1
|
Tzeng HE, Tang CH, Tsai CH, Chiu CH, Wu MH, Yen Y. ET-1 Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells via the microRNA-489-3p /TWIST Axis. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:5005-5018. [PMID: 34675545 PMCID: PMC8502871 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s294312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) constitutes almost 90% of head and neck malignancies and has a poor prognosis. To improve the efficacy of OSCC therapy, it is of great significance to explore other therapy for OSCC. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, is implicated in cancer pathogenesis. Moreover, ET-1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during the development of human cancers. We further to found that ET-1 exposure induced EMT in human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines SCC4 and SAS, by enhancing the expression of EMT biomarkers N-cadherin and vimentin and reducing E-cadherin expression via upregulation of the transcription factor TWIST. Materials and Methods Cell motility was examined by migration, invasion and wound-healing assays. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR), and promoter assays confirmed the inhibitory effects of ET-1 on miRNAs expression in oral cancer cells. We demonstrate an intravenous injection model of lung metastasis followed by an advanced method for quantifying metastatic tumor using image analysis software. Results In addition, ET-1/ETAR reduced levels of microRNA-489-3p (miR-489-3p), a transcriptional repressor of TWIST. We have identified a novel bypass mechanism through which ET-1/ETAR are involved in TWIST signaling and downregulate miR-489-3p expression, enabling OSCC cells to acquire the EMT phenotype. Notably, ET-1 knockdown dramatically decreased levels of EMT markers and cell migration potential. Conclusion The role of ET-1 in OSCC progression is supported by our findings from an in vivo murine model of OSCC. ET-1 may therefore represent a novel molecular therapeutic target in OSCC metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huey-En Tzeng
- Taipei Cancer Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,PhD Program & Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsin Tang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hao Tsai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hui Chiu
- Graduate Program in Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Min-Huan Wu
- Sports Recreation and Health Management Continuing Studies, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Bachelor of Science in Senior Wellness and Sport Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yun Yen
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Informatics, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jones CA, Hazlehurst LA. Role of Calcium Homeostasis in Modulating EMT in Cancer. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1200. [PMID: 34572386 PMCID: PMC8471317 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium is essential for cells to perform numerous physiological processes. In cancer, the augmentation of calcium signaling supports the more proliferative and migratory cells, which is a characteristic of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). By genetically and epigenetically modifying genes, channels, and entire signaling pathways, cancer cells have adapted to survive with an extreme imbalance of calcium that allows them to grow and metastasize in an abnormal manner. This cellular remodeling also allows for the evasion of immune surveillance and the development of drug resistance, which lead to poor prognosis in patients. Understanding the role calcium flux plays in driving the phenotypes associated with invasion, immune suppression, metastasis, and drug resistance remains critical for determining treatments to optimize clinical outcomes and future drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lori A. Hazlehurst
- Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yang X, Shang P, Yu B, Jin Q, Liao J, Wang L, Ji J, Guo X. Combination therapy with miR34a and doxorubicin synergistically inhibits Dox-resistant breast cancer progression via down-regulation of Snail through suppressing Notch/NF- κB and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:2819-2834. [PMID: 34589399 PMCID: PMC8463267 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to breast cancer (BCa) chemotherapy severely hampers the patient's prognosis. MicroRNAs provide a potential therapeutic prospect for BCa. In this study, the reversal function of microRNA34a (miR34a) on doxorubicin (Dox) resistance of BCa and the possible mechanism was investigated. We found that the relative level of miR34a was significantly decreased in Dox-resistant breast cancer cell MCF-7 (MCF-7/A) compared with Dox-sensitive MCF-7 cells. Transfection with miR34a significantly suppressed the invasion, migration, adhesion of MCF-7/A cells without inhibiting their growth obviously. The combination of miR34a and Dox could significantly inhibit the proliferation, migration, invasion and induce the apoptosis of MCF-7/A cells. The synergistic effect of this combination on resistant MCF-7/A cells has no obvious relation with the expressions of classical drug-resistant proteins P-GP, MRP and GST-π, while closely related with the down-regulation on TOP2A and BCRP. Moreover, we found both protein and mRNA expression of Snail were significantly up-regulated in MCF-7/A cells in comparison with MCF-7 cells. Transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA) of Snail could inhibit the invasion, migration and adhesion of drug-resistant MCF-7/A cells, while high-expression of Snail could remarkably promote the invasion, migration and adhesion of MCF-7 cells, which might be related with regulation of N-cadherin and E-cadherin. Transfection with miR34a in MCF-7/A cells induced a decrease of Snail expression. The potential binding sites of miR34a with 3' UTR of Snail were predicted by miRDB target prediction software, which was confirmed by luciferase reporter gene method. Results showed that the relative activity of luciferase was reduced in MCF-7/A cells after co-transfection of miR34a and wild type (wt)-Snail, while did not change by co-transfection with miR34a and 3' UTR mutant type (mut) Snail. Combination of miR34a and Dox induced a stronger decrease of Snail in MCF-7/A cells in comparison to miR34a or Dox treatment alone. What' more, for the first time, we also found miR34a combined with Dox could obviously inhibit the expression of Snail through suppressing Notch/NF-κB and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in MCF-7/A cells. In vivo study indicated that combination of miR34a and Dox significantly slowed down tumor growth in MCF-7/A nude mouse xenograft model compared with Dox alone, which was manifested by the down-regulation of Snail and pro-apoptosis effect in tumor xenografts. These results together underline the relevance of miR34a-driven regulation of Snail in drug resistance and co-administration of miR34a and Dox may produce an effective therapy outcome in the future in clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Pengfei Shang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Bingfang Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Qiuyang Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jing Liao
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jianbo Ji
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Xiuli Guo
- Department of Pharmacology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Drug Screening Unit Platform, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
TGF-β Signaling: From Tissue Fibrosis to Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147575. [PMID: 34299192 PMCID: PMC8303588 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling triggers diverse biological actions in inflammatory diseases. In tissue fibrosis, it acts as a key pathogenic regulator for promoting immunoregulation via controlling the activation, proliferation, and apoptosis of immunocytes. In cancer, it plays a critical role in tumor microenvironment (TME) for accelerating invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and immunosuppression. Increasing evidence suggest a pleiotropic nature of TGF-β signaling as a critical pathway for generating fibrotic TME, which contains numerous cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), extracellular matrix proteins, and remodeling enzymes. Its pathogenic roles and working mechanisms in tumorigenesis are still largely unclear. Importantly, recent studies successfully demonstrated the clinical implications of fibrotic TME in cancer. This review systematically summarized the latest updates and discoveries of TGF-β signaling in the fibrotic TME.
Collapse
|
5
|
Belulescu IC, Mărgăritescu C, Dumitrescu CI, Munteanu MC, Dăguci L, Mărgăritescu OC, Matei M. The immunophenotype of epithelial to mesenchymal transition inducing transcription factors in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinomas. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY 2021; 61:769-782. [PMID: 33817718 PMCID: PMC8112789 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.61.3.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the second most common malignant salivary glands neoplasms with a controversial biological behavior. Even though these tumors grow slowly, they have increased potential for recurrence and distant metastasis. In order to elucidate this behavior, our study aimed to investigate the immunoexpression in such tumors of the most important transcriptional factors [Twist, Snail, Slug, and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1)] involved in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process. The highest level of expression was recorded for Twist, present in all the investigated cases, followed by the Slug and Snail, while no tumor parenchyma reactivity was noticed for the ZEB1 factor. There were tumor reactivity differences regarding topography, histopathological variant, and nerve and lymph node invasion status. Thus, tumors developed from the intraoral minor salivary glands, with solid pattern, perineural invasion, locally aggressive and with lymph node metastasis were the most reactive. Therefore, these transcription factors could be useful as prognostic biomarkers and efficient therapeutic targets in such salivary malignancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iulia Cristiana Belulescu
- Department of Pathology, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania; ,
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
The role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition-regulating transcription factors in anti-cancer drug resistance. Arch Pharm Res 2021; 44:281-292. [PMID: 33768509 PMCID: PMC8009775 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-021-01321-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The complex orchestration of gene expression that mediates the transition of epithelial cells into mesenchymal cells is implicated in cancer development and metastasis. As the primary regulator of the process, epithelial-mesenchymal transition-regulating transcription factors (EMT-TFs) play key roles in metastasis. They are also highlighted in recent preclinical studies on resistance to cancer therapy. This review describes the role of three main EMT-TFs, including Snail, Twist1, and zinc-finger E homeobox-binding 1 (ZEB1), relating to drug resistance and current possible approaches for future challenges targeting EMT-TFs.
Collapse
|
7
|
Establishment of Acquired Cisplatin Resistance in Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines Characterized by Enriched Metastatic Properties with Increased Twist Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207613. [PMID: 33076245 PMCID: PMC7589258 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal of the gynecologic cancers, and platinum-based treatment is a part of the standard first-line chemotherapy regimen. However, rapid development of acquired cisplatin resistance remains the main cause of treatment failure, and the underlying mechanism of resistance in OC treatment remains poorly understood. Faced with this problem, our aim in this study was to generate cisplatin-resistant (CisR) OC cell models in vitro and investigate the role of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor Twist on acquired cisplatin resistance in OC cell models. To achieve this aim, OC cell lines OV-90 and SKOV-3 were exposed to cisplatin using pulse dosing and stepwise dose escalation methods for a duration of eight months, and a total of four CisR sublines were generated, two for each cell line. The acquired cisplatin resistance was confirmed by determination of 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) and clonogenic survival assay. Furthermore, the CisR cells were studied to assess their respective characteristics of metastasis, EMT phenotype, DNA repair and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated cell death. We found the IC50 of CisR cells to cisplatin was 3–5 times higher than parental cells. The expression of Twist and metastatic ability of CisR cells were significantly greater than those of sensitive cells. The CisR cells displayed an EMT phenotype with decreased epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and increased mesenchymal proteins N-cadherin and vimentin. We observed that CisR cells showed significantly higher expression of DNA repair proteins, X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 1 (XRCC1) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases 1 (PARP1), with significantly reduced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated cell death. Moreover, Twist knockdown reduced metastatic ability of CisR cells by suppressing EMT, DNA repair and inducing ER stress-induced cell death. In conclusion, we highlighted the utilization of an acquired cisplatin resistance model to identify the potential role of Twist as a therapeutic target to reverse acquired cisplatin resistance in OC.
Collapse
|
8
|
Mechanisms of Anticancer Drug Resistance in Hepatoblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11030407. [PMID: 30909445 PMCID: PMC6468761 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11030407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The most frequent liver tumor in children is hepatoblastoma (HB), which derives from embryonic parenchymal liver cells or hepatoblasts. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which rarely affects young people, causes one fourth of deaths due to cancer in adults. In contrast, HB usually has better prognosis, but this is still poor in 20% of cases. Although more responsive to chemotherapy than HCC, the failure of pharmacological treatment used before and/or after surgical resection is an important limitation in the management of patients with HB. To advance in the implementation of personalized medicine it is important to select the best combination among available anti-HB drugs, such as platinum derivatives, anthracyclines, etoposide, tyrosine-kinase inhibitors, Vinca alkaloids, 5-fluorouracil, monoclonal antibodies, irinotecan and nitrogen mustards. This requires predicting the sensitivity to these drugs of each tumor at each time because, it should be kept in mind, that cancer chemoresistance is a dynamic process of Darwinian nature. For this goal it is necessary to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of chemoresistance involved in the refractoriness of HB against the pharmacological challenge and how they evolve during treatment. In this review we have summarized the current knowledge on the multifactorial and complex factors responsible for the lack of response of HB to chemotherapy.
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang X, Wang T, Yi F, Duan C, Wang Q, He N, Zhu L, Li Q, Deng W. Ursolic Acid Inhibits Tumor Growth via Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Biol Pharm Bull 2019; 42:685-691. [PMID: 31061311 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b18-00613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, is a promising compound for cancer prevention and therapy. However, its mechanisms of action have not been well elucidated in colorectal cancer cells. Here, using cultured human colon cancer cell lines SW620 and HCT116, this assay demonstrates that UA reduces cell viability, inhibits cell clone formation, and induces caspase-3 mediated apoptosis. Additional experiments show that UA inhibits cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including E-cadherin, Vimentin, Integrin, Twist, and Zeb1 biomakers. These results suggest that UA inhibits cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in colorectal cancer cells by affecting mechanisms that regulate EMT. Taken together, the results suggested that the anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis activities of UA was through EMT inhibition in colorectal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianmin Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital affiliated Xinjiang Medical University
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Fan Yi
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Urumqi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Chunyan Duan
- Oncology Department I of Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital affiliated Xinjiang Medical University
| | - Qiaoling Wang
- Oncology Department I of Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital affiliated Xinjiang Medical University
| | - Nana He
- Oncology Department I of Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital affiliated Xinjiang Medical University
| | - Lei Zhu
- Department of Internal Medicine IV, Changji Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Xinjiang
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
| | - Wanli Deng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Oncology Department I of Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital affiliated Xinjiang Medical University
| |
Collapse
|