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Parambil ST, Antony GR, Littleflower AB, Subhadradevi L. The molecular crosstalk of the hippo cascade in breast cancer: A potential central susceptibility. Biochimie 2024; 222:132-150. [PMID: 38494109 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The incidence of breast cancer is perpetually growing globally, and it remains a major public health problem and the leading cause of mortality in women. Though the aberrant activities of the Hippo pathway have been reported to be associated with cancer, constructive knowledge of the pathway connecting the various elements of breast cancer remains to be elucidated. The Hippo transducers, yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ binding motif (TAZ), are reported to be either tumor suppressors, oncogenes, or independent prognostic markers in breast cancer. Thus, there is further need for an explicative evaluation of the dilemma with this molecular contribution of Hippo transducers in modulating breast malignancy. In this review, we summarize the intricate crosstalk of the Hippo pathway in different aspects of breast malignancy, including stem-likeness, cellular signaling, metabolic adaptations, tumor microenvironment, and immune responses. The collective data shows that Hippo transducers play an indispensable role in mammary tumor formation, progression, and dissemination. However, the cellular functions of YAP/TAZ in tumorigenesis might be largely dependent on the mechanical and biophysical cues they interact with, as well as on the cell phenotype. This review provides a glimpse into the plausible biological contributions of the cascade to the inward progression of breast carcinoma and suggests potential therapeutic prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulfath Thottungal Parambil
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre (Research Centre, University of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, Kerala, India
| | - Gisha Rose Antony
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre (Research Centre, University of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, Kerala, India
| | - Ajeesh Babu Littleflower
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre (Research Centre, University of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, Kerala, India
| | - Lakshmi Subhadradevi
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre (Research Centre, University of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram, 695011, Kerala, India.
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Huang H, Gu J, Kuang X, Yu Y, Rao B, Fang S, Lu J, Qiu F. An integrative pan-cancer analysis of WWC family genes and functional validation in lung cancer. Cell Signal 2024; 115:111034. [PMID: 38190957 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The WW and C2 domain containing (WWC) protein family functions as scaffolds regulating cell proliferation and organ growth control through the Hippo signaling pathway. However, their pan-cancer dysregulation and mechanistic roles in signaling transduction have remained unclear. We performed integrated pan-cancer analyses of WWC family gene expression using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) across 33 different cancer types. Prognostic relevance was evaluated by survival analyses. WWC genetic alterations, DNA methylation, pathway activities, drug response, and tumor immunology were analyzed using online databases. Furthermore, we examined the functional roles of WWCs in lung cancer cells. We observed aberrant WWC expression in various cancers, which associated with patient prognosis. WWC hypermethylation occurred in many cancers and exhibited negative correlation with expression, alongside mutations linked to poor outcomes. Pathway analysis implicated WWCs as Hippo pathway scaffolds, while drug sensitivity analysis suggested associations with diverse chemotherapies. Additionally, pan-cancer analyses elucidated vital immunomodulatory roles for WWC through heterogeneous correlations with immune cell infiltrates, checkpoint molecules, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and chemokine pathways across cancers. Experimentally, WWCs suppressed lung cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while enhancing apoptosis and paclitaxel chemosensitivity. Mechanistically, WWCs bound large tumor suppressor 1 and 2 (LATS1/2) kinases to stimulate phosphorylation cascades, thereby inhibiting nuclear translocation of the Yes-associated protein (YAP) oncoprotein. Taken together, our multi-omics characterization provides comprehensive evidence for WWCs as putative tumor suppressors across cancers via Hippo pathway modulation. WWCs may serve as prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Huang
- State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Collaborative Innovation Center for Environmental Toxicity, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, 1 Xinzao Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Jiaji Gu
- State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Collaborative Innovation Center for Environmental Toxicity, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, 1 Xinzao Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Xinjie Kuang
- State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Collaborative Innovation Center for Environmental Toxicity, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, 1 Xinzao Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Yonghui Yu
- State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Collaborative Innovation Center for Environmental Toxicity, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, 1 Xinzao Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Boqi Rao
- State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Collaborative Innovation Center for Environmental Toxicity, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, 1 Xinzao Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Shenying Fang
- The fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, PR China
| | - Jiachun Lu
- State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Collaborative Innovation Center for Environmental Toxicity, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, 1 Xinzao Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China
| | - Fuman Qiu
- State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease, Institute for Chemical Carcinogenesis, Collaborative Innovation Center for Environmental Toxicity, School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, 1 Xinzao Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou 511436, PR China.
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Akrida I, Bravou V, Papadaki H. The deadly cross-talk between Hippo pathway and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:10065-10076. [DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07590-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Hippo signaling pathway and respiratory diseases. Cell Death Dis 2022; 8:213. [PMID: 35443749 PMCID: PMC9021242 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-01020-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The hippo signaling pathway is a highly conserved evolutionary signaling pathway that plays an important role in regulating cell proliferation, organ size, tissue development, and regeneration. Increasing evidences consider that the hippo signaling pathway is involved in the process of respiratory diseases. Hippo signaling pathway is mainly composed of mammalian STE20-like kinase 1/2 (MST1/2), large tumor suppressor 1/2 (LATS1/2), WW domain of the Sav family containing protein 1 (SAV1), MOB kinase activator 1 (MOB1), Yes-associated protein (YAP) or transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), and members of the TEA domain (TEAD) family. YAP is the cascade effector of the hippo signaling pathway. The activation of YAP promotes pulmonary arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (PAVSMCs) proliferation, which leads to pulmonary vascular remodeling; thereby the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is aggravated. While the loss of YAP leads to high expression of inflammatory genes and the accumulation of inflammatory cells, the pneumonia is consequently exacerbated. In addition, overexpressed YAP promotes the proliferation of lung fibroblasts and collagen deposition; thereby the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is promoted. Moreover, YAP knockout reduces collagen deposition and the senescence of adult alveolar epithelial cells (AECs); hence the IPF is slowed. In addition, hippo signaling pathway may be involved in the repair of acute lung injury (ALI) by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of lung epithelial progenitor cells and intervening in the repair of pulmonary capillary endothelium. Moreover, the hippo signaling pathway is involved in asthma. In conclusion, the hippo signaling pathway is involved in respiratory diseases. More researches are needed to focus on the molecular mechanisms by which the hippo signaling pathway participates in respiratory diseases.
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Qi S, Zhu Y, Liu X, Li P, Wang Y, Zeng Y, Yu A, Wang Y, Sha Z, Zhong Z, Zhu R, Yuan H, Ye D, Huang S, Ling C, Xu Y, Zhou D, Zhang L, Yu FX. WWC proteins mediate LATS1/2 activation by Hippo kinases and imply a tumor suppression strategy. Mol Cell 2022; 82:1850-1864.e7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Swaroop B SS, Kanumuri R, Ezhil I, Naidu Sampangi JK, Kremerskothen J, Rayala SK, Venkatraman G. KIBRA connects Hippo signaling and cancer. Exp Cell Res 2021; 403:112613. [PMID: 33901448 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The Hippo signaling pathway is a tumor suppressor pathway that plays an important role in tissue homeostasis and organ size control. KIBRA is one of the many upstream regulators of the Hippo pathway. It functions as a tumor suppressor by positively regulating the core Hippo kinase cascade. However, there are accumulating shreds of evidence showing that KIBRA has an oncogenic function, which we speculate may arise from its functions away from the Hippo pathway. In this review, we have attempted to provide an overview of the Hippo signaling with a special emphasis on evidence showing the paradoxical role of KIBRA in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikanth Swamy Swaroop B
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, 600116, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, 600036, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rahul Kanumuri
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, 600116, Tamil Nadu, India; Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, 600036, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Inemai Ezhil
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, 600036, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jagadeesh Kumar Naidu Sampangi
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, 600116, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Joachim Kremerskothen
- Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Rheumatology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Suresh Kumar Rayala
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai, 600036, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Ganesh Venkatraman
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences & Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, 600116, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Höffken V, Hermann A, Pavenstädt H, Kremerskothen J. WWC Proteins: Important Regulators of Hippo Signaling in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020306. [PMID: 33467643 PMCID: PMC7829927 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The conserved Hippo pathway regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis via a complex interplay of transcriptional activities, post-translational protein modifications, specific protein–protein interactions and cellular transport processes. Deregulating this highly balanced system can lead to hyperproliferation, organ overgrowth and cancer. Although WWC proteins are known as components of the Hippo signaling pathway, their association with tumorigenesis is often neglected. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on WWC proteins and their contribution to Hippo signaling in the context of cancer. Abstract The Hippo signaling pathway is known to regulate cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Whereas activation of the Hippo signaling pathway leads to phosphorylation and cytoplasmic retention of the transcriptional coactivator YAP, decreased Hippo signaling results in nuclear import of YAP and subsequent transcription of pro-proliferative genes. Hence, a dynamic and precise regulation of the Hippo signaling pathway is crucial for organ size control and the prevention of tumor formation. The transcriptional activity of YAP is controlled by a growing number of upstream regulators including the family of WWC proteins. WWC1, WWC2 and WWC3 represent cytosolic scaffolding proteins involved in intracellular transport processes and different signal transduction pathways. Earlier in vitro experiments demonstrated that WWC proteins positively regulate the Hippo pathway via the activation of large tumor suppressor kinases 1/2 (LATS1/2) kinases and the subsequent cytoplasmic accumulation of phosphorylated YAP. Later, reduced WWC expression and subsequent high YAP activity were shown to correlate with the progression of human cancer in different organs. Although the function of WWC proteins as upstream regulators of Hippo signaling was confirmed in various studies, their important role as tumor modulators is often overlooked. This review has been designed to provide an update on the published data linking WWC1, WWC2 and WWC3 to cancer, with a focus on Hippo pathway-dependent mechanisms.
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Wasinski B, Sohail A, Bonfil RD, Kim S, Saliganan A, Polin L, Bouhamdan M, Kim HRC, Prunotto M, Fridman R. Discoidin Domain Receptors, DDR1b and DDR2, Promote Tumour Growth within Collagen but DDR1b Suppresses Experimental Lung Metastasis in HT1080 Xenografts. Sci Rep 2020; 10:2309. [PMID: 32047176 PMCID: PMC7012844 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59028-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The Discoidin Domain Receptors (DDRs) constitute a unique set of receptor tyrosine kinases that signal in response to collagen. Using an inducible expression system in human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells, we investigated the role of DDR1b and DDR2 on primary tumour growth and experimental lung metastases. Neither DDR1b nor DDR2 expression altered tumour growth at the primary site. However, implantation of DDR1b- or DDR2-expressing HT1080 cells with collagen I significantly accelerated tumour growth rate, an effect that could not be observed with collagen I in the absence of DDR induction. Interestingly, DDR1b, but not DDR2, completely hindered the ability of HT1080 cells to form lung colonies after intravenous inoculation, suggesting a differential role for DDR1b in primary tumour growth and lung colonization. Analyses of tumour extracts revealed specific alterations in Hippo pathway core components, as a function of DDR and collagen expression, that were associated with stimulation of tumour growth by DDRs and collagen I. Collectively, these findings identified divergent effects of DDRs on primary tumour growth and experimental lung metastasis in the HT1080 xenograft model and highlight the critical role of fibrillar collagen and DDRs in supporting the growth of tumours thriving within a collagen-rich stroma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wasinski
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Anjum Sohail
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - R Daniel Bonfil
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.,Department of Urology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.,Department of Pathology, College of Medical Sciences and Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33328-2018, USA
| | - Seongho Kim
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Allen Saliganan
- Department of Urology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Lisa Polin
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Mohamad Bouhamdan
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Hyeong-Reh C Kim
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Marco Prunotto
- Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Rafael Fridman
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA. .,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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Wang Z, Katsaros D, Biglia N, Shen Y, Fu Y, Tiirikainen M, Yu H. Low expression of WWC1, a tumor suppressor gene, is associated with aggressive breast cancer and poor survival outcome. FEBS Open Bio 2019; 9:1270-1280. [PMID: 31102318 PMCID: PMC6609559 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.12659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The WW and C2 domain containing 1 (WWC1) gene encodes a protein named WWC1 (or KIBRA), which is involved in the Hippo signaling pathway. WWC1 is often lost in triple-negative breast cancer and has been shown to suppress tumor metastasis. In this study, 470 breast cancer patients were recruited and WWC1 expression in the tumor samples was measured with quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Associations of WWC1 expression with breast cancer survival were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The relationship between WWC1 expression and methylation was evaluated in a dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Using our microarray data on gene expression and the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, we predicted the WWC1-associated signaling pathways in breast cancer. Our results showed that low expression of WWC1 was significantly associated with advanced-stage diseases, high-grade tumors, and estrogen receptor- or progesterone receptor-negative status. Compared to those with high expression, patients with low WWC1 had higher risk of breast cancer relapse [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-3.37] and higher risk of death (HR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.51-5.03). The association with relapse-free survival remained significant after adjustment for disease stage, tumor grade, and hormone receptor status and was replicated in a public dataset. Analysis of high-throughput gene expression data indicated that WWC1 was involved in the Hippo signaling pathway. Online data also suggested that DNA methylation was inversely associated with WWC1 expression. The study confirmed that low WWC1 expression was associated with aggressive breast cancer and poor survival outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanwei Wang
- University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Dionyssios Katsaros
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Gynecology, AOU Città della Salute, University of Turin, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Biglia
- Department of Surgical Science, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mauriziano Hospital, University of Torino School of Medicine, Turin, Italy
| | - Yi Shen
- University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Fu
- University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA.,Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | | | - Herbert Yu
- University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
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