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Tang X, Sui X, Weng L, Liu Y. SNAIL1: Linking Tumor Metastasis to Immune Evasion. Front Immunol 2021; 12:724200. [PMID: 34917071 PMCID: PMC8669501 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.724200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Snail1, a key inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), plays a critical role in tumor metastasis. Its stability is strictly controlled by multiple intracellular signal transduction pathways and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Increasing evidence indicates that methylation and acetylation of Snail1 also affects tumor metastasis. More importantly, Snail1 is involved in tumor immunosuppression by inducing chemokines and immunosuppressive cells into the tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, some immune checkpoints potentiate Snail1 expression, such as programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and T cell immunoglobulin 3 (TIM-3). This mini review highlights the pathways and molecules involved in maintenance of Snail1 level and the significance of Snail1 in tumor immune evasion. Due to the crucial role of EMT in tumor metastasis and tumor immunosuppression, comprehensive understanding of Snail1 function may contribute to the development of novel therapeutics for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Tang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, China
| | - Xue Sui
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, China
| | - Liang Weng
- Department of Oncology, Xiangya Cancer Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Molecular Radiation Oncology Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan International Science and Technology Collaboration Base of Precision Medicine for Cancer, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Provincial Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Institute of Gerontological Cancer Research, National Clinical Research Center for Gerontology, Changsha, China.,Center for Molecular Imaging of Central South University, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Yongshuo Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, China.,Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University Genome Editing Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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2
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Hammoudeh SM, Venkatachalam T, Ansari AW, Bendardaf R, Hamid Q, Rahmani M, Hamoudi R. Systems Immunology Analysis Reveals an Immunomodulatory Effect of Snail-p53 Binding on Neutrophil- and T Cell-Mediated Immunity in KRAS Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Immunol 2020; 11:569671. [PMID: 33381110 PMCID: PMC7768232 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.569671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunomodulation and chronic inflammation are important mechanisms utilized by cancer cells to evade the immune defense and promote tumor progression. Therefore, various efforts were focused on the development of approaches to reprogram the immune response to increase the immune detection of cancer cells and enhance patient response to various types of therapy. A number of regulatory proteins were investigated and proposed as potential targets for immunomodulatory therapeutic approaches including p53 and Snail. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effect of disrupting Snail-p53 binding induced by the oncogenic KRAS to suppress p53 signaling. We analyzed the transcriptomic profile mediated by Snail-p53 binding inhibitor GN25 in non-small cell lung cancer cells (A549) using Next generation whole RNA-sequencing. Notably, we observed a significant enrichment in transcripts involved in immune response pathways especially those contributing to neutrophil (IL8) and T-cell mediated immunity (BCL6, and CD81). Moreover, transcripts associated with NF-κB signaling were also enriched which may play an important role in the immunomodulatory effect of Snail-p53 binding. Further analysis revealed that the immune expression signature of GN25 overlaps with the signature of other therapeutic compounds known to exhibit immunomodulatory effects validating the immunomodulatory potential of targeting Snail-p53 binding. The effects of GN25 on the immune response pathways suggest that targeting Snail-p53 binding might be a potentially effective therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Musa Hammoudeh
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.,Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Thenmozhi Venkatachalam
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdul Wahid Ansari
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Riyad Bendardaf
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.,Oncology Unit, University Hospital Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Qutayba Hamid
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.,Meakins-Christie Laboratories, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mohamed Rahmani
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.,Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rifat Hamoudi
- Clinical Sciences Department, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.,Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.,Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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3
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Zhao Y, Liu J, Chen F, Feng XH. C-terminal domain small phosphatase-like 2 promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via Snail dephosphorylation and stabilization. Open Biol 2019; 8:rsob.170274. [PMID: 29618518 PMCID: PMC5936716 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.170274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular reprogramming process converting epithelial cells into mesenchymal cell morphology. Snail is a critical regulator of EMT by both suppressing epithelial gene expression and promoting mesenchymal gene expression. Expression and activity of Snail are tightly controlled at transcriptional and post-translational levels. It has previously been reported that Snail undergoes phosphorylation and ubiquitin-dependent proteasome degradation. Here, we report nuclear phosphatase SCP4/CTDSPL2 acts as a novel Snail phosphatase. SCP4 physically interacts with and directly dephosphorylates Snail. SCP4-mediated dephosphorylation of Snail suppresses the ubiquitin-dependent proteasome degradation of Snail and consequently enhances TGFβ-induced EMT. The knockdown of SCP4 in MCF10A mammary epithelial cells leads to attenuated cell migration. Collectively, our finding demonstrates that SCP4 plays a critical role in EMT through Snail dephosphorylation and stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulan Zhao
- Life Sciences Institute, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinquan Liu
- Life Sciences Institute, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Fenfang Chen
- Life Sciences Institute, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Hua Feng
- Life Sciences Institute, and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, People's Republic of China .,Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Uric acid: a potent molecular contributor to pluripotent stem cell cardiac differentiation via mesoderm specification. Cell Death Differ 2018; 26:826-842. [PMID: 30038385 PMCID: PMC6461775 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-018-0157-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of congenital anomaly and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Generation of cardiomyoctyes derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) has opened new avenues for investigation of human cardiac development. Here we report that uric acid (UA), a physiologically abundant compound during embryonic development, can consistently and robustly enhance cardiac differentiation of human PSCs including hESCs and hiPSCs, in replacement of ascorbic acid (AA). We optimized treatment conditions and demonstrate that differentiation day 0–2, a period for specification of mesoderm cells, was a critical time for UA effects. This was further confirmed by UA-induced upregulation of mesodermal markers. Furthermore, we show that the developing mesoderm may be by directly promoted by SNAI pathway-mediated epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) at 0–24 h and a lengthened G0/G1 phase by increasing the ubiquitination degradation in 24–48 h. These findings demonstrate that UA plays a critical role in mesoderm differentiation, and its level might be a useful indicator for CHD in early fetal ultrasound screening.
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5
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ICAM3 mediates inflammatory signaling to promote cancer cell stemness. Cancer Lett 2018; 422:29-43. [PMID: 29477378 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we present a medium throughput siRNA screen platform to identify inflammation genes that regulate cancer cell stemness. We identified several novel candidates that decrease OCT4 expression and reduce the ALDH + subpopulation both of which are characteristic of stemness. Furthermore, one of the novel candidates ICAM3 up-regulates in the ALDH + subpopulation, the side population and the developed spheres. ICAM3 knockdown reduces the side population, sphere formation and chemo-resistance in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells and A549 lung cancer cells. In addition, mice bearing MDA-MB-231-shICAM3 cells develop smaller tumors and fewer lung metastases versus control. Interestingly, ICAM3 recruits and binds to Src by the YLPL motif in its intracellular domain which further activates the PI3K-AKT phosphorylation cascades. The activated p-AKT enhances SOX2 and OCT4 activity and thereby maintains cancer cell stemness. Meanwhile, the p-AKT facilitated p50 nuclear translocation/activation enhances p50 feedback and thereby promotes ICAM3 expression by binding to the ICAM3 promoter region. On this basis, Src and PI3K inhibitors suppress ICAM3-mediated signaling pathways and reduce chemo-resistance which results in tumor growth suppression in vitro and in vivo. In summary, we identify a potential CSC regulator and suggest a novel mechanism by which ICAM3 governs cancer cell stemness and inflammation.
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Mezencev R, Matyunina LV, Jabbari N, McDonald JF. Snail-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of MCF-7 breast cancer cells: systems analysis of molecular changes and their effect on radiation and drug sensitivity. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:236. [PMID: 26988558 PMCID: PMC4797178 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2274-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been associated with the acquisition of metastatic potential and the resistance of cancer cells to therapeutic treatments. MCF-7 breast cancer cells engineered to constitutively express the zinc-finger transcriptional repressor gene Snail (MCF-7-Snail cells) have been previously shown to display morphological and molecular changes characteristic of EMT. We report here the results of a comprehensive systems level molecular analysis of changes in global patterns of gene expression and levels of glutathione and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in MCF-7-Snail cells and the consequence of these changes on the sensitivity of cells to radiation treatment and therapeutic drugs. Methods Snail-induced changes in global patterns of gene expression were identified by microarray profiling using the Affymetrix platform (U133 Plus 2.0). The resulting data were processed and analyzed by a variety of system level analytical methods. Levels of ROS and glutathione (GSH) were determined by fluorescent and luminescence assays, and nuclear levels of NF-κB protein were determined by an ELISA based method. The sensitivity of cells to ionizing radiation and anticancer drugs was determined using a resazurin-based cell cytotoxicity assay. Results Constitutive ectopic expression of Snail in epithelial-like, luminal A-type MCF-7 cells induced significant changes in the expression of >7600 genes including gene and miRNA regulators of EMT. Mesenchymal-like MCF-7-Snail cells acquired molecular profiles characteristic of triple-negative, claudin-low breast cancer cells, and displayed increased sensitivity to radiation treatment, and increased, decreased or no change in sensitivity to a variety of anticancer drugs. Elevated ROS levels in MCF-7-Snail cells were unexpectedly not positively correlated with NF-κB activity. Conclusions Ectopic expression of Snail in MCF-7 cells resulted in morphological and molecular changes previously associated with EMT. The results underscore the complexity and cell-type dependent nature of the EMT process and indicate that EMT is not necessarily predictive of decreased resistance to radiation and drug-based therapies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2274-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Mezencev
- Integrated Cancer Research Center, School of Biology, and Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Lilya V Matyunina
- Integrated Cancer Research Center, School of Biology, and Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Neda Jabbari
- Integrated Cancer Research Center, School of Biology, and Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - John F McDonald
- Integrated Cancer Research Center, School of Biology, and Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 315 Ferst Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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7
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Marcucci F, Stassi G, De Maria R. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition: a new target in anticancer drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2016; 15:311-25. [PMID: 26822829 DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2015.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The conversion of cells with an epithelial phenotype into cells with a mesenchymal phenotype, referred to as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, is a critical process for embryonic development that also occurs in adult life, particularly during tumour progression. Tumour cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition acquire the capacity to disarm the body's antitumour defences, resist apoptosis and anticancer drugs, disseminate throughout the organism, and act as a reservoir that replenishes and expands the tumour cell population. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is therefore becoming a target of prime interest for anticancer therapy. Here, we discuss the screening and classification of compounds that affect epithelial-mesenchymal transition, highlight some compounds of particular interest, and address issues related to their clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Marcucci
- Scientific Directorate, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy. Present address: Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Trentacoste 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Department of Surgical and Oncological Sciences, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 131, 90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Scientific Directorate, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
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8
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Azmi AS, Muqbil I, Wu J, Aboukameel A, Senapedis W, Baloglu E, Bollig-Fischer A, Dyson G, Kauffman M, Landesman Y, Shacham S, Philip PA, Mohammad RM. Targeting the Nuclear Export Protein XPO1/CRM1 Reverses Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition. Sci Rep 2015; 5:16077. [PMID: 26536918 PMCID: PMC4633607 DOI: 10.1038/srep16077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we demonstrate for the first time that targeted inhibition of nuclear exporter protein exportin 1 (XPO1) also known as chromosome maintenance region 1 (CRM1) by Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compounds results in reversal of EMT in snail-transduced primary human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). SINE compounds selinexor (KPT-330) and KPT-185, leptomycin B (LMB as +ve control) but not KPT-301 (-ve control) reverse EMT, suppress mesenchymal markers and consequently induce growth inhibition, apoptosis and prevent spheroid formation. SINE treatment resulted in nuclear retention of snail regulator FBXL5 that was concurrent with suppression of snail and down-regulation of mesenchymal markers. FBXL5 siRNA or transfection with cys528 mut-Xpo1 (lacking SINE binding site) markedly abrogated SINE activity highlighting an XPO1 and FBXL5 mediated mechanism of action. Silencing XPO1 or snail caused re-expression of FBXL5 as well as EMT reversal. Pathway analysis on SINE treated HMECs further verified the involvement of additional F-Box family proteins and confirmed the suppression of snail network. Oral administration of selinexor (15 mg/kg p.o. QoDx3/week for 3weeks) resulted in complete cures (no tumor rebound at 120 days) of HMLER-Snail xenografts. These findings raise the unique possibility of blocking EMT at the nuclear pore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asfar S. Azmi
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201
| | - Irfana Muqbil
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201
| | - Jack Wu
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201
| | - Amro Aboukameel
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201
| | | | | | | | - Gregory Dyson
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201
| | | | | | | | - Philip A. Philip
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201
| | - Ramzi M. Mohammad
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit MI 48201
- iTRI Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha Qatar
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Maguire LH, Thomas AR, Goldstein AM. Tumors of the neural crest: Common themes in development and cancer. Dev Dyn 2014; 244:311-22. [PMID: 25382669 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Revised: 10/31/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a remarkable transient structure in the vertebrate embryo that gives rise to a highly versatile population of pluripotent cells that contribute to the formation of multiple tissues and organs throughout the body. In order to achieve their task, NC-derived cells have developed specialized mechanisms to promote (1) their transition from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype, (2) their capacity for extensive migration and cell proliferation, and (3) their ability to produce diverse cell types largely depending on the microenvironment encountered during and after their migratory path. Following embryogenesis, these same features of cellular motility, invasion, and proliferation can become a liability by contributing to tumorigenesis and metastasis. Ample evidence has shown that cancer cells have cleverly co-opted many of the genetic and molecular features used by developing NC cells. This review focuses on tumors that arise from NC-derived tissues and examines mechanistic themes shared during their oncogenic and metastatic development with embryonic NC cell ontogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillias H Maguire
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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10
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Snail nuclear transport: the gateways regulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition? Semin Cancer Biol 2014; 27:39-45. [PMID: 24954011 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2014.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the reverse process (MET) play central role in organ developmental biology. It is a fine tuned process that when disturbed leads to pathological conditions especially cancers with aggressive and metastatic behavior. Snail is an oncogene that has been well established to be a promoter of EMT through direct repression of epithelial morphology promoter E-cadherin. It can function in the nucleus, in the cytosol and as discovered recently, extracellularly through secretory vesicular structures. The intracellular transport of snail has for long been shown to be regulated by the nuclear pore complex. One of the Karyopherins, importin alpha, mediates snail import, while exportin 1 (Xpo1) also known as chromosome maintenance region 1 (CRM1) is its major nuclear exporter. A number of additional biological regulators are emerging that directly modulate Snail stability by altering its subcellular localization. These observations indicate that targeting the nuclear transport machinery could be an important and as of yet, unexplored avenue for therapeutic intervention against the EMT processes in cancer. In parallel, a number of novel agents that disrupt nuclear transport have recently been discovered and are being explored for their anti-cancer effects in the early clinical settings. Through this review we provide insights on the mechanisms regulating snail subcellular localization and how this impacts EMT. We discuss strategies on how the nuclear transport function can be harnessed to rein in EMT through modulation of snail signaling.
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Papagerakis S, Pannone G, Zheng L, About I, Taqi N, Nguyen NPT, Matossian M, McAlpin B, Santoro A, McHugh J, Prince ME, Papagerakis P. Oral epithelial stem cells - implications in normal development and cancer metastasis. Exp Cell Res 2014; 325:111-29. [PMID: 24803391 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2014.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2013] [Revised: 04/25/2014] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Oral mucosa is continuously exposed to environmental forces and has to be constantly renewed. Accordingly, the oral mucosa epithelium contains a large reservoir of epithelial stem cells necessary for tissue homeostasis. Despite considerable scientific advances in stem cell behavior in a number of tissues, fewer studies have been devoted to the stem cells in the oral epithelium. Most of oral mucosa stem cells studies are focused on identifying cancer stem cells (CSC) in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) among other head and neck cancers. OSCCs are the most prevalent epithelial tumors of the head and neck region, marked by their aggressiveness and invasiveness. Due to their highly tumorigenic properties, it has been suggested that CSC may be the critical population of cancer cells in the development of OSCC metastasis. This review presents a brief overview of epithelium stem cells with implications in oral health, and the clinical implications of the CSC concept in OSCC metastatic dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Papagerakis
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Giuseppe Pannone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Li Zheng
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Imad About
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, ISM UMR 7287, 13288, Marseille cedex 09, France
| | - Nawar Taqi
- Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nghia P T Nguyen
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Margarite Matossian
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Blake McAlpin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Angela Santoro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Jonathan McHugh
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mark E Prince
- Department of Otolaryngology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Petros Papagerakis
- Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Center for Organogenesis, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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12
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Mesenchymal to amoeboid transition is associated with stem-like features of melanoma cells. Cell Commun Signal 2014; 12:24. [PMID: 24690323 PMCID: PMC4022383 DOI: 10.1186/1478-811x-12-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cellular plasticity confers cancer cells the ability to adapt to microenvironmental changes, a fundamental requirement for tumour progression and metastasis. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a transcriptional programme associated with increased cell motility and stemness. Besides EMT, the mesenchymal to amoeboid transition (MAT) has been described during tumour progression but to date, little is known about its transcriptional control and involvement in stemness. The aim of this manuscript is to investigate (i) the transcriptional profile associated with the MAT programme and (ii) to study whether MAT acquisition in melanoma cancer cells correlates with clonogenic potential to promote tumour growth. Results By using a multidisciplinary approach, we identified four different treatments able to induce MAT in melanoma cells: EphA2 overexpression, Rac1 functional inhibition using its RacN17 dominant negative mutant, stimulation with Ilomastat or treatment with the RhoA activator Calpeptin. First, gene expression profiling identified the transcriptional pathways associated with MAT, independently of the stimulus that induces the MAT programme. Notably, gene sets associated with the repression of mesenchymal traits, decrease in the secretion of extracellular matrix components as well as increase of cellular stemness positively correlate with MAT. Second, the link between MAT and stemness has been investigated in vitro by analysing stemness markers and clonogenic potential of melanoma cells undergoing MAT. Finally, the link between MAT inducing treatments and tumour initiating capability has been validated in vivo. Conclusion Taken together, our results demonstrate that MAT programme in melanoma is characterised by increased stemness and clonogenic features of cancer cells, thus sustaining tumour progression. Furthermore, these data suggest that stemness is not an exclusive feature of cells undergoing EMT, but more generally is associated with an increase in cellular plasticity of cancer cells.
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