1
|
D'Aguanno S, Brignone M, Scalera S, Chiacchiarini M, Di Martile M, Valentini E, De Nicola F, Ricci A, Pelle F, Botti C, Maugeri-Saccà M, Del Bufalo D. Bcl-2 dependent modulation of Hippo pathway in cancer cells. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:277. [PMID: 38755629 PMCID: PMC11097437 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01647-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL are the most studied anti-apoptotic members of Bcl-2 family proteins. We previously characterized both of them, not only for their role in regulating apoptosis and resistance to therapy in cancer cells, but also for their non-canonical functions, mainly including promotion of cancer progression, metastatization, angiogenesis, and involvement in the crosstalk among cancer cells and components of the tumor microenvironment. Our goal was to identify transcriptional signature and novel cellular pathways specifically modulated by Bcl-2. METHODS We performed RNAseq analysis of siRNA-mediated transient knockdown of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL in human melanoma cells and gene ontology analysis to identify a specific Bcl-2 transcriptional signature. Expression of genes modulated by Bcl-2 and associated to Hippo pathway were validated in human melanoma, breast adenocarcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines by qRT-PCR. Western blotting analysis were performed to analyse protein expression of upstream regulators of YAP and in relation to different level of Bcl-2 protein. The effects of YAP silencing in Bcl-2 overexpressing cancer cells were evaluated in migration and cell viability assays in relation to different stiffness conditions. In vitro wound healing assays and co-cultures were used to evaluate cancer-specific Bcl-2 ability to activate fibroblasts. RESULTS We demonstrated the Bcl-2-dependent modulation of Hippo Pathway in cancer cell lines from different tumor types by acting on upstream YAP regulators. YAP inhibition abolished the ability of Bcl-2 to increase tumor cell migration and proliferation on high stiffness condition of culture, to stimulate in vitro fibroblasts migration and to induce fibroblasts activation. CONCLUSIONS We discovered that Bcl-2 regulates the Hippo pathway in different tumor types, promoting cell migration, adaptation to higher stiffness culture condition and fibroblast activation. Our data indicate that Bcl-2 inhibitors should be further investigated to counteract cancer-promoting mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy.
| | - Matteo Brignone
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Stefano Scalera
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Martina Chiacchiarini
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Valentini
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Ricci
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, 66100, Italy
| | - Fabio Pelle
- Department of Surgery, Division of Breast Surgery, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Claudio Botti
- Department of Surgery, Division of Breast Surgery, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Marcello Maugeri-Saccà
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sosa J, Oyelakin A, Sinha S. The Reign of Follistatin in Tumors and Their Microenvironment: Implications for Drug Resistance. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:130. [PMID: 38392348 PMCID: PMC10887188 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Follistatin (FST) is a potent neutralizer of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and is associated with normal cellular programs and various hallmarks of cancer, such as proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. The aberrant expression of FST by solid tumors is a well-documented observation, yet how FST influences tumor progression and therapy response remains unclear. The recent surge in omics data has revealed new insights into the molecular foundation underpinning tumor heterogeneity and its microenvironment, offering novel precision medicine-based opportunities to combat cancer. In this review, we discuss these recent FST-centric studies, thereby offering an updated perspective on the protean role of FST isoforms in shaping the complex cellular ecosystem of tumors and in mediating drug resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Sosa
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Akinsola Oyelakin
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Satrajit Sinha
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pirkkanen J, Tharmalingam S, Thome C, Sinex HC, Benjamin LV, Losch AC, Borgmann AJ, Dhaemers RM, Gordon C, Boreham DR, Mendonca MS. Genomic Loss and Epigenetic Silencing of the FOSL1 Tumor Suppressor Gene in Radiation-induced Neoplastic Transformation of Human CGL1 Cells Alters the Tumorigenic Phenotype In Vitro and In Vivo. Radiat Res 2023; 200:48-64. [PMID: 37141110 PMCID: PMC10409446 DOI: 10.1667/rade-22-00216.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The CGL1 human hybrid cell system has been utilized for many decades as an excellent cellular tool for investigating neoplastic transformation. Substantial work has been done previously implicating genetic factors related to chromosome 11 to the alteration of tumorigenic phenotype in CGL1 cells. This includes candidate tumor suppressor gene FOSL1, a member of the AP-1 transcription factor complex which encodes for protein FRA1. Here we present novel evidence supporting the role of FOSL1 in the suppression of tumorigenicity in segregants of the CGL1 system. Gamma-induced mutant (GIM) and control (CON) cells were isolated from 7 Gy gamma-irradiated CGL1s. Western, Southern and Northern blot analysis were utilized to assess FOSL1/FRA1 expression as well as methylation studies. GIMs were transfected to re-express FRA1 and in vivo tumorigenicity studies were conducted. Global transcriptomic microarray and RT-qPCR analysis were used to further characterize these unique cell segregants. GIMs were found to be tumorigenic in vivo when injected into nude mice whereas CON cells were not. GIMs show loss of Fosl/FRA1 expression as confirmed by Western blot. Southern and Northern blot analysis further reveals that FRA1 reduction in tumorigenic CGL1 segregants is likely due to transcriptional suppression. Results suggest that radiation-induced neoplastic transformation of CGL1 is in part due to silencing of the FOSL1 tumor suppressor gene promoter by methylation. The radiation-induced tumorigenic GIMs transfected to re-express FRA1 resulted in suppression of subcutaneous tumor growth in nude mice in vivo. Global microarray analysis and RT-qPCR validation elucidated several hundred differentially expressed genes. Downstream analysis reveals a significant number of altered pathways and enriched Gene Ontology terms genes related to cellular adhesion, proliferation, and migration. Together these findings provide strong evidence that FRA1 is a tumor suppressor gene deleted and epigenetically silenced after ionizing radiation-induced neoplastic transformation in the CGL1 human hybrid cell system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jake Pirkkanen
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
- Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Sujeenthar Tharmalingam
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
- Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
- Medical Sciences Division, NOSM University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Christopher Thome
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
- Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
- Medical Sciences Division, NOSM University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Helen Chin Sinex
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratories, and Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Laura V. Benjamin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratories, and Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Adam C. Losch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratories, and Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Anthony J. Borgmann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratories, and Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Ryan M. Dhaemers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratories, and Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Christopher Gordon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratories, and Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Douglas R. Boreham
- Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratories, and Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
- Bruce Power, PO Box 1540, 177 Tie Rd, R.R. 2, Tiverton, Ontario, N0G 2T0, Canada
- Nuclear Innovation Institute, Port Elgin, Ontario, N0H 2C0, Canada
| | - Marc S. Mendonca
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation and Cancer Biology Laboratories, and Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Payano VJH, Lopes LVDA, Peixoto LR, Silva KAD, Ortiga-Carvalho TM, Tafuri A, Vago AR, Bloise E. Immunostaining of βA-Activin and Follistatin Is Decreased in HPV(+) Cervical Pre-Neoplastic and Neoplastic Lesions. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051031. [PMID: 37243119 DOI: 10.3390/v15051031] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The activin-follistatin system regulates several cellular processes, including differentiation and tumorigenesis. We hypothesized that the immunostaining of βA-activin and follistatin varies in neoplastic cervical lesions. Cervical paraffin-embedded tissues from 162 patients sorted in control (n = 15), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1 (n = 38), CIN2 (n = 37), CIN3 (n = 39), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; n = 33) groups were examined for βA-activin and follistatin immunostaining. Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection and genotyping were performed by PCR and immunohistochemistry. Sixteen samples were inconclusive for HPV detection. In total, 93% of the specimens exhibited HPV positivity, which increased with patient age. The most detected high-risk (HR)-HPV type was HPV16 (41.2%) followed by HPV18 (16%). The immunostaining of cytoplasmatic βA-activin and follistatin was higher than nuclear immunostaining in all cervical epithelium layers of the CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC groups. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the cytoplasmic and nuclear immunostaining of βA-activin was detected in all cervical epithelial layers from the control to the CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC groups. Only nuclear follistatin immunostaining exhibited a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in specific epithelial layers of cervical tissues from CIN1, CIN2, CIN3, and SCC compared to the control. Decreased immunostaining of cervical βA-activin and follistatin at specific stages of CIN progression suggests that the activin-follistatin system participates in the loss of the differentiation control of pre-neoplastic and neoplastic cervical specimens predominantly positive for HPV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Jesus Huaringa Payano
- Laboratório de Patogênese Molecular, Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-910, MG, Brazil
| | - Lara Verônica de Araújo Lopes
- Laboratório de Patogênese Molecular, Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-910, MG, Brazil
| | - Larissa Rodrigues Peixoto
- Laboratório de Patogênese Molecular, Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-910, MG, Brazil
| | - Keila Alves da Silva
- Laboratório de Patogênese Molecular, Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-910, MG, Brazil
| | - Tania Maria Ortiga-Carvalho
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Translacional, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Tafuri
- Laboratório de Anatomia Patológica Tafuri, Belo Horizonte 30170-133, MG, Brazil
| | - Annamaria Ravara Vago
- Laboratório de Patogênese Molecular, Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-910, MG, Brazil
| | - Enrrico Bloise
- Laboratório de Patogênese Molecular, Departamento de Morfologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-910, MG, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Proteins Found in the Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Secretome and Their Therapeutic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032100. [PMID: 36768435 PMCID: PMC9916912 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The cancer secretome comprises factors secreted by tumors, including cytokines, growth factors, proteins from the extracellular matrix (ECM), proteases and protease inhibitors, membrane and extracellular vesicle proteins, peptide hormones, and metabolic proteins. Secreted proteins provide an avenue for communication with other tumor cells and stromal cells, and these in turn promote tumor growth and progression. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the US and worldwide. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by its aggressiveness and its lack of expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2, making it unable to be treated with therapies targeting these protein markers, and leaving patients to rely on standard chemotherapy. In order to develop more effective therapies against TNBC, researchers are searching for targetable molecules specific to TNBC. Proteins in the TNBC secretome are involved in wide-ranging cancer-promoting processes, including tumor growth, angiogenesis, inflammation, the EMT, drug resistance, invasion, and development of the premetastatic niche. In this review, we catalog the currently known proteins in the secretome of TNBC tumors and correlate these secreted molecules with potential therapeutic opportunities to facilitate translational research.
Collapse
|
6
|
Ge L, Liu SF. Lentivirus-Mediated Short Hairpin RNA for Follistatin Downregulation Suppresses Tumor Progression in Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma. Curr Med Sci 2022; 42:832-840. [DOI: 10.1007/s11596-022-2615-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
|
7
|
YAP1 maintains active chromatin state in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas that promotes tumorigenesis through cooperation with BRD4. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110970. [PMID: 35705032 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas and other published data of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) reveals somatic alterations of the Hippo-YAP pathway in approximately 50% of HNSCC. Better strategies to target the YAP1 transcriptional complex are sought. Here, we show that FAT1, an upstream inhibitor of YAP1, is mutated either by missense or by truncating mutation in 29% of HNSCC. Comprehensive proteomic and drug-screening studies across pan-cancer models confirm that FAT1-mutant HNSCC exhibits selective and higher sensitivity to BRD4 inhibition by JQ1. Epigenomic analysis reveals an active chromatin state in FAT1-mutant HNSCC cells that is driven by the YAP/TAZ transcriptional complex through recruitment of BRD4 to deposit active histone marks, thereby maintaining an oncogenic transcriptional state. This study reveals a detailed cooperative mechanism between YAP1 and BRD4 in HNSCC and suggests a specific therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of this subset of head and neck cancer patients.
Collapse
|
8
|
Tuminello S, Zhang Y, Yang L, Durmus N, Snuderl M, Heguy A, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Chen Y, Shao Y, Reibman J, Arslan AA. Global DNA Methylation Profiles in Peripheral Blood of WTC-Exposed Community Members with Breast Cancer. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095104. [PMID: 35564499 PMCID: PMC9105091 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer represents the most common cancer diagnosis among World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed community members, residents, and cleanup workers enrolled in the WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC). The primary aims of this study were (1) to compare blood DNA methylation profiles of WTC-exposed community members with breast cancer and WTC-unexposed pre-diagnostic breast cancer blood samples, and (2) to compare the DNA methylation differences among the WTC EHC breast cancer cases and WTC-exposed cancer-free controls. Gene pathway enrichment analyses were further conducted. There were significant differences in DNA methylation between WTC-exposed breast cancer cases and unexposed prediagnostic breast cancer cases. The top differentially methylated genes were Intraflagellar Transport 74 (IFT74), WD repeat-containing protein 90 (WDR90), and Oncomodulin (OCM), which are commonly upregulated in tumors. Probes associated with established tumor suppressor genes (ATM, BRCA1, PALB2, and TP53) were hypermethylated among WTC-exposed breast cancer cases compared to the unexposed group. When comparing WTC EHC breast cancer cases vs. cancer-free controls, there appeared to be global hypomethylation among WTC-exposed breast cancer cases compared to exposed controls. Functional pathway analysis revealed enrichment of several gene pathways in WTC-exposed breast cancer cases including endocytosis, proteoglycans in cancer, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, axon guidance, focal adhesion, calcium signaling, cGMP-PKG signaling, mTOR, Hippo, and oxytocin signaling. The results suggest potential epigenetic links between WTC exposure and breast cancer in local community members enrolled in the WTC EHC program.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Tuminello
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.Z.); (A.Z.-J.); (Y.C.); (Y.S.)
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (A.A.A.)
| | - Yian Zhang
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.Z.); (A.Z.-J.); (Y.C.); (Y.S.)
| | - Lei Yang
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA;
| | - Nedim Durmus
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (N.D.); (J.R.)
| | - Matija Snuderl
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (M.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Adriana Heguy
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (M.S.); (A.H.)
- NYU Langone’s Genome Technology Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.Z.); (A.Z.-J.); (Y.C.); (Y.S.)
- NYU Perlmutter Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.Z.); (A.Z.-J.); (Y.C.); (Y.S.)
- NYU Perlmutter Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Yongzhao Shao
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.Z.); (A.Z.-J.); (Y.C.); (Y.S.)
- NYU Perlmutter Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Joan Reibman
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (N.D.); (J.R.)
| | - Alan A. Arslan
- Department of Population Health, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA; (Y.Z.); (A.Z.-J.); (Y.C.); (Y.S.)
- NYU Perlmutter Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Correspondence: (S.T.); (A.A.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Liu S, Liu B, Zhao Q, Shi J, Gu Y, Guo Y, Li Y, Liu Y, Cheng Y, Qiao Y, Liu Y. Down-regulated FST expression is involved in the poor prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:267. [PMID: 34001106 PMCID: PMC8130405 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-01977-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is more commonly associated with young patients, featuring high histological grade, visceral metastasis, and distant recurrence. Follistatin (FST) is a secreted extracellular regulatory protein that antagonizes TGF-β superfamily such as activin and TGF-β related superfamily such as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP). The implication of FST in the proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis of solid tumors documents good or poor outcome of patients with BC. However, the role of FST in TNBC remains unclear. Methods Data of 935 patients with breast cancer (BC) were extracted from TCGA. Case–control study, Kaplan–Meier, uni-multivariate COX, and ROC curve were utilized to investigate the relationship between FST expression and the clinical characteristics and prognosis of BC. Functional studies were used to analyze the effect of FST expression on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of TNBC cell lines. Bioinformatic methods such as volcanoplot, GO annd KEGG enrichment, and protein–protein interactions (PPI) analyses were conducted to further confirm the different roles of FST in the apoptotic pathways among mesenchymal and mesenchymal stem-like cells of TNBC. Results Data from TCGA showed that low FST expression correlated with poor prognosis (for univariate analysis, HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27–0.82, p = 0.008; for multivariate analysis, HR = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.21–0.75, p = 0.004). Low FST expression provided high predicted value of poor prognosis in TNBC amongst BCs. FST knockdown promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of BT549 and HS578T cell lines. FST inhibited the apoptosis of mesenchymal cells by targeting BMP7. Conclusions Low FST expression is associated with poor prognosis of patients with TNBC. FST expressions exhibit the anisotropic roles of apoptosis between mesenchymal and mesenchymal stem-like cells but promote the proliferation, migration, invasion in both of two subtypes of TNBC in vitro. FST may be a subtype-heterogeneous biomarker for monitoring the progress of TNBC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-01977-x.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sainan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jikang Shi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yulu Gu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yanbo Guo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yunkai Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yi Cheng
- Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Yichun Qiao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Yawen Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Grzadkowski MR, Holly HD, Somers J, Demir E. Systematic interrogation of mutation groupings reveals divergent downstream expression programs within key cancer genes. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:233. [PMID: 33957863 PMCID: PMC8101181 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04147-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genes implicated in tumorigenesis often exhibit diverse sets of genomic variants in the tumor cohorts within which they are frequently mutated. For many genes, neither the transcriptomic effects of these variants nor their relationship to one another in cancer processes have been well-characterized. We sought to identify the downstream expression effects of these mutations and to determine whether this heterogeneity at the genomic level is reflected in a corresponding heterogeneity at the transcriptomic level. Results By applying a novel hierarchical framework for organizing the mutations present in a cohort along with machine learning pipelines trained on samples’ expression profiles we systematically interrogated the signatures associated with combinations of mutations recurrent in cancer. This allowed us to catalogue the mutations with discernible downstream expression effects across a number of tumor cohorts as well as to uncover and characterize over a hundred cases where subsets of a gene’s mutations are clearly divergent in their function from the remaining mutations of the gene. These findings successfully replicated across a number of disease contexts and were found to have clear implications for the delineation of cancer processes and for clinical decisions. Conclusions The results of cataloguing the downstream effects of mutation subgroupings across cancer cohorts underline the importance of incorporating the diversity present within oncogenes in models designed to capture the downstream effects of their mutations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-021-04147-y.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal R Grzadkowski
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | - Hannah D Holly
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Julia Somers
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Emek Demir
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Elucidating the roles of naturally occurring silent mutations in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Meta Gene 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2020.100707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
|
12
|
The Hippo pathway oncoprotein YAP promotes melanoma cell invasion and spontaneous metastasis. Oncogene 2020; 39:5267-5281. [PMID: 32561850 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1362-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer that accounts for a disproportionally large proportion of cancer-related deaths in younger people. Compared with most other skin cancers, a feature of melanoma is its high metastatic capacity, although the mechanisms that confer this are not well understood. The Hippo pathway is a key regulator of organ growth and cell fate that is deregulated in many cancers. To analyse the Hippo pathway in cutaneous melanoma, we generated a transcriptional signature of melanoma cells that overexpressed YAP, the key downstream Hippo pathway oncoprotein. YAP-mediated transcriptional activity varied in melanoma cell lines but did not cluster with known genetic drivers of melanomagenesis such as BRAF and NRAS mutations. Instead, it correlated strongly with published gene expression profiles linked to melanoma cell invasiveness and varied throughout the metastatic cascade in melanoma patient tumours. Consistent with this, YAP was both necessary and sufficient for melanoma cell invasion in vitro. In vivo, YAP promoted spontaneous melanoma metastasis, whilst the growth of YAP-expressing primary tumours was impeded. Finally, we identified the YAP target genes AXL, THBS1 and CYR61 as key mediators of YAP-induced melanoma cell invasion. These data suggest that YAP is a critical regulator of melanoma metastasis.
Collapse
|
13
|
Gong MM, Lugo-Cintron KM, White BR, Kerr SC, Harari PM, Beebe DJ. Human organotypic lymphatic vessel model elucidates microenvironment-dependent signaling and barrier function. Biomaterials 2019; 214:119225. [PMID: 31154151 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The lymphatic system is an active player in the pathogenesis of several human diseases, including lymphedema and cancer. Relevant models are needed to advance our understanding of lymphatic biology in disease progression to improve therapy and patient outcomes. Currently, there are few 3D in vitro lymphatic models that can recapitulate the physiological structure, function, and interactions of lymphatic vessels in normal and diseased microenvironments. Here, we developed a 3D microscale lymphatic vessel (μLYMPH) system for generating human lymphatic vessels with physiological tubular structure and function. Consistent with characteristics of lymphatic vessels in vivo, the endothelium of cultured vessels was leaky with an average permeability of 1.38 × 10-5 ± 0.29 × 10-5 cm/s as compared to 0.68 × 10-5 ± 0.13 × 10-5 cm/s for blood vessels. This leakiness also resulted in higher uptake of solute by the lymphatic vessels under interstitial flow, demonstrating recapitulation of their natural draining function. The vessels secreted appropriate growth factors and inflammatory mediators. Our system identified the follistatin/activin axis as a novel pathway in lymphatic vessel maintenance and inflammation. Moreover, the μLYMPH system provided a platform for examining crosstalk between lymphatic vessels and tumor microenvironmental components, such as breast cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In co-culture with CAFs, vessel barrier function was significantly impaired by CAF-secreted IL-6, a possible pro-metastatic mechanism of lymphatic metastasis. Targeted blocking of the IL-6/IL-6R signaling pathway with an IL-6 neutralizing antibody fully rescued the vessels, demonstrating the potential of our system for screening therapeutic targets. These results collectively demonstrate the μLYMPH system as a powerful model for advancing lymphatic biology in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max M Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1451 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Karina M Lugo-Cintron
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1451 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Bridget R White
- Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, 1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI, 53818, USA
| | - Sheena C Kerr
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1451 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Paul M Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53792, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1451 Engineering Dr., Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1685 Highland Ave., Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Seachrist DD, Keri RA. The Activin Social Network: Activin, Inhibin, and Follistatin in Breast Development and Cancer. Endocrinology 2019; 160:1097-1110. [PMID: 30874767 PMCID: PMC6475112 DOI: 10.1210/en.2019-00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Activins and inhibins are closely related protein heterodimers with a similar tissue distribution; however, these two complexes have opposing functions in development and disease. Both are secreted cytokine hormones, with activin the primary inducer of downstream signaling cascades and inhibin acting as a rheostat that exquisitely governs activin function. Adding to the complexity of activin signaling, follistatin, a highly glycosylated monomeric protein, binds activin with high affinity and restrains downstream pathway activation but through a mechanism distinct from that of inhibin. These three proteins were first identified as key ovarian hormones in the pituitary-gonadal axis that direct the synthesis and secretion of FSH from the pituitary, hence controlling folliculogenesis. Research during the past 30 years has expanded the roles of these proteins, first by discovering the ubiquitous expression of the trio and then by implicating them in a wide array of biological functions. In concert, these three hormones govern tissue development, homeostasis, and disease in multiple organ systems through diverse autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. In the present study, we have reviewed the actions of activin and its biological inhibitors, inhibin, and follistatin, in mammary gland morphogenesis and cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darcie D Seachrist
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Ruth A Keri
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Division of General Medical Sciences–Oncology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Correspondence: Ruth A. Keri, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhang P, Ruan Y, Xiao J, Chen F, Zhang X. Association of serum follistatin levels with histological types and progression of tumor in human lung cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2018; 18:162. [PMID: 30377409 PMCID: PMC6195981 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-018-0664-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Follistatin (FST), an activin-binding protein, inhibits activin action by interfering with activin binding to its receptor. The prognostic value of FST has been studied in various cancers. However, these studies rarely focus on lung cancer. In our study, we investigated the relationship between serum FST levels and lung cancer with histologic types, TNM staging, and recurrence. Methods A total of 150 serum samples were collected, including 91 from patients with SCLC or NSCLC, 22 from patients with benign lung diseases, and 37 from healthy subjects. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine serum FST levels in healthy subjects, patients with benign lung diseases and patients with lung cancers. Results Serum FST levels in patients with LADC, SCC, LASC, LCLC, and SCLC were much higher than those in healthy subjects and in patients with lung benign disease. A ROC curve was constructed for differentiating the lung cancer from the healthy subjects and benign lung diseases. The results indicated that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.971 and 0.728 respectively. According to TNM staging, serum FST level increased significantly in patients with stage III and IV of LADC. Moreover, serum FST expression were increased in LADC patients with different TNM category. Furthermore, we found that a higher expression of serum FST was correlated with recurrence in LADC patients. Conclusions The serum FST levels gradually increased with the rise of TNM staging and category in lung cancer patients. These data suggest that serum FST levels not only can be used in auxiliary diagnosis for lung cancer but also might be associated with the disease progression and metastasis of lung cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Zhang
- 1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center of Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060 People's Republic of China
| | - Yingxin Ruan
- 2Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052 People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Xiao
- 4Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070 People's Republic of China
| | - Fangfang Chen
- 3Department of Gastrointestinal Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130031 People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejun Zhang
- 4Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Educational Ministry of China, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin, 300070 People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Interaction with the GDF8/11 pathway reveals treatment options for adenocarcinoma of the breast. Breast 2017; 37:134-141. [PMID: 29156385 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast adenocarcinoma continues to be the most frequently diagnosed tumor entity. Despite established therapy options, mortality for breast cancer remains to be as high as 40,000 patients in the US annually. Thus, a need to develop a patient-oriented, targeted therapy exists. In this study, we investigated the interaction of breast adenocarcinoma with the ubiquitously present protein Follistatin and subsequently the GDF8/11 pathway. We analyzed primary histological samples from adenocarcinoma patients for expression of Follistatin and GDF8/11. Furthermore, expression levels of Follistatin and GDF8/11 in MCF7 were compared with MCF10a cells. From the resulting data, GDF8 and Follistatin were used as chemotherapeutic agents in MCF7 cells and their migratory, proliferative behavior and viability were measured. From the experiments, we were able to detect a significantly increased expression of Follistatin and GDF8/11 in the low malignant breast adenocarcinoma (G1) as compared to benign breast fibroadenoma. Interestingly, a decrease was demonstrated in higher grade malignancies. These findings were accompanied by the clinical observation that increased expression of Follistatin and GDF8 is associated with a higher overall survival rate of breasts cancer patients. Substitution of GDF8 and Follistatin reduces the viability of the MCF7 cells and disrupts the migrative and proliferative potential. In summary, MCF7 cells show high chemosensitivity to Follistatin and especially GDF8 and both proteins might serve as targets to improve systemic treatment in breast cancer. In contrast to most established chemotherapy regimens Follistatin and GDF8 show no cytotoxicity to other organs.
Collapse
|