor to survivin expression. Collectively, our findings highlight the dichotomous functions of Deptor in modulating the proliferation and survival of TNBCs during metastasis; they also implicate Deptor and its stimulation of survivin as essential components of TNBC resistance to chemotherapies and apoptotic stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny G Parvani
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Gangarao Davuluri
- Department of Molecular Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Michael K Wendt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Christine Espinosa
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Maozhen Tian
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - David Danielpour
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Khalid Sossey-Alaoui
- Department of Molecular Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - William P Schiemann
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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29
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Zhao L, Quan Y, Wang J, Wang F, Zheng Y, Zhou A. Vitamin C inhibit the proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal-transition of lens epithelial cells by destabilizing HIF-1α. Int J Clin Exp Med 2015; 8:15155-15163. [PMID: 26628999 PMCID: PMC4658888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Posterior capsular opacification (PCO), the main complication of cataract surgery, is mainly caused by the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the residual lens epithelial cells (LECs).Vitamin C was reported to reduce the risk of forming a cataract. However, there has been no study showing the association between vitamin C and PCO. In this study, we found that vitamin C could inhibit the migration and proliferation of human lens epithelial cells. We also found that vitamin C could increase the proline hydroxylation of HIF-1α and reduce the activity of HIF-1α. Moreover, vitamin C could not inhibit the activity of proline-mutant HIF-1α (402/564). Overexpression of wild-type HIF-1α or proline-mutant HIF-1α was found to increase the proliferation and migration of human lens epithelial cells. Differently, vitamin C could inhibit the proliferation and migration in wild-type HIF-1α-overexpressing lens epithelial cells but not the proline-mutant HIF-1α-overexpressing cells. Additionally, vitamin C was also found to inhibit the expression of EMT transcription factors TWIST. We then found that vitamin C could repress the EMT phenotypes induced by the overexpression of wild-type HIF-1α but not the proline-mutant HIF-1α. These results provide evidence that vitamin C plays a role in the repression of proliferation, migration, and EMT of human lens epithelial cells by destabilizing HIF-1α.
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Chen W, Zhang B, Guo W, Gao L, Shi L, Li H, Lu S, Liu Y, Li X. miR-429 inhibits glioma invasion through BMK1 suppression. J Neurooncol 2015; 125:43-54. [PMID: 26272601 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-015-1887-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (BMK1) and miRNA miR-429 and to determine the effect of miR-429 on glioma invasiveness. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate BMK1 expression in glioma tissues. Real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of miR-429 and other RNAs. Western blot was used to detect the expression of BMK1 and other related proteins. Wound healing, Matrigel invasion, and chemotaxis assays were performed to detect the invasion and migration of glioma cell lines. The actual binding site of miR-429 to the 3' untranslated region of BMK1 was confirmed by luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. BMK1 expression was associated with the World Health Organization grading of glioma and inversely correlated with patient survival. Suppression of BMK1 inhibited the migration and invasion of glioma cells by interfering with mesenchymal transition. Additionally, hepatocyte growth factor-induced GSK3β phosphorylation was suppressed through BMK1 knockdown. Interestingly, our findings validated a novel role for miR-429 in suppressing the migration and invasion of glioma by directly inhibiting BMK1 expression. We also found that miR-429 expression in glioma cells and tissues was lower than that in normal cells and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues, and miR-429 overexpression inhibited invasive activity of glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, our data validated that miR-429 downregulation was due to the hypermethylation of its promoter region. Our results indicated that BMK1 modulation by miR-429 has an important function in glioma invasion both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyi Chen
- Department of Pathology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Baogang Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenjun Guo
- Department of Pathology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Linlin Gao
- Department of Internal Medicine, NO.3, Laixi Municipal Hospital, Laixi, 266600, People's Republic of China
| | - Lihong Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongli Li
- Department of Medicine Research Center, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Shijun Lu
- Department of Pathology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Liu
- Department of Pathology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolong Li
- Department of Pathology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, People's Republic of China
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Derynck R, Muthusamy BP, Saeteurn KY. Signaling pathway cooperation in TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2014; 31:56-66. [PMID: 25240174 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2014.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Transdifferentiation of epithelial cells into cells with mesenchymal properties and appearance, that is, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), is essential during development, and occurs in pathological contexts, such as in fibrosis and cancer progression. Although EMT can be induced by many extracellular ligands, TGF-β and TGF-β-related proteins have emerged as major inducers of this transdifferentiation process in development and cancer. Additionally, it is increasingly apparent that signaling pathways cooperate in the execution of EMT. This update summarizes the current knowledge of the coordination of TGF-β-induced Smad and non-Smad signaling pathways in EMT, and the remarkable ability of Smads to cooperate with other transcription-directed signaling pathways in the control of gene reprogramming during EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rik Derynck
- Departments of Cell and Tissue Biology, and Anatomy, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0669, USA.
| | - Baby Periyanayaki Muthusamy
- Departments of Cell and Tissue Biology, and Anatomy, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0669, USA
| | - Koy Y Saeteurn
- Departments of Cell and Tissue Biology, and Anatomy, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0669, USA
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Chen X, Cheng H, Pan T, Liu Y, Su Y, Ren C, Huang D, Zha X, Liang C. mTOR regulate EMT through RhoA and Rac1 pathway in prostate cancer. Mol Carcinog 2014; 54:1086-95. [PMID: 25043657 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2013] [Revised: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Recently, an increasing number of studies have suggested that mTOR plays a critical role in the regulation of tumor cell motility, invasion and cancer metastasis. However, little is known about the signaling mechanisms in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of prostate cancer. In this study, we found that the expression levels of Raptor and Rictor in prostate cancer tissues were elevated, which may suggest that Raptor and Rictor signaling pathways are associated with prostate cancer progression and metastasis. Inhibition of mTORC1 or mTORC2 by knock down of Raptor or Rictor, respectively, migration and invasion of prostate cancer were attenuated. Furthermore, EMT, a characterized by the changed expression levels of various markers like E-cadherin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, and vimentin emergend following inhibition of Raptor or Rictor. Finally, the small GTPases (RhoA and Rac1) which were crucial regulatory proteins in cell migration and invasion were inactivited after downregulating Raptor and Rictor. These results suggest that mTOR regulate EMT at least in part by down regulation of RhoA and Rac1 signaling pathways. Our findings provide novel very attractive target strategies that the inhibition of mTOR signaling pathways may retard prostate cancer migration and invasion at early stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- XianGuo Chen
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - HaiYan Cheng
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.,Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - TengFei Pan
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Yang Su
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - CuiPing Ren
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.,Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - DaKe Huang
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Microbiology & Parasitology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.,Comprehensive Laboratory of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - XiaoJun Zha
- Department of Biochemistry, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - ChaoZhao Liang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
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Wang T, Li Y, Tuerhanjiang A, Wang W, Wu Z, Yuan M, Maitituoheti M, Wang S. Twist2 contributes to cisplatin-resistance of ovarian cancer through the AKT/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2014; 7:1102-1108. [PMID: 24944676 PMCID: PMC3961411 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2014.1816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin is regularly used in the treatment of ovarian cancer. However, the drug only provides a modest survival advantage, primarily due to chemoresistance and the upregulation of antiapoptotic machineries in ovarian cancer cells. Therefore, targeting the mechanisms responsible for cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells may improve the therapeutic outcomes. Twist basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor 2 (Twist2) is a novel zinc finger transcription factor that has been indicated to be an important inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which has been shown to be involved in various phases of tumorigenicity and progression. However, whether Twist2 suppression increases the chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents remains unclear. In the present study, Twist2 expression was found to differ between human ovarian cisplatin-sensitive cancer cell line, OV2008, and the resistant variant, C13K cells. Twist2 plasmids or RNA interference were then utilized to alter Twist2 expression in OV2008 or C13K cells, respectively, to further assess apoptosis, cell viability and cell growth, as well as a possible mechanism. The results of the present study indicated that Twist2 plays a crucial role in the chemoresistance of ovarian cancer. In addition, the downregulation of Twist2 expression may facilitate apoptosis and recover the sensitivity of chemoresistant ovarian cancer through the protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3β pathway. Therefore, Twist2 depletion may be a promising approach to ovarian cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Abidan Tuerhanjiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Wenwen Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Zhangying Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Ming Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Mayinuer Maitituoheti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Shixuan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
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ERK5/BMK1 is a novel target of the tumor suppressor VHL: implication in clear cell renal carcinoma. Neoplasia 2014; 15:649-59. [PMID: 23730213 DOI: 10.1593/neo.121896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5), also known as big mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 1, is implicated in a wide range of biologic processes, which include proliferation or vascularization. Here, we show that ERK5 is degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, in a process mediated by the tumor suppressor von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, through a prolyl hydroxylation-dependent mechanism. Our conclusions derive from transient transfection assays in Cos7 cells, as well as the study of endogenous ERK5 in different experimental systems such as MCF7, HMEC, or Caki-2 cell lines. In fact, the specific knockdown of ERK5 in pVHL-negative cell lines promotes a decrease in proliferation and migration, supporting the role of this MAPK in cellular transformation. Furthermore, in a short series of fresh samples from human clear cell renal cell carcinoma, high levels of ERK5 correlate with more aggressive and metastatic stages of the disease. Therefore, our results provide new biochemical data suggesting that ERK5 is a novel target of the tumor suppressor VHL, opening a new field of research on the role of ERK5 in renal carcinomas.
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Yeh CT, Huang YH, Liang KH, Chang ML, Hsu CW, Chen YC, Chen TC, Yeh TS, Lee WC. Segregation of signaling proteins as prognostic predictors for local recurrence and distant metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2013; 44:491-504. [PMID: 24297625 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2013.2198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Postoperative recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is presented as local recurrence (LR) or extrahepatic metastasis (EHM). Recent studies indicated that EHM requires additional cellular alterations. This study aimed to examine the clinical and molecular prognostic predictors of these two events. HCC patients (289) [training cohort (n=160) and verification cohort (n=129)] receiving surgical resection of hepatomas were included. The expression levels of six signaling molecules were quantitatively assessed for prognostic analysis. Clustering analysis revealed similar expression profiles between cancer (T) and non-cancer (N) liver tissues in the same individuals. Univariate analysis showed that phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-T was associated with LR-free survival (P=0.002), whereas extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK2)-T (P=0.005), AKT-T (P=0.001) and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-T/N ratio (P=0.008) were associated with EHM-free survival. When clinical predictors were added for multivariate analysis, only prolonged prothrombin time (P=0.003) and tumor number (P=0.031) was independently associated with LR-free survival, whereas age (P=0.019), creatinine levels (P=0.001) and AKT-T (P=0.004) were associated with EHM-free survival. These factors were further examined in the verification cohort. In conclusion, postoperative LR and EHM in HCC were associated with separable sets of clinical and molecular predictors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chau-Ting Yeh
- Liver Research Center, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Ya-Hui Huang
- Liver Research Center, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Kung-Hao Liang
- Liver Research Center, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Ming-Ling Chang
- Liver Research Center, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chao-Wei Hsu
- Liver Research Center, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yi-Cheng Chen
- Liver Research Center, Department of Hepato-Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Tse-Ching Chen
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Medical Center, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Ta-Sen Yeh
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Medical Center, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Wei-Chen Lee
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Medical Center, Taipei 105, Taiwan, R.O.C
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Xia H, Ooi LLPJ, Hui KM. MicroRNA-216a/217-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition targets PTEN and SMAD7 to promote drug resistance and recurrence of liver cancer. Hepatology 2013; 58:629-41. [PMID: 23471579 DOI: 10.1002/hep.26369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 315] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Tumor recurrence and metastases are the major obstacles to improving the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To identify novel risk factors associated with HCC recurrence and metastases, we have established a panel of recurrence-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) by comparing miRNA expression in recurrent and nonrecurrent human HCC tissue samples using microarrays (recurrence is defined as recurrent disease occurring within a 2-year time point of the original treatment). Among the panel, expression of the miR-216a/217 cluster was consistently and significantly up-regulated in HCC tissue samples and cell lines associated with early tumor recurrence, poor disease-free survival, and an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. Stable overexpression of miR-216a/217-induced EMT increased the stem-like cell population, migration, and metastatic ability of epithelial HCC cells. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (SMAD7) were subsequently identified as two functional targets of miR-216a/217, and both PTEN and SMAD7 were down-regulated in HCC. Ectopic expression of PTEN or SMAD7 partially rescued miR-216a/217-mediated EMT, cell migration, and stem-like properties of HCC cells. Previously, SMAD7 was shown to be a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) type 1 receptor antagonist. Here, we further demonstrated that overexpression of miR-216a/217 acted as a positive feedback regulator for the TGF-β pathway and the canonical pathway involved in the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase K (PI3K/Akt) signaling in HCC cells. Additionally, activation of the TGF-β- and PI3K/Akt-signaling pathways in HCC cells resulted in an acquired resistance to sorafenib, whereas blocking activation of the TGF-β pathway overcame miR-216a/217-induced sorafenib resistance and prevented tumor metastases in HCC. CONCLUSION Overexpression of miR-216a/217 activates the PI3K/Akt and TGF-β pathways by targeting PTEN and SMAD7, contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis and tumor recurrence in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongping Xia
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Center, Singapore, Singapore
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Powell CA, Halmos B, Nana-Sinkam SP. Update in lung cancer and mesothelioma 2012. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2013; 188:157-66. [PMID: 23855692 PMCID: PMC3778761 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201304-0716up] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Accepted: 06/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charles A Powell
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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Wang Q, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Xiao W. The role of uPAR in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in small airway epithelium of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respir Res 2013; 14:67. [PMID: 23806081 PMCID: PMC3700841 DOI: 10.1186/1465-9921-14-67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in small airway fibrosis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Increasing evidence suggests that the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is involved in the pathogenesis of COPD. Increased uPAR expression has been implicated in the promotion of EMT in numerous cancers; however the role of uPAR in EMT in small airway epithelial cells of patients with COPD remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the degree of EMT and uPAR expression in lung epithelium of COPD patients, and verified the effect of uPAR on cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced EMT in vitro. METHODS The expression of EMT biomarkers and uPAR was assessed in lung epithelium specimens from non-smokers (n = 25), smokers (n = 25) and non-smokers with COPD (n = 10) and smokers with COPD (n = 18). The role of uPAR on CSE-induced EMT in human small airway epithelial cells (HSAEpiCs) was assessed by silencing uPAR expression in vitro. RESULTS Markers of active EMT and uPAR expression were significantly increased in the small airway epithelium of patients with COPD compared with controls. We also observed a significant correlation between uPAR and vimentin expression in the small airway epithelium. In vitro, CSE-induced EMT in HSAEpiCs was associated with high expression of uPAR, and targeted silencing of uPAR using shRNA inhibited CSE-induced EMT. Finally, we demonstrate that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is required for uPAR-mediated EMT in HSAEpiCs. CONCLUSIONS A uPAR-dependent signaling pathway is required for CSE-induced EMT, which contributes to small airway fibrosis in COPD. We propose that increased uPAR expression in the small airway epithelium of patients with COPD participates in an active EMT process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Zhang J, Wei J, Lu J, Tong Z, Liao B, Yu B, Zheng F, Huang X, Chen Z, Fang Y, Li B, Chen W, Xie D, Luo J. Overexpression of Rab25 contributes to metastasis of bladder cancer through induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and activation of Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling. Carcinogenesis 2013; 34:2401-8. [PMID: 23722651 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgt187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rab25, an epithelial-specific member of the Rab family of small guanosine triphosphatases, is associated with several human cancers. The goal of this study was to determine its function in bladder cancer (BC). We examined the Rab25 expression pattern in two different cohorts of BC patients treated with radical cystectomy by quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. A series of in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to elucidate the function of Rab25 in BC and its underlying mechanisms. Rab25 expression was significantly elevated at both the messenger RNA and protein levels in BCs compared with normal bladder tissues. High Rab25 expression was closely associated with lymph node (LN) metastasis and was an independent predictor for poor disease-free survival in BC patients. Downregulation of Rab25 in BC cells markedly inhibited invasive motility in vitro and metastatic potential in vivo. In addition, downregulation of Rab25 in BC EJ and T24 cells increased the expression levels of epithelial markers (E-cadherin and α-catenin) and decreased the levels of mechamechy markers (vimentin and fibronectin). Simultaneously, downregulation of Rab25 in EJ and T24 cells resulted in the inactivation of downstream phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-β (p-GSK-3β) and snail signaling. This study demonstrates that Rab25 can promote BC metastasis through induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition process and activation of Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway; Rab25 expression level can predict LN metastasis and inferior clinical outcome in BC patients.
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Wolyniec K, Carney DA, Haupt S, Haupt Y. New Strategies to Direct Therapeutic Targeting of PML to Treat Cancers. Front Oncol 2013; 3:124. [PMID: 23730625 PMCID: PMC3656422 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor suppressor function of the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) protein was first identified as a result of its dysregulation in acute promyelocytic leukemia, however, its importance is now emerging far beyond hematological neoplasms, to an extensive range of malignancies, including solid tumors. In response to stress signals, PML coordinates the regulation of numerous proteins, which activate fundamental cellular processes that suppress tumorigenesis. Importantly, PML itself is the subject of specific post-translational modifications, including ubiquitination, phosphorylation, acetylation, and SUMOylation, which in turn control PML activity and stability and ultimately dictate cellular fate. Improved understanding of the regulation of this key tumor suppressor is uncovering potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Targeting the key negative regulators of PML in cancer cells such as casein kinase 2, big MAP kinase 1, and E6-associated protein, with specific inhibitors that are becoming available, provides unique and exciting avenues for restoring tumor suppression through the induction of apoptosis and senescence. These approaches could be combined with DNA damaging drugs and cytokines that are known to activate PML. Depending on the cellular context, reactivation or enhancement of tumor suppressive PML functions, or targeted elimination of aberrantly functioning PML, may provide clinical benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Wolyniec
- Tumour Suppression Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreEast Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Dennis A. Carney
- Tumour Suppression Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreEast Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreEast Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sue Haupt
- Tumour Suppression Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreEast Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ygal Haupt
- Tumour Suppression Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreEast Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Pathology, The University of MelbourneParkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash UniversityClayton, VIC, Australia
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Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by TNF-α requires AKT/GSK-3β-mediated stabilization of snail in colorectal cancer. PLoS One 2013; 8:e56664. [PMID: 23431386 PMCID: PMC3576347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammation-promoted metastasis has been considered as a major challenge in cancer therapy. Pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα can induce cancer invasion and metastasis associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear. In this study, we showed that TNFα induces EMT in human HCT116 cells and thereby promotes colorectal cancer (CRC) invasion and metastasis. TNFα-induced EMT was characterized by acquiring mesenchymal spindle-like morphology and increasing the expression of N-cadherin and fibronectin with a concomitant decrease of E-cadherin and Zona occludin-1(ZO-1). TNFα treatment also increased the expression of transcription factor Snail, but not Slug, ZEB1 and Twist. Overexpression of Snail induced a switch from E-cadherin to N-cadherin expression in HCT116 cells, which is a characteristic of EMT. Conversely, knockdown of Snail significantly attenuated TNFα-induced EMT in HCT116 cells, suggesting that Snail plays a crucial role in TNFα-induced EMT. Interestingly, exposure to TNFα rapidly increased Snail protein expression and Snail nuclear localization but not mRNA level upregulation. Finally, we demonstrated that TNFα elevated Snail stability by activating AKT pathway and subsequently repressing GSK-3β activity and decreasing the association of Snail with GSK-3β. Knockdown of GSK-3β further verified our finding. Taken together, these results revealed that AKT/GSK-3β-mediated stabilization of Snail is required for TNFα-induced EMT in CRC cells. Our study provides a better understanding of inflammation-induced CRC metastasis.
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An evolving role for DEPTOR in tumor development and progression. Neoplasia 2012; 14:368-75. [PMID: 22745583 DOI: 10.1593/neo.12542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2012] [Revised: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 04/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway has been found in a variety of human cancers. However, the exact molecular mechanism how the mTOR signaling pathway is regulated remains largely elusive. Recently, DEPTOR was identified as an endogenous mTOR inhibitor that could suppress mTOR activity in vivo. More importantly, accumulated evidence has implicated that DEPTOR plays a pivotal role in the development and progression of human malignances, which could in part be mediated through its inhibitory role toward mTOR. Furthermore, three independent laboratories including our own have demonstrated that the stability of DEPTOR is controlled by the SCF(β-TrCP) E3 ubiquitin ligase and deregulated DEPTOR destruction might contribute to hyperactivation of mTOR in pathologic conditions including cancer. This review discusses the recent literature regarding the function of DEPTOR involved in cell growth, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and drug resistance, all of which are associated with the pathogenesis of human cancers. Moreover, we also summarize that targeting DEPTOR may be a novel strategy for achieving better anticancer treatments.
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Abstract
β-Transducin repeats-containing protein (β-TrCP) is the substrate recognition subunit of the SCF (SKP1, CUL1, and F-box protein)-type E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. SCF(β-TrCP) ubiquitinates specifically phosphorylated substrates to promote their subsequent destruction by the 26S proteasome and plays a critical role in various human diseases including tumorigenesis. We and others (Duan S et al. Mol Cell 44: 317-324, 2011; Gao D et al. Mol Cell 44: 290-303, 2011; Zhao Y et al. Mol Cell 44: 304-316, 2011) recently reported that SCF(β-TrCP) regulates cell growth and autophagy by controlling the ubiquitination and destruction of DEPTOR, an endogenous mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor, in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. In this review, we discuss β-TrCP's new downstream substrate, DEPTOR, as well as summarize the novel functional aspects of β-TrCP in controlling cell growth and regulating autophagy, in part through governing the stability of DEPTOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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