1
|
Bernard S, Myers M, Fang WB, Zinda B, Smart C, Lambert D, Zou A, Fan F, Cheng N. CXCL1 Derived from Mammary Fibroblasts Promotes Progression of Mammary Lesions to Invasive Carcinoma through CXCR2 Dependent Mechanisms. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2018; 23:249-267. [PMID: 30094610 PMCID: PMC6582941 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-018-9407-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
With improved screening methods, the numbers of abnormal breast lesions diagnosed in women have been increasing over time. However, it remains unclear whether these breast lesions will develop into invasive cancers. To more effectively predict the outcome of breast lesions and determine a more appropriate course of treatment, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms that regulate progression of non-invasive lesions to invasive breast cancers. A hallmark of invasive breast cancers is the accumulation of fibroblasts. Fibroblast proliferation and activation in the mammary gland is in part regulated by the Transforming Growth Factor beta1 pathway (TGF-β). In animal models, TGF-β suppression of CCL2 and CXCL1 chemokine expression is associated with metastatic progression of mammary carcinomas. Here, we show that transgenic overexpression of the Polyoma middle T viral antigen in the mouse mammary gland of C57BL/6 mice results in slow growing non-invasive lesions that progress to invasive carcinomas in a stage dependent manner. Invasive carcinomas are associated with accumulation of fibroblasts that show decreased TGF-β expression and high levels of CXCL1, but not CCL2. Using co-transplant models, we show that decreased TGF-β signaling in fibroblasts contribute to mammary carcinoma progression through enhancement of CXCL1/CXCR2 dependent mechanisms. Using cell culture models, we show that CXCL1 mediated mammary carcinoma cell invasion through NF-κB, AKT, Stat3 and p42/44MAPK dependent mechanisms. These studies provide novel mechanistic insight into the progression of pre-invasive lesions and identify new stromal biomarkers, with important prognostic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shira Bernard
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Megan Myers
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Wei Bin Fang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Brandon Zinda
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Curtis Smart
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Diana Lambert
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - An Zou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Fang Fan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Nikki Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yao M, Fang W, Smart C, Hu Q, Huang S, Alvarez N, Fields P, Cheng N. CCR2 Chemokine Receptors Enhance Growth and Cell-Cycle Progression of Breast Cancer Cells through SRC and PKC Activation. Mol Cancer Res 2018; 17:604-617. [PMID: 30446625 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-0750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Basal-like breast cancers are an aggressive breast cancer subtype, which often lack estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Her2 expression, and are resistant to antihormonal and targeted therapy, resulting in few treatment options. Understanding the underlying mechanisms that regulate progression of basal-like breast cancers would lead to new therapeutic targets and improved treatment strategies. Breast cancer progression is characterized by inflammatory responses, regulated in part by chemokines. The CCL2/CCR2 chemokine pathway is best known for regulating breast cancer progression through macrophage-dependent mechanisms. Here, we demonstrated important biological roles for CCL2/CCR2 signaling in breast cancer cells. Using the MCF10CA1d xenograft model of basal-like breast cancer, primary tumor growth was significantly increased with cotransplantation of patient-derived fibroblasts expressing high levels of CCL2, and was inhibited with CRISP/R gene ablation of stromal CCL2. CRISP/R gene ablation of CCR2 in MCF10CA1d breast cancer cells inhibited breast tumor growth and M2 macrophage recruitment and validated through CCR2 shRNA knockdown in the 4T1 model. Reverse phase protein array analysis revealed that cell-cycle protein expression was associated with CCR2 expression in basal-like breast cancer cells. CCL2 treatment of basal-like breast cancer cell lines increased proliferation and cell-cycle progression associated with SRC and PKC activation. Through pharmacologic approaches, we demonstrated that SRC and PKC negatively regulated expression of the cell-cycle inhibitor protein p27KIP1, and are necessary for CCL2-induced breast cancer cell proliferation. IMPLICATIONS: This report sheds novel light on CCL2/CCR2 chemokine signaling as a mitogenic pathway and cell-cycle regulator in breast cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Yao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Wei Fang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Curtis Smart
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Qingting Hu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Shixia Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Nehemiah Alvarez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Patrick Fields
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Nikki Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. .,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Brummer G, Acevedo DS, Hu Q, Portsche M, Fang WB, Yao M, Zinda B, Myers M, Alvarez N, Fields P, Hong Y, Behbod F, Cheng N. Chemokine Signaling Facilitates Early-Stage Breast Cancer Survival and Invasion through Fibroblast-Dependent Mechanisms. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 16:296-308. [PMID: 29133591 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the most common form of breast cancer, with 50,000 cases diagnosed every year in the United States. Overtreatment and undertreatment remain significant clinical challenges in patient care. Identifying key mechanisms associated with DCIS progression could uncover new biomarkers to better predict patient prognosis and improve guided treatment. Chemokines are small soluble molecules that regulate cellular homing through molecular gradients. CCL2-mediated recruitment of CCR2+ macrophages are a well-established mechanism for metastatic progression. Although the CCL2/CCR2 pathway is a therapeutic target of interest, little is known about the role of CCR2 expression in breast cancer. Here, using a mammary intraductal injection (MIND) model to mimic DCIS formation, the role of CCR2 was explored in minimally invasive SUM225 and highly invasive DCIS.com breast cancer cells. CCR2 overexpression increased SUM225 breast cancer survival and invasion associated with accumulation of CCL2 expressing fibroblasts. CCR2-deficient DCIS.com breast cancer cells formed fewer invasive lesions with fewer CCL2+ fibroblasts. Cografting CCL2-deficient fibroblasts with DCIS.com breast cancer cells in the subrenal capsule model inhibited tumor invasion and survival associated with decreased expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1), a proinvasive factor, and decreased expression of HTRA2, a proapoptotic serine protease. Through data mining analysis, high expression of CCR2 and ALDH1 and low HTRA2 expression were correlated with poor prognosis of breast cancer patients.Implications: This study demonstrates that CCR2 overexpression in breast cancer drives early-stage breast cancer progression through stromal-dependent expression of CCL2 with important insight into prognosis and treatment of DCIS. Mol Cancer Res; 16(2); 296-308. ©2017 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gage Brummer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Diana S Acevedo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Qingting Hu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Mike Portsche
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Wei Bin Fang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Min Yao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Brandon Zinda
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Megan Myers
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Nehemiah Alvarez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Patrick Fields
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Yan Hong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Fariba Behbod
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Nikki Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kau S, Miller I, Tichy A, Gabriel C. S100A4 (metastasin) positive mesenchymal canine mammary tumour spheroids reduce Tenascin C synthesis under DMSO exposure in vitro. Vet Comp Oncol 2017; 15:1428-1444. [PMID: 28074628 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In breast cancer research S100A4-positive tumour-associated stromal cells are assumed as primary source of Tenascin C (TNC) in the metastatic environment. Aim of the present study was to isolate and characterize S100A4/TNC positive stromal canine mammary tumour (CMT) cells. Cells grown as scaffold-free spheroids were investigated for S100A4, TNC, and proliferative activity under 1.8% DMSO stimulation by means of Western blot and immunohistochemistry. DMSO is a commonly used drug solvent despite well-known side effects on cells including TNC expression. DMSO did not affect proliferation, but TNC was significantly reduced under DMSO exposure for 7 and 14 days, whereby for S100A4 a reducing effect was only observed after 14 days. Without DMSO, cells stably expressed TNC and S100A4 which makes them suitable to be used in experimental approaches requiring S100A4/TNC expressing CMT stromal cells. Results show that 1.8% DMSO should not be used as solvent for experiments concerning TNC/S100A4 expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Kau
- Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - I Miller
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Tichy
- Platform Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Population Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - C Gabriel
- Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fang WB, Yao M, Brummer G, Acevedo D, Alhakamy N, Berkland C, Cheng N. Targeted gene silencing of CCL2 inhibits triple negative breast cancer progression by blocking cancer stem cell renewal and M2 macrophage recruitment. Oncotarget 2016; 7:49349-49367. [PMID: 27283985 PMCID: PMC5226513 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancers are an aggressive subtype of breast cancer, characterized by the lack of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and Her2 expression. Triple negative breast cancers are non-responsive to conventional anti-hormonal and Her2 targeted therapies, making it necessary to identify new molecular targets for therapy. The chemokine CCL2 is overexpressed in invasive breast cancers, and regulates breast cancer progression through multiple mechanisms. With few approaches to target CCL2 activity, its value as a therapeutic target is unclear. In these studies, we developed a novel gene silencing approach that involves complexing siRNAs to TAT cell penetrating peptides (Ca-TAT) through non-covalent calcium cross-linking. Ca-TAT/siRNA complexes penetrated 3D collagen cultures of breast cancer cells and inhibited CCL2 expression more effectively than conventional antibody neutralization. Ca-TAT/siRNA complexes targeting CCL2 were delivered to mice bearing MDA-MB-231 breast tumor xenografts. In vivo CCL2 gene silencing inhibited primary tumor growth and metastasis, associated with a reduction in cancer stem cell renewal and recruitment of M2 macrophages. These studies are the first to demonstrate that targeting CCL2 expression in vivo may be a viable therapeutic approach to treating triple negative breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Bin Fang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Min Yao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Gage Brummer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Diana Acevedo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Nabil Alhakamy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Cory Berkland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
| | - Nikki Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
van den Bijgaart RJE, Kong N, Maynard C, Plaks V. Ex vivo Live Imaging of Lung Metastasis and Their Microenvironment. J Vis Exp 2016:e53741. [PMID: 26862704 PMCID: PMC4781718 DOI: 10.3791/53741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is a major cause for cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Metastasis is a multistep process and due to its complexity, the exact cellular and molecular processes that govern metastatic dissemination and growth are still elusive. Live imaging allows visualization of the dynamic and spatial interactions of cells and their microenvironment. Solid tumors commonly metastasize to the lungs. However, the anatomical location of the lungs poses a challenge to intravital imaging. This protocol provides a relatively simple and quick method for ex vivo live imaging of the dynamic interactions between tumor cells and their surrounding stroma within lung metastasis. Using this method, the motility of cancer cells as well as interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells in their microenvironment can be visualized in real time for several hours. By using transgenic fluorescent reporter mice, a fluorescent cell line, injectable fluorescently labeled molecules and/or antibodies, multiple components of the lung microenvironment can be visualized, such as blood vessels and immune cells. To image the different cell types, a spinning disk confocal microscope that allows long-term continuous imaging with rapid, four-color image acquisition has been used. Time-lapse movies compiled from images collected over multiple positions and focal planes show interactions between live metastatic and immune cells for at least 4 hr. This technique can be further used to test chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Moreover, this method could be adapted for the study of other lung-related pathologies that may affect the lung microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Niwen Kong
- Department of Anatomy, University of California
| | - Carrie Maynard
- Department of Anatomy, University of California; Hubrecht Institute-Royal Dutch Academy of Science and University Medical Center Utrecht
| | - Vicki Plaks
- Department of Anatomy, University of California; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine; ;
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
TGF-β Negatively Regulates CXCL1 Chemokine Expression in Mammary Fibroblasts through Enhancement of Smad2/3 and Suppression of HGF/c-Met Signaling Mechanisms. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135063. [PMID: 26252654 PMCID: PMC4529193 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts are major cellular components of the breast cancer stroma, and influence the growth, survival and invasion of epithelial cells. Compared to normal tissue fibroblasts, carcinoma associated fibroblasts (CAFs) show increased expression of numerous soluble factors including growth factors and cytokines. However, the mechanisms regulating expression of these factors remain poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that breast CAFs overexpress the chemokine CXCL1, a key regulator of tumor invasion and chemo-resistance. Increased expression of CXCL1 in CAFs correlated with poor patient prognosis, and was associated with decreased expression of TGF-β signaling components. The goal of these studies was to understand the role of TGF-β in regulating CXCL1 expression in CAFs, using cell culture and biochemical approaches. We found that TGF-β treatment decreased CXCL1 expression in CAFs, through Smad2/3 dependent mechanisms. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and site-directed mutagenesis assays revealed two new binding sites in the CXCL1 promoter important for Smad2/3 modulation of CXCL1 expression. Smad2/3 proteins also negatively regulated expression of Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), which was found to positively regulate CXCL1 expression in CAFs through c-Met receptor dependent mechanisms. HGF/c-Met signaling in CAFs was required for activity of NF-κB, a transcriptional activator of CXCL1 expression. These studies indicate that TGF-β negatively regulates CXCL1 expression in CAFs through Smad2/3 binding to the promoter, and through suppression of HGF/c-Met autocrine signaling. These studies reveal novel insight into how TGF-β and HGF, key tumor promoting factors modulate CXCL1 chemokine expression in CAFs.
Collapse
|
8
|
Nakasone ES, Askautrud HA, Egeblad M. Live imaging of drug responses in the tumor microenvironment in mouse models of breast cancer. J Vis Exp 2013:e50088. [PMID: 23542634 PMCID: PMC3639729 DOI: 10.3791/50088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, and the response to anti-cancer therapies. Three-dimensional co-culture systems are frequently used to explicate tumor-stroma interactions, including their role in drug responses. However, many of the interactions that occur in vivo in the intact microenvironment cannot be completely replicated in these in vitro settings. Thus, direct visualization of these processes in real-time has become an important tool in understanding tumor responses to therapies and identifying the interactions between cancer cells and the stroma that can influence these responses. Here we provide a method for using spinning disk confocal microscopy of live, anesthetized mice to directly observe drug distribution, cancer cell responses and changes in tumor-stroma interactions following administration of systemic therapy in breast cancer models. We describe procedures for labeling different tumor components, treatment of animals for observing therapeutic responses, and the surgical procedure for exposing tumor tissues for imaging up to 40 hours. The results obtained from this protocol are time-lapse movies, in which such processes as drug infiltration, cancer cell death and stromal cell migration can be evaluated using image analysis software.
Collapse
|