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Shalom B, Salaymeh Y, Risling M, Katzav S. Unraveling the Oncogenic Potential of VAV1 in Human Cancer: Lessons from Mouse Models. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091276. [PMID: 37174676 PMCID: PMC10177506 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
VAV1 is a hematopoietic signal transducer that possesses a GDP/GTP nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) that is tightly regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation, along with adapter protein domains, such as SH2 and SH3. Research on VAV1 has advanced over the years since its discovery as an in vitro activated oncogene in an NIH3T3 screen for oncogenes. Although the oncogenic form of VAV1 first identified in the screen has not been detected in human clinical tumors, its wild-type and mutant forms have been implicated in mammalian malignancies of various tissue origins, as well as those of the hematopoietic system. This review article addresses the activity of human VAV1 as an overexpressed or mutated gene and also describes the differences in the distribution of VAV1 mutations in the hematopoietic system and in other tissues. The knowledge accumulated thus far from GEMMs expressing VAV1 is described, with the conclusion that GEMMs of both wild-type VAV1 and mutant VAV1 do not form tumors, yet these will be generated when additional molecular insults, such as loss of p53 or KRAS mutation, occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batel Shalom
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Yaser Salaymeh
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Matan Risling
- Department of Military Medicine and "Tzameret", Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
- Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Tel-Hashomer 02149, Israel
| | - Shulamit Katzav
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
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2
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Agbaria M, Jbara-Agbaria D, Grad E, Ben-David-Naim M, Aizik G, Golomb G. Nanoparticles of VAV1 siRNA combined with LL37 peptide for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. J Control Release 2023; 355:312-326. [PMID: 36736910 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.01.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the leading causes of cancer-related death, and it is highly resistant to therapy owing to its unique extracellular matrix. VAV1 protein, overexpressed in several cancer diseases including pancreatic cancer (PC), increases tumor proliferation and enhances metastases formation, which are associated with decreased survival. We hypothesized that an additive anti-tumor effect could be obtained by co-encapsulating in PLGA nanoparticles (NPs), the negatively charged siRNA against VAV1 (siVAV1) with the positively charged anti-tumor LL37 peptide, as a counter-ion. Several types of NPs were formulated and were characterized for their physicochemical properties, cellular internalization, and bioactivity in vitro. NPs' biodistribution, toxicity, and bioactivity were examined in a mice PDAC model. An optimal siVAV1 formulation (siVAV1-LL37 NPs) was characterized with desirable physicochemical properties in terms of nano-size, low polydispersity index (PDI), neutral surface charge, high siVAV1 encapsulation efficiency, spherical shape, and long-term shelf-life stability. Cell assays demonstrated rapid engulfment by PC cells, a specific and significant dose-dependent proliferation inhibition, as well as knockdown of VAV1 mRNA levels and migration inhibition in VAV1+ cells. Treatment with siVAV1-LL37 NPs in the mice PDAC model revealed marked accumulation of NPs in the liver and in the tumor, resulting in an increased survival rate following suppression of tumor growth and metastases, mediated via the knockdown of both VAV1 mRNA and protein levels. This proof-of-concept study validates our hypothesis of an additive effect in the treatment of PC facilitated by co-encapsulating siVAV1 in NPs with LL37 serving a dual role as a counter ion as well as an anti-tumor agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majd Agbaria
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Doaa Jbara-Agbaria
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Etty Grad
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Meital Ben-David-Naim
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Gil Aizik
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Gershon Golomb
- Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel; The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel.
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3
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Wong DCP, Pan CQ, Er SY, Thivakar T, Rachel TZY, Seah SH, Chua PJ, Jiang T, Chew TW, Chaudhuri PK, Mukherjee S, Salim A, Aye TA, Koh CG, Lim CT, Tan PH, Bay BH, Ridley AJ, Low BC. The scaffold RhoGAP protein ARHGAP8/BPGAP1 synchronizes Rac and Rho signaling to facilitate cell migration. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:ar13. [PMID: 36598812 PMCID: PMC10011724 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e21-03-0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Rho GTPases regulate cell morphogenesis and motility under the tight control of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). However, the underlying mechanism(s) that coordinate their spatiotemporal activities, whether separately or together, remain unclear. We show that a prometastatic RhoGAP, ARHGAP8/BPGAP1, binds to inactive Rac1 and localizes to lamellipodia. BPGAP1 recruits the RacGEF Vav1 under epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation and activates Rac1, leading to polarized cell motility, spreading, invadopodium formation, and cell extravasation and promotes cancer cell migration. Importantly, BPGAP1 down-regulates local RhoA activity, which influences Rac1 binding to BPGAP1 and its subsequent activation by Vav1. Our results highlight the importance of BPGAP1 in recruiting Vav1 and Rac1 to promote Rac1 activation for cell motility. BPGAP1 also serves to control the timing of Rac1 activation with RhoA inactivation via its RhoGAP activity. BPGAP1, therefore, acts as a dual-function scaffold that recruits Vav1 to activate Rac1 while inactivating RhoA to synchronize both Rho and Rac signaling in cell motility. As epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Vav1, RhoA, Rac1, and BPGAP1 are all associated with cancer metastasis, BPGAP1 could provide a crucial checkpoint for the EGFR-BPGAP1-Vav1-Rac1-RhoA signaling axis for cancer intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shi Yin Er
- Cell Signaling and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558
| | - T. Thivakar
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Tan Zi Yi Rachel
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Sock Hong Seah
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Pei Jou Chua
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore 117594
| | - Tingting Jiang
- Cell Signaling and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558
| | - Ti Weng Chew
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | | | - Somsubhro Mukherjee
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Agus Salim
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Thike Aye Aye
- Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169856
| | - Cheng Gee Koh
- Division of Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551
| | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583
| | - Puay Hoon Tan
- Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore 169856
| | - Boon Huat Bay
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore 117594
| | - Anne J. Ridley
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Boon Chuan Low
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
- Cell Signaling and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558
- NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore 138593
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4
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Seyedaghamiri F, Rajabi M, Mohaddes G. Targeting Novel microRNAs in Developing Novel Alzheimer's Disease Treatments. Neurochem Res 2023; 48:26-38. [PMID: 36048350 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-022-03734-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is considered a multifactorial disease and a significant cause of dementia during aging. This neurodegenerative disease process is classically divided into two different pathologies cerebral accumulation of amyloid-β and hyperphosphorylated neurofibrillary tau tangles. In recent years, massive efforts have been made to treat AD by decreasing amyloid-β and tau in the brains of patients with AD, with no success. The dysfunction of a wide range of microRNAs promotes the generation and insufficient clearance of amyloid-β (Aβ) and increases tau plaques which are the pathophysiological markers of AD. Disturbance of these microRNAs is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, inflammation, apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) pathogenic process, synaptic loss, and cognitive deficits induced by AD. Targeting a specific microRNA to restore AD-induced impairments at multiple stages might provide a promising approach for developing new drugs and therapeutic strategies for patients with AD. This review focuses on different mechanisms of microRNAs in AD pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mojgan Rajabi
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 51666-14756, Iran
| | - Gisou Mohaddes
- Neurosciences Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, 51666-14756, Iran.
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5
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Vav1 accelerates Ras-driven lung cancer and modulates its tumor microenvironment. Cell Signal 2022; 97:110395. [PMID: 35752351 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2022.110395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The potential impact of Vav1 on human cancer was only recently acknowledged, as it is detected as a mutant or an overexpressed gene in various cancers, including lung cancer. Vav1, which is normally and exclusively expressed in the hematopoietic system functions as a specific GDP/GTP nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), strictly regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation. To investigate whether Vav1 plays a causative or facilitating role in-vivo in lung cancer development and to examine whether it co-operates with other oncogenes, such as mutant K-Ras, we generated novel mouse strains that express: Vav1 or K-RasG12D in type II pneumocytes, as well as a transgenic mouse line that expresses both Vav1 and K-RasG12D in these cells. Coexpression of Vav1 and K-RasG12D in the lungs dramatically increased malignant lung cancer lesions, and did so significantly faster than K-RasG12D alone, strongly suggesting that these two oncogenes synergize to enhance lung tumor development. Vav1 expression alone had no apparent effects on lung tumorigenesis. The increase in lung cancer in K-RasG12D/Vav1 mice was accompanied by an increase in B-cell, T-cells, and monocyte infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. Concomitantly, ERK phosphorylation was highly elevated in the lungs of K-RasG12 D/Vav1 mice. Also, several cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13 which play a significant role in the immune system, were elevated in lungs of Vav1 and K-RasG12 D/Vav1 mice. Our findings emphasize the contribution of Vav1 to lung tumor development through its signaling properties.
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6
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Grassilli S, Brugnoli F, Cairo S, Bianchi N, Judde JG, Bertagnolo V. Vav1 Selectively Down-Regulates Akt2 through miR-29b in Certain Breast Tumors with Triple Negative Phenotype. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12060993. [PMID: 35743776 PMCID: PMC9224635 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12060993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the most aggressive breast tumor, showing a high intrinsic variability in terms of both histopathological features and response to therapies. Blocking the Akt signaling pathway is a well-studied approach in the treatment of aggressive breast tumors. The high homology among the Akt isoforms and their distinct, and possibly opposite, oncogenic functions made it difficult to develop effective drugs. Here we investigated the role of Vav1 as a potential down-regulator of individual Akt isozymes. We revealed that the over-expression of Vav1 in triple negative MDA-MB-231 cells reduced only the Akt2 isoform, acting at the post-transcriptional level through the up-modulation of miR-29b. The Vav1/miR-29b dependent decrease in Akt2 was correlated with a reduced lung colonization of circulating MDA-MB-231 cells. In cell lines established from PDX, the Vav1 induced down-modulation of Akt2 is strongly dependent on miR-29b and occurs only in some TNBC tumors. These findings may contribute to better classify breast tumors having the triple negative phenotype, and suggest that the activation of the Vav1/miR-29b axis, precisely regulating the amount of an Akt isozyme crucial for tumor dissemination, could have great potential for driving more accurate therapies to TNBCs, often not eligible or resistant to treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Grassilli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (S.G.); (F.B.); (N.B.)
- LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Federica Brugnoli
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (S.G.); (F.B.); (N.B.)
| | - Stefano Cairo
- Xentech, 91000 Evry, France; (S.C.); (J.-G.J.)
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Bianchi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (S.G.); (F.B.); (N.B.)
| | | | - Valeria Bertagnolo
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (S.G.); (F.B.); (N.B.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Vav1 Promotes B-Cell Lymphoma Development. Cells 2022; 11:cells11060949. [PMID: 35326399 PMCID: PMC8946024 DOI: 10.3390/cells11060949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vav1 is normally and exclusively expressed in the hematopoietic system where it functions as a specific GDP/GTP nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), firmly regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation. Mutations and overexpression of Vav1 in hematopoietic malignancies, and in human cancers of various histologic origins, are well documented. To reveal whether overexpression of Vav1 in different tissues suffices for promoting the development of malignant lesions, we expressed Vav1 in transgenic mice by using the ubiquitous ROSA26 promoter (Rosa Vav1). We detected Vav1 expression in epithelial tissues of various organs including pancreas, liver, and lung. While carcinomas did not develop in these organs, surprisingly, we noticed the development of B-cell lymphomas. Rac1-GTP levels did not change in tissues from Rosa Vav1 mice expressing the transgenic Vav1, while ERK phosphorylation increased in the lymphomas, suggesting that signaling pathways are evoked. One of the growth factors analyzed by us as a suspect candidate to mediate paracrine stimulation in the lymphocytes was CSF-1, which was highly expressed in the epithelial compartment of Rosa Vav1 mice. The expression of its specific receptor, CSF-1R, was found to be highly expressed in the B-cell lymphomas. Taken together, our results suggest a potential cross-talk between epithelial cells expressing Vav1, that secrete CSF-1, and the lymphocytes that express CSF-1R, thus leading to the generation of B-cell lymphomas. Our findings provide a novel mechanism by which Vav1 contributes to tumor propagation.
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8
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Shi Y, Chen S, Xing H, Jiang G, Wu N, Liu Q, Sakamoto N, Kuno T, Sugiura R, Xiao Q, Jin F, Fang Y, Yao F. Comprehensive Analysis of Prognostic Microenvironment-Related Genes in Invasive Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 11:576911. [PMID: 35047378 PMCID: PMC8761742 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.576911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies reveal that tumor microenvironment contributes to breast cancer (BRCA) development, progression, and therapeutic response. However, the contribution of the tumor microenvironment-related genes in routine diagnostic testing or therapeutic decision making for BRCA remains elusive. Immune/stromal/ESTIMATE scores calculated by the ESTIMATE algorithm quantify immune and stromal components in a tumor, and thus can reflect tumor microenvironment. To investigate the association of the tumor microenvironment-related genes with invasive BRCA prognosis, here we analyzed the immune/stromal/ESTIMATE scores in combination with The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database in invasive BRCA. We found that immune/stromal/ESTIMATE scores were significantly correlated with the invasive BRCA clinicopathological factors. Based on the immune/stromal/ESTIMATE scores, we extracted a series of differential expression genes (DEGs) related to the tumor microenvironment. Survival analysis was further performed to identify a list of high-frequency DEGs (HF-DEGs), which exhibited prognostic value in invasive BRCA. Importantly, consistent with the results of bioinformatics analysis, immunohistochemistry results showed that high SASH3 expression was associated with a good prognosis in invasive BRCA patients. Our findings suggest that the tumor microenvironment-related HF-DEGs identified in this study have prognostic values and may serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for invasive BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingrong Shi
- Department of Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Huijuan Xing
- Department of Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Guanglie Jiang
- Department of Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Nan Wu
- Department of Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qiannan Liu
- Department of Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Norihiro Sakamoto
- Division of Food and Drug Evaluation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Kuno
- Department of Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Division of Food and Drug Evaluation Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Reiko Sugiura
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacogenomics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kinki University, Higashi-Osaka, Japan
| | - Qinghuan Xiao
- Department of Ion Channel Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Feng Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Research Unit of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yue Fang
- Department of Microbial and Biochemical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fan Yao
- Department of Breast Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Research Unit of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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9
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Wang B, Ma X, Xie M, Wu Y, Wang Y, Duan R, Zhang C, Yu L, Guo X, Gao L. CBP-JMF: An Improved Joint Matrix Tri-Factorization Method for Characterizing Complex Biological Processes of Diseases. Front Genet 2021; 12:665416. [PMID: 33968140 PMCID: PMC8103031 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.665416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-omics molecules regulate complex biological processes (CBPs), which reflect the activities of various molecules in living organisms. Meanwhile, the applications to represent disease subtypes and cell types have created an urgent need for sample grouping and associated CBP-inferring tools. In this paper, we present CBP-JMF, a practical tool primarily for discovering CBPs, which underlie sample groups as disease subtypes in applications. Differently from existing methods, CBP-JMF is based on a joint non-negative matrix tri-factorization framework and is implemented in Python. As a pragmatic application, we apply CBP-JMF to identify CBPs for four subtypes of breast cancer. The result shows significant overlapping between genes extracted from CBPs and known subtype pathways. We verify the effectiveness of our tool in detecting CBPs that interpret subtypes of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingbo Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiujuan Ma
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Minghui Xie
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yue Wu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yajun Wang
- School of Humanities and Foreign Languages, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Ran Duan
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chenxing Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Liang Yu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xingli Guo
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lin Gao
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, China
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10
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Vav1 Sustains the In Vitro Differentiation of Normal and Tumor Precursors to Insulin Producing Cells Induced by all-Trans Retinoic Acid (ATRA). Stem Cell Rev Rep 2020; 17:673-684. [PMID: 33165749 PMCID: PMC8036226 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10074-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) promotes the development and the function of insulin producing cells and induces partial differentiation of pancreatic tumor cells. A number of evidences clearly indicate that the ATRA mediated signaling may have a substantial role in therapeutic approaches based on restoration of functional β-cells. Among the proteins up-regulated by ATRA, Vav1 is involved in maturation and function of haematopoietic cells and is essential for retinoids induced differentiation of tumor promyelocytes. The presence of Vav1 in solid tissues, including pancreas, is considered ectopic and no role in the differentiation of human epithelial cells has so far been described. We demonstrated here that Vav1 sustains the maturation to β-cells of the normal precursors human Biliary Tree Stem/progenitor Cells (hBTSCs) induced by a differentiation medium containing ATRA and that, in the mature normal pancreas, insulin-producing cells express variable levels of Vav1. Using pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)-derived cells, we also revealed that the ATRA induced up-modulation of Vav1 is essential for the retinoid-induced trans-differentiation of neoplastic cells into insulin producing cells. The results of this study identify Vav1 as crucial molecule in ATRA induced maturation of insulin producing cells and suggest this protein as a marker for new strategies ended to restore functional β-cells. Graphical abstract ![]()
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11
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Wu ZL, Deng YJ, Zhang GZ, Ren EH, Yuan WH, Xie QQ. Development of a novel immune-related genes prognostic signature for osteosarcoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18402. [PMID: 33110201 PMCID: PMC7591524 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75573-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune-related genes (IRGs) are responsible for osteosarcoma (OS) initiation and development. We aimed to develop an optimal IRGs-based signature to assess of OS prognosis. Sample gene expression profiles and clinical information were downloaded from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. IRGs were obtained from the ImmPort database. R software was used to screen differentially expressed IRGs (DEIRGs) and functional correlation analysis. DEIRGs were analyzed by univariate Cox regression and iterative LASSO Cox regression analysis to develop an optimal prognostic signature, and the signature was further verified by independent cohort (GSE39055) and clinical correlation analysis. The analyses yielded 604 DEIRGs and 10 hub IRGs. A prognostic signature consisting of 13 IRGs was constructed, which strikingly correlated with OS overall survival and distant metastasis (p < 0.05, p < 0.01), and clinical subgroup showed that the signature's prognostic ability was independent of clinicopathological factors. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses also supported its prognostic value. In conclusion, we developed an IRGs signature that is a prognostic indicator in OS patients, and the signature might serve as potential prognostic indicator to identify outcome of OS and facilitate personalized management of the high-risk patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuo-Long Wu
- Guanghe Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Ya-Jun Deng
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Guang-Zhi Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - En-Hui Ren
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University & Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, No.29 Tongren Road, Xining, 810000, Qinghai, China
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Wen-Hua Yuan
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China
| | - Qi-Qi Xie
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University & Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, No.29 Tongren Road, Xining, 810000, Qinghai, China.
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China.
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12
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Vav1 Down-Modulates Akt2 Expression in Cells from Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Nuclear Vav1 as a Potential Regulator of Akt Related Malignancy in Pancreatic Cancer. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8100379. [PMID: 32993067 PMCID: PMC7600902 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8100379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most aggressive tumor malignancy worldwide, mainly due to uncontrolled metastasis. Among the numerous molecules deregulated in PDAC, different members of the Akt pathways are of great importance because they are involved in tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. We have recently demonstrated that Vav1, ectopically expressed in solid tumors, is capable of down-modulating expression and/or activation of specific Akt isoforms in breast cancer cells. By using pancreatic cell lines expressing different basal levels of Vav1, we demonstrated here that Vav1 down-regulates the expression of Akt2, known to correlate with tumor metastases and resistance to therapy. In particular, while the silencing of Vav1 is sufficient to induce Akt2, its up-modulation reduces Akt2 levels only when Vav1 accumulates inside the nucleus of PDAC cells. Moreover, in PDAC tissues, we revealed that high nuclear levels of Vav1 correlate with low Akt2 expression. Although we cannot demonstrate the mechanisms involved, our results provide new insights into the role of Vav1 in PDAC and, as targeting specific members of the Akt family is a promising therapeutic chance in solid tumors, they suggest that Vav1, by down-modulating Akt2, has potential as a molecular target in PDAC.
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Guvakova MA, Prabakaran I, Wu Z, Hoffman DI, Huang Y, Tchou J, Zhang PJ. CDH2/N-cadherin and early diagnosis of invasion in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2020; 183:333-346. [PMID: 32683564 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-020-05797-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This proof-of-concept study investigates gene expression in core needle biopsies (CNB) to predict whether individuals diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) on CNB were affected by invasion at the time of diagnosis. METHODS Using a QuantiGene Plex 2.0 assay, 14 gene expression profiling was performed in 303 breast tissue samples. Preoperative diagnostic performance of a gene was measured by area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The gene mRNA positivity cutoff was computed using Gaussian mixture model (GMM); protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry; DNA methylation was evaluated by targeted bisulfite sequencing. RESULTS mRNA from 69% (34/49) mammoplasties, 72% (75/104) CNB DCIS, and 89% (133/150) invasive breast cancers (IBC) were analyzed. Based on pre-and post-surgery DCIS chart reviews, 21 cases were categorized as DCIS synchronous with invasion and 54 DCIS were pure DCIS without pathologic evidence of invasive disease. The ectopic expression of neuronal cadherin CDH2 was probable in 0% mammoplasties, 6% pure DCIS, 29% synchronous DCIS, and 26% IBC. The CDH2 mRNA positivity in preoperative biopsies showing pure DCIS was predictive of a final diagnosis of invasion (AUC = 0.67; 95% CI 0.53-0.80; P = 0.029). Site-specific methylation of the CDH2 promoter (AUC = 0.76; 95% CI 0.54-0.97; P = 0.04) and measurements of N-cadherin, a pro-invasive cell-cell adhesion receptor encoded by CDH2 (AUC = 0.8; 95% CI 0.66-0.99; P < 0.005) had a discriminating power allowing for discernment of CDH2-positive biopsy. CONCLUSIONS Evidence of CDH2/N-cadherin expression, predictive of invasion synchronous with DCIS, may help to clarify a diagnosis and direct the course of therapy earlier in a patient's care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A Guvakova
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Indira Prabakaran
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zhengdong Wu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, 220 S 33rd St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Daniel I Hoffman
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ye Huang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Julia Tchou
- Department of Surgery, Division of Endocrine & Oncologic Surgery, Harrison Department of Surgical Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 416 Hill Pavilion, 380S University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Paul J Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 6 Founders, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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14
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Salaymeh Y, Farago M, Sebban S, Shalom B, Pikarsky E, Katzav S. Vav1 and mutant K-Ras synergize in the early development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in mice. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:e202000661. [PMID: 32277014 PMCID: PMC7156281 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To explore the contribution of Vav1, a hematopoietic signal transducer, to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development, we generated transgenic mouse lines expressing, Vav1, K-RasG12D, or both K-RasG12D and Vav1 in pancreatic acinar cells. Co-expression of Vav1 and K-RasG12D synergistically enhanced acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM) formation, far exceeding the number of lesions developed in K-RasG12D mice. Mice expressing only Vav1 did not develop ADM. Moreover, the incidence of PDAC in K-RasG12D/Vav1 was significantly higher than in K-RasG12D mice. Discontinuing Vav1 expression in K-RasG12D/Vav1 mice elicited a marked regression of malignant lesions in the pancreas, demonstrating Vav1 is required for generation and maintenance of ADM. Rac1-GTP levels in the K-RasG12D/Vav1 mice pancreas clearly demonstrated an increase in Rac1 activity. Treatment of K-RasG12D and K-RasG12D/Vav1 mice with azathioprine, an immune-suppressor drug which inhibits Vav1's activity as a GDP/GTP exchange factor, dramatically reduced the number of malignant lesions. These results suggest that Vav1 plays a role in the development of PDAC when co-expressed with K-RasG12D via its activity as a GEF for Rac1GTPase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaser Salaymeh
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Marganit Farago
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shulamit Sebban
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Batel Shalom
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Eli Pikarsky
- The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research and Department of Pathology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shulamit Katzav
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
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15
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Maldonado MDM, Medina JI, Velazquez L, Dharmawardhane S. Targeting Rac and Cdc42 GEFs in Metastatic Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:201. [PMID: 32322580 PMCID: PMC7156542 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Rho family GTPases Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 have emerged as key players in cancer metastasis, due to their essential roles in regulating cell division and actin cytoskeletal rearrangements; and thus, cell growth, migration/invasion, polarity, and adhesion. This review will focus on the close homologs Rac and Cdc42, which have been established as drivers of metastasis and therapy resistance in multiple cancer types. Rac and Cdc42 are often dysregulated in cancer due to hyperactivation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs), belonging to both the diffuse B-cell lymphoma (Dbl) and dedicator of cytokinesis (DOCK) families. Rac/Cdc42 GEFs are activated by a myriad of oncogenic cell surface receptors, such as growth factor receptors, G-protein coupled receptors, cytokine receptors, and integrins; consequently, a number of Rac/Cdc42 GEFs have been implicated in metastatic cancer. Hence, inhibiting GEF-mediated Rac/Cdc42 activation represents a promising strategy for targeted metastatic cancer therapy. Herein, we focus on the role of oncogenic Rac/Cdc42 GEFs and discuss the recent advancements in the development of Rac and Cdc42 GEF-interacting inhibitors as targeted therapy for metastatic cancer, as well as their potential for overcoming cancer therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Del Mar Maldonado
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Julia Isabel Medina
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Luis Velazquez
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Suranganie Dharmawardhane
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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16
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Rashid A, Duan X, Gao F, Yang M, Yen A. Roscovitine enhances all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced nuclear enrichment of an ensemble of activated signaling molecules and augments ATRA-induced myeloid cell differentiation. Oncotarget 2020; 11:1017-1036. [PMID: 32256976 PMCID: PMC7105165 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although ATRA represents a successful differentiation therapy for APL, it is largely ineffective for non-APL AMLs. Hence combination therapies using an agent targeting ATRA-regulated molecules that drive cell differentiation/arrest are of interest. Using the HL-60 human non-APL AML model where ATRA causes nuclear enrichment of c-Raf that drives differentiation/G0-arrest, we now observe that roscovitine enhanced nuclear enrichment of certain traditionally cytoplasmic signaling molecules and enhanced differentiation and cell cycle arrest. Roscovitine upregulated ATRA-induced nuclear c-Raf phosphorylation at S259 and S289/296/301. Nuclear c-Raf interacted with RB protein and specifically with pS608RB, the hinge region phosphorylation controlling E2F binding and cell cycle progression. ATRA-induced loss of pS608RB with cell cycle arrest was associated with loss of RB-sequestered c-Raf, thereby coupling cell cycle arrest and increased availability of c-Raf to promote differentiation. Part of this mechanism reflects promoting cell cycle arrest via ATRA-induced upregulation of the p27 Kip1 CDKI. Roscovitine also enhanced the ATRA-induced nuclear enrichment of other signaling molecules traditionally perceived as cytoplasmic promoters of proliferation, but now known to promote differentiation; in particular: SFKs, Lyn, Fgr; adaptor proteins, c-Cbl, SLP-76; a guanine exchange factor, Vav1; and a transcription factor, IRF-1. Akin to c-Raf, Lyn bound to RB, specifically to pS608RB. Lyn-pS608RB association was greatly diminished by ATRA and essentially lost in ATRA plus roscovitine treated cells. Interestingly Lyn-KD enhanced such ATRA-induced nuclear signaling and differentiation and made roscovitine more effective. ATRA thus mobilized traditionally cytoplasmic signaling molecules to the nucleus where they drove differentiation which were further enhanced by roscovitine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asif Rashid
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Xin Duan
- The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Gao
- The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengsu Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Andrew Yen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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17
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Bertacchini J, Mediani L, Beretti F, Guida M, Ghalali A, Brugnoli F, Bertagnolo V, Petricoin E, Poti F, Arioli J, Anselmi L, Bari A, McCubrey J, Martelli AM, Cocco L, Capitani S, Marmiroli S. Clusterin enhances AKT2-mediated motility of normal and cancer prostate cells through a PTEN and PHLPP1 circuit. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:11188-11199. [PMID: 30565691 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Clusterin (CLU) is a chaperone-like protein with multiple functions. sCLU is frequently upregulated in prostate tumor cells after chemo- or radiotherapy and after surgical or pharmacological castration. Moreover, CLU has been documented to modulate the cellular homolog of murine thymoma virus akt8 oncogene (AKT) activity. Here, we investigated how CLU overexpression influences phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling in human normal and cancer epithelial prostate cells. Human prostate cells stably transfected with CLU were broadly profiled by reverse phase protein array (RPPA), with particular emphasis on the PI3K/AKT pathway. The effect of CLU overexpression on normal and cancer cell motility was also tested. Our results clearly indicate that CLU overexpression enhances phosphorylation of AKT restricted to isoform 2. Mechanistically, this can be explained by the finding that the phosphatase PH domain leucine-rich repeat-containing protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1), known to dephosphorylate AKT2 at S474, is markedly downregulated by CLU, whereas miR-190, a negative regulator of PHLPP1, is upregulated. Moreover, we found that phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was heavily phosphorylated at the inhibitory site S380, contributing to the hyperactivation of AKT signaling. By keeping AKT2 phosphorylation high, CLU dramatically enhances the migratory behavior of prostate epithelial cell lines with different migratory and invasive phenotypes, namely prostate normal epithelial 1A (PNT1A) and prostatic carcinoma 3 (PC3) cells. Altogether, our results unravel for the first time a circuit by which CLU can switch a low migration phenotype toward a high migration phenotype, through miR-190-dependent downmodulation of PHLPP1 expression and, in turn, stabilization of AKT2 phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessika Bertacchini
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, Section of Morphology, Signal Transduction Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Mediani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, Section of Morphology, Signal Transduction Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesca Beretti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery, Dentistry, and Morphology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marianna Guida
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, Section of Morphology, Signal Transduction Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Aram Ghalali
- Institute of Environment Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Federica Brugnoli
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology and LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valeria Bertagnolo
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology and LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Emanuel Petricoin
- Center for Applied Proteomics & Molecular Medicine, GMU, Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Francesco Poti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery-Unit of Neurosciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Jessica Arioli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, Section of Morphology, Signal Transduction Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Anselmi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, Section of Morphology, Signal Transduction Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Alessia Bari
- Department of Diagnostic, Clinical Medicine and Public Health, Program of Innovative Therapy in Oncology and Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - James McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvano Capitani
- Department of Morphology, Surgery, and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology and LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sandra Marmiroli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, Section of Morphology, Signal Transduction Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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18
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Bertagnolo V, Grassilli S, Volinia S, Al-Qassab Y, Brugnoli F, Vezzali F, Lambertini E, Palomba M, Piubello Q, Orvieto E, Natali C, Piva R, Croce CM, Capitani S. Ectopic expression of PLC-β2 in non-invasive breast tumor cells plays a protective role against malignant progression and is correlated with the deregulation of miR-146a. Mol Carcinog 2019; 58:708-721. [PMID: 30582225 PMCID: PMC6590318 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cells in non‐invasive breast lesions are widely believed to possess molecular alterations that render them either susceptible or refractory to the acquisition of invasive capability. One such alteration could be the ectopic expression of the β2 isoform of phosphoinositide‐dependent phospholipase C (PLC‐β2), known to counteract the effects of hypoxia in low‐invasive breast tumor‐derived cells. Here, we studied the correlation between PLC‐β2 levels and the propensity of non‐invasive breast tumor cells to acquire malignant features. Using archival FFPE samples and DCIS‐derived cells, we demonstrate that PLC‐β2 is up‐regulated in DCIS and that its forced down‐modulation induces an epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal shift, expression of the cancer stem cell marker CD133, and the acquisition of invasive properties. The ectopic expression of PLC‐β2 in non‐transformed and DCIS‐derived cells is, to some extent, dependent on the de‐regulation of miR‐146a, a tumor suppressor miRNA in invasive breast cancer. Interestingly, an inverse relationship between the two molecules, indicative of a role of miR‐146a in targeting PLC‐β2, was not detected in primary DCIS from patients who developed a second invasive breast neoplasia. This suggests that alterations of the PLC‐β2/miR‐146a relationship in DCIS may constitute a molecular risk factor for the appearance of new breast lesions. Since neither traditional classification systems nor molecular characterizations are able to predict the malignant potential of DCIS, as is possible for invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), we propose that the assessment of the PLC‐β2/miR‐146a levels at diagnosis could be beneficial for identifying whether DCIS patients may have either a low or high propensity for invasive recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Bertagnolo
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Grassilli
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Volinia
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.,LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Yasamin Al-Qassab
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,College of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Federica Brugnoli
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Federica Vezzali
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Lambertini
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Palomba
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Quirino Piubello
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Diagnostic and Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Enrico Orvieto
- Department of Medicine DIMED, Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Cristina Natali
- Pathology Division, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Rovigo, Italy
| | - Roberta Piva
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carlo Maria Croce
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wexner Medical Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Silvano Capitani
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,LTTA, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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19
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Grassilli S, Brugnoli F, Lattanzio R, Marchisio M, Perracchio L, Piantelli M, Bavelloni A, Capitani S, Bertagnolo V. Vav1 downmodulates Akt in different breast cancer subtypes: a new promising chance to improve breast cancer outcome. Mol Oncol 2018; 12:1012-1025. [PMID: 29658179 PMCID: PMC6026867 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting different members of the Akt pathways is a promising therapeutic chance in solid tumors including breast cancer. The variable expression levels of Akt isoforms with opposite effects on tumor growth and metastasis, however, make it difficult to select the inhibitors to be used for specific breast tumor subtypes. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we demonstrated here that Vav1, ectopically expressed in invasive breast tumors derived cells, downmodulates Akt acting at expression and/or activation levels depending on tumor subtype. The decreased p‐Akt1 (Ser473) levels are a common effect of Vav1 upmodulation, suggesting that, in breast tumor‐derived cells and independently of their phenotype, Vav1 interferes with signaling pathways ended to specifically recruit Akt1. Only in ER‐negative cell lines, the silencing of Vav1 induced the expression but not the activation of Akt2. A retrospective analysis of early invasive breast tumors allowed to establish the prognostic significance of the p‐Akt/Vav1 relationship. In particular, low Vav1 levels negatively influence the follow‐up of patients with low p‐Akt in their primary tumors and subjected to adjuvant chemotherapy. As the use of specific or pan Akt inhibitors may not be sufficient or may even be detrimental, increasing the levels of Vav1 could be a new approach to improve breast cancer outcomes. This might be particularly relevant for tumors with a triple‐negative phenotype, for which target‐based therapies are not currently available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Grassilli
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Federica Brugnoli
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Rossano Lattanzio
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy.,Center on Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy
| | - Marco Marchisio
- Center on Aging Sciences and Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy
| | | | | | - Alberto Bavelloni
- Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Cell Biology, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvano Capitani
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy.,LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valeria Bertagnolo
- Section of Anatomy and Histology, Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Italy
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20
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Zhou Y, Wang ZF, Li W, Hong H, Chen J, Tian Y, Liu ZY. Protective effects of microRNA-330 on amyloid β-protein production, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease by targeting VAV1 via the MAPK signaling pathway. J Cell Biochem 2018; 119:5437-5448. [PMID: 29369410 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.26700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to explore the effect of miR-330 targeting VAV1 on amyloid β-protein (Aβ) production, oxidative stress (OS), and mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice through the MAPK signaling pathway. Putative targeted gene of miR-330 was performed by a miRNA target prediction website and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. AD mouse model was successfully established. Fourteen C57 mice were randomized into AD and control groups. The positive protein expression rate of VAV1 was measured by immunohistochemistry. Neuron cells were assigned into control, blank, negative control (NC), miR-330 mimics, miR-330 inhibitors, siRNA-VAV1, and miR-330 inhibitors + siRNA-VAV1 groups. Expression of miR-330, VAV1, ERK1, JNK1, P38MAPK, Aβ, COX, and lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1) were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Colorimetry was applied to measure the levels of OS parameters of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Aβ production in brain tissue was detected using ELISA, while that in neuron cell was measured by radioimmunoassay. MiR-330 was down-regulated in neuron cells of AD mice and VAV1 was negatively regulated by miR-330. Compared with the control group, the positive protein expression rate of VAV1 was significantly elevated in the AD group. Overexpression of miR-330 decreased the expression of VAV1, ERK1, JNK1, P38MAPK, and Aβ, but increased the expression of COX and LRP-1. AD mice revealed elevated Aβ production and MDA with decreased SOD level. The result indicates that overexpressed miR-330 targeting VAV1 through the MAPK signaling pathway reduces Aβ production and alleviates OS and mitochondrial dysfunction in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Zhou-Fan Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Hui Hong
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Yi Tian
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, P. R. China
| | - Zhao-Yun Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Changsha Central Hospital, Changsha, P. R. China
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Vezzali F, Grassilli S, Lambertini E, Brugnoli F, Patergnani S, Nika E, Piva R, Pinton P, Capitani S, Bertagnolo V. Vav1 is necessary for PU.1 mediated upmodulation of miR-29b in acute myeloid leukaemia-derived cells. J Cell Mol Med 2018. [PMID: 29532991 PMCID: PMC5980196 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been recently demonstrated that high pre‐treatment levels of miR‐29b positively correlated with the response of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) to hypomethylating agents. Upmodulation of miR‐29b by restoring its transcriptional machinery appears indeed a tool to improve therapeutic response in AML. In cells from acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), miR‐29b is regulated by PU.1, in turn upmodulated by agonists currently used to treat APL. We explored here the ability of PU.1 to also regulate miR‐29b in non‐APL cells, in order to identify agonists that, upmodulating PU.1 may be beneficial in hypomethylating agents‐based therapies. We found that PU.1 may regulate miR‐29b in the non‐APL Kasumi‐1 cells, showing the t(8;21) chromosomal rearrangement, which is prevalent in AML and correlated with a relatively low survival. We demonstrated that the PU.1‐mediated contribution of the 2 miR‐29b precursors is cell‐related and almost completely dependent on adequate levels of Vav1. Nuclear PU.1/Vav1 association accompanies the transcription of miR‐29b but, at variance with the APL‐derived NB4 cells, in which the protein is required for the association of PU.1 with both miRNA promoters, Vav1 is part of molecular complexes to the PU.1 consensus site in Kasumi‐1. Our results add new information on the transcriptional machinery that regulates miR‐29b expression in AML‐derived cells and may help in identifying drugs useful in upmodulation of this miRNA in pre‐treatment of patients with non‐APL leukaemia who can take advantage from hypomethylating agent‐based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Vezzali
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Grassilli
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Lambertini
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Federica Brugnoli
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Simone Patergnani
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ervin Nika
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberta Piva
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paolo Pinton
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvano Capitani
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valeria Bertagnolo
- Department of Morphology, Surgery and Experimental Medicine, Section of Anatomy and Histology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Kang L, Hao X, Tang Y, Zhao Z, Zhang H, Gong Y. Elevated level of Vav1 was correlated with advanced biological behavior and poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2018; 11:391-398. [PMID: 31938123 PMCID: PMC6957931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Vav1 play key roles in the progression of human cancer. However, the role of Vav1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the potential relevance of the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance of Vav1 in GC patients. METHODS The protein expression of Vav1 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed samples obtained from 105 GC patients. RESULTS Positive Vav1 expression was correlated with larger tumor size and more lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) in GC tissues. Serosal invasion (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.764, P = 0.007), lymph node metastasis (HR = 1.298, P = 0.002) and Vav1 expression (HR = 0.436, P = 0.006) were identified as independent factors of the overall survival (OS) of GC patients. For advanced GC patients, lymph node metastasis (HR = 1.310, P = 0.003) and Vav1 expression (HR = 0.443, P = 0.010) were the independent prognostic factors of OS. CONCLUSION Vav1 performs important functions in the aggressiveness of GC, and Vav1 may serve as a novel prognostic factor in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Kang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Hospital of ITCWM, Nankai HospitalTianjin, China
| | - Xuwen Hao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Hospital of ITCWM, Nankai HospitalTianjin, China
| | - Yanping Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Hospital of ITCWM, Nankai HospitalTianjin, China
| | - Zhihua Zhao
- Department of Gastric Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalTianjin, China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- Department of Gastric Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and HospitalTianjin, China
| | - Yanxia Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tianjin Hospital of ITCWM, Nankai HospitalTianjin, China
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23
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Li M, Wang J, Mo B, Zeng J, Yao D, Chen F, Jiang M, Rao L, Du Y. Total alkaloids of Corydalis saxicola bunting inhibits migration of A549 cells by suppressing Cdc42 or Vav1. Oncol Lett 2017; 15:475-482. [PMID: 29285198 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell division cycle 42 (Cdc42) is a critical regulator, which functions in cancer metastasis. Numerous previous studies have demonstrated that vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (Vav1) is ectopically expressed in numerous types of human malignancies and have suggested that Vav1 may efficiently promote the formation of invadopodia and matrix degradation by regulating the activation of Cdc42. Total alkaloids of Corydalis saxicola bunting (TAOCSB), a type of alkaloid compound extracted from the root of C. saxicola bunting, has been revealed to have anticancer properties. However, there is no available information to address the effects of TAOCSB on the metastasis of human lung cancer. In the present study, the anticancer effect on A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells induced by TAOCSB was investigated, as well as its underlying mechanisms. The results demonstrated that a low dose of TAOCSB exhibited anti-metastatic potential in suppressing the invasion and migration of A549 cells, and this action may be involved in TAOCSB-mediated inhibition of Cdc42 expression at the level of mRNA and protein in parallel with TAOCSB-mediated inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 protein expression levels. Although the present study did not reveal the expression level of Vav1 protein in A549 cells, the expression level of Vav1 mRNA was investigated. The effect of Vav1 expression in A549 cells requires further study. Overall, the results of the present study revealed that TAOCSB may provide more information regarding lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mimi Li
- Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
| | - Jiying Wang
- Department of Respiratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
| | - Biwen Mo
- Department of Respiratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
| | - Jinrong Zeng
- Department of Respiratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
| | - Dong Yao
- Department of Respiratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Respiratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
| | - Ming Jiang
- Department of Respiratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
| | - Lizong Rao
- Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
| | - Yinjun Du
- Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, Guangxi 541000, P.R. China
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TGFβ promotes mesenchymal phenotype of pancreatic cancer cells, in part, through epigenetic activation of VAV1. Oncogene 2016; 36:2202-2214. [PMID: 27893715 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Revised: 08/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The highly homeostasis-resistant nature of cancer cells leads to their escape from treatment and to liver metastasis, which in turn makes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) difficult to treat, especially the squamous/epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like subtype. As the molecular mechanisms underlying tumour heterogeneity remain elusive, we investigated whether epigenetic regulation might explain inter-individual differences in the progression of specific subtypes. DNA methylation profiling performed on cancer tissues prior to chemo/radiotherapy identified one hypermethylated CpG site (CpG6882469) in the VAV1 gene body that was correlated with demethylation of two promoter CpGs (CpG6772370/CpG6772811) in both PDAC and peripheral blood. Transforming growth factor β treatment induced gene-body hypermethylation, dissociation of DNMT1 from the promoter, and VAV1 expression via SMAD4 and mutant KrasG12D. Pharmacological inhibition of TGFβ-VAV1 signalling decreased the squamous/EMT-like cancer cells, promoted nuclear VAV1 localization, and enhanced the efficacy of gemcitabine in prolonging the survival of KPfl/flC mice. Together, the three VAV1 CpGs serve as biomarkers for prognosis and early detection, and the TGFβ-VAV1 axis represents a therapeutic target.
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25
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Vav1: A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde protein--good for the hematopoietic system, bad for cancer. Oncotarget 2016; 6:28731-42. [PMID: 26353933 PMCID: PMC4745688 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Many deregulated signal transducer proteins are involved in various cancers at numerous stages of tumor development. One of these, Vav1, is normally expressed exclusively in the hematopoietic system, where it functions as a specific GDP/GTP nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), strictly regulated by tyrosine phosphorylation. Vav was first identified in an NIH3T3 screen for oncogenes. Although the oncogenic form of Vav1 identified in the screen has not been detected in clinical human tumors, its wild-type form has recently been implicated in mammalian malignancies, including neuroblastoma, melanoma, pancreatic, lung and breast cancers, and B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In addition, it was recently identified as a mutated gene in human cancers of various origins. However, the activity and contribution to cancer of these Vav1 mutants is still unclear. This review addresses the physiological function of wild-type Vav1 and its activity as an oncogene in human cancer. It also discusses the novel mutations identified in Vav1 in various cancers and their potential contribution to cancer development as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes.
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