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Belitškin D, Munne P, Pant SM, Anttila JM, Suleymanova I, Belitškina K, Kirchhofer D, Janetka J, Käsper T, Jalil S, Pouwels J, Tervonen TA, Klefström J. Hepsin promotes breast tumor growth signaling via the TGFβ-EGFR axis. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:547-561. [PMID: 37872868 PMCID: PMC10920082 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepsin, a type II transmembrane serine protease, is commonly overexpressed in prostate and breast cancer. The hepsin protein is stabilized by the Ras-MAPK pathway, and, downstream, this protease regulates the degradation of extracellular matrix components and activates growth factor pathways, such as the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway. However, how exactly active hepsin promotes cell proliferation machinery to sustain tumor growth is not fully understood. Here, we show that genetic deletion of the gene encoding hepsin (Hpn) in a WAP-Myc model of aggressive MYC-driven breast cancer inhibits tumor growth in the primary syngrafted sites and the growth of disseminated tumors in the lungs. The suppression of tumor growth upon loss of hepsin was accompanied by downregulation of TGFβ and EGFR signaling together with a reduction in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein levels. We further demonstrate in 3D cultures of patient-derived breast cancer explants that both basal TGFβ signaling and EGFR protein expression are inhibited by neutralizing antibodies or small-molecule inhibitors of hepsin. The study demonstrates a role for hepsin as a regulator of cell proliferation and tumor growth through TGFβ and EGFR pathways, warranting consideration of hepsin as a potential indirect upstream target for therapeutic inhibition of TGFβ and EGFR pathways in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Belitškin
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Pauliina Munne
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Shishir M. Pant
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Johanna M. Anttila
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Ilida Suleymanova
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Kati Belitškina
- Pathology DepartmentNorth Estonia Medical CentreTallinnEstonia
| | - Daniel Kirchhofer
- Department of Early Discovery BiochemistryGenentech, Inc.South San FranciscoCAUSA
| | - James Janetka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiophysicsWashington University School of MedicineSt. LouisMOUSA
| | | | - Sami Jalil
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Jeroen Pouwels
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Topi A. Tervonen
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of HelsinkiFinland
- Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute, Helsinki & FICAN SouthHelsinki University HospitalFinland
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2
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Tanjore Ramanathan J, Zárybnický T, Filppu P, Monzo HJ, Monni O, Tervonen TA, Klefström J, Kerosuo L, Kuure S, Laakkonen P. Immunoglobulin superfamily member 3 is required for the vagal neural crest cell migration and enteric neuronal network organization. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17162. [PMID: 37821496 PMCID: PMC10567708 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44093-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily members are involved in cell adhesion and migration, complex multistep processes that play critical roles in embryogenesis, wound healing, tissue formation, and many other processes, but their specific functions during embryonic development remain unclear. Here, we have studied the function of the immunoglobulin superfamily member 3 (IGSF3) by generating an Igsf3 knockout (KO) mouse model with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome engineering. By combining RNA and protein detection methodology, we show that during development, IGSF3 localizes to the neural crest and a subset of its derivatives, suggesting a role in normal embryonic and early postnatal development. Indeed, inactivation of Igsf3 impairs the ability of the vagal neural crest cells to migrate and normally innervate the intestine. The small intestine of Igsf3 KO mice shows reduced thickness of the muscularis externa and diminished number of enteric neurons. Also, misalignment of neurons and smooth muscle cells in the developing intestinal villi is detected. Taken together, our results suggest that IGSF3 functions contribute to the formation of the enteric nervous system. Given the essential role of the enteric nervous system in maintaining normal gastrointestinal function, our study adds to the pool of information required for further understanding the mechanisms of gut innervation and etiology behind bowel motility disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tomáš Zárybnický
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pauliina Filppu
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hector J Monzo
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Monni
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Topi A Tervonen
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish genome editing center (FinGEEC), Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Finnish Cancer Institute & FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Kerosuo
- Neural Crest Development and Disease Unit, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
| | - Satu Kuure
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- GM-unit, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Pirjo Laakkonen
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- iCAN Flagship Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Laboratory Animal Centre, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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3
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Belitškin D, Pant SM, Munne P, Suleymanova I, Belitškina K, Hongisto HA, Englund J, Raatikainen T, Klezovitch O, Vasioukhin V, Li S, Wu Q, Monni O, Kuure S, Laakkonen P, Pouwels J, Tervonen TA, Klefström J. Hepsin regulates TGFβ signaling via fibronectin proteolysis. EMBO Rep 2021; 22:e52532. [PMID: 34515392 PMCID: PMC8567232 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202152532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor‐beta (TGFβ) is a multifunctional cytokine with a well‐established role in mammary gland development and both oncogenic and tumor‐suppressive functions. The extracellular matrix (ECM) indirectly regulates TGFβ activity by acting as a storage compartment of latent‐TGFβ, but how TGFβ is released from the ECM via proteolytic mechanisms remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that hepsin, a type II transmembrane protease overexpressed in 70% of breast tumors, promotes canonical TGFβ signaling through the release of latent‐TGFβ from the ECM storage compartment. Mammary glands in hepsin CRISPR knockout mice showed reduced TGFβ signaling and increased epithelial branching, accompanied by increased levels of fibronectin and latent‐TGFβ1, while overexpression of hepsin in mammary tumors increased TGFβ signaling. Cell‐free and cell‐based experiments showed that hepsin is capable of direct proteolytic cleavage of fibronectin but not latent‐TGFβ and, importantly, that the ability of hepsin to activate TGFβ signaling is dependent on fibronectin. Altogether, this study demonstrates a role for hepsin as a regulator of the TGFβ pathway in the mammary gland via a novel mechanism involving proteolytic downmodulation of fibronectin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Belitškin
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Shishir M Pant
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pauliina Munne
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilida Suleymanova
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kati Belitškina
- Pathology Department, North Estonia Medical Centre, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Hanna-Ala Hongisto
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna Englund
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Raatikainen
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olga Klezovitch
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Valeri Vasioukhin
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shuo Li
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Qingyu Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Outi Monni
- Research Programs Unit/Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Satu Kuure
- GM-Unit, Laboratory Animal Centre, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirjo Laakkonen
- Laboratory Animal Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jeroen Pouwels
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Topi A Tervonen
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Finnish Cancer Institute & FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland
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Tervonen TA, Pant SM, Belitškin D, Englund JI, Närhi K, Haglund C, Kovanen PE, Verschuren EW, Klefström J. Oncogenic Ras Disrupts Epithelial Integrity by Activating the Transmembrane Serine Protease Hepsin. Cancer Res 2021; 81:1513-1527. [PMID: 33461973 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-1760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ras proteins play a causal role in human cancer by activating multiple pathways that promote cancer growth and invasion. However, little is known about how Ras induces the first diagnostic features of invasion in solid tumors, including loss of epithelial integrity and breaching of the basement membrane (BM). In this study, we found that oncogenic Ras strongly promotes the activation of hepsin, a member of the hepsin/TMPRSS type II transmembrane serine protease family. Mechanistically, the Ras-dependent hepsin activation was mediated via Raf-MEK-ERK signaling, which controlled hepsin protein stability through the heat shock transcription factor-1 stress pathway. In Ras-transformed three-dimensional mammary epithelial culture, ablation of hepsin restored desmosomal cell-cell junctions, hemidesmosomes, and BM integrity and epithelial cohesion. In tumor xenografts harboring mutant KRas, silencing of hepsin increased local invasion concomitantly with accumulation of collagen IV. These findings suggest that hepsin is a critical protease for Ras-dependent tumorigenesis, executing cell-cell and cell-matrix pathologies important for early tumor dissemination. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings identify the cell-surface serine protease hepsin as a potential therapeutic target for its role in oncogenic Ras-mediated deregulation of epithelial cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and cohesion of epithelial structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Topi A Tervonen
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Shishir M Pant
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Denis Belitškin
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna I Englund
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katja Närhi
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Caj Haglund
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program and Department of Surgery, Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Panu E Kovanen
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Pathology, HUSLAB and Haartman Institute, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emmy W Verschuren
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Medicine and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. .,Finnish Cancer Institute, FICAN South, Helsinki University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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5
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Tervonen TA, Pant SM, Belitskin D, Englund J, Närhi K, Verschuren E, Kovanen P, Klefström J. Abstract 3484: Ras recruits oncogenic serine protease hepsin to disrupt mammary epithelial integrity. Cancer Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2019-3484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Type II transmembrane serine protease hepsin is overexpressed and redistributed in clinical breast cancer samples, although the HPN gene is not a frequent target of cancer-specific genetic alterations. Here, we sought to identify cancer relevant upstream factors responsible for oncogenic deregulation of hepsin. We explored the effects of ectopic expression of major oncogenes and tumor suppressors on hepsin protein expression levels in non-malignant mammary epithelial cells, finding that HrasV12, KrasV12, ectopic wild-type Kras, endogenous mutant KrasD12 and E2F-1 induce the expression of active form of hepsin. Oncogenic Ras proteins also reduced expression levels of cognate hepsin inhibitor, HAI-1. Concomitantly, oncogenic Ras expression led to disappearance of desmoplakin and desmoglein 2 from desmosomal junctions, which correlated with mislocalization of hepsin from its predominant localization in desmosomes to cytosol. To explore the effects of mutated Ras expressed at endogenous levels we used lung tumors derived from lox-stop-lox (LSL)-KrasD12; p53-/- and LSL-KrasV12 mammary epithelial structures in ex vivo 3D cultures. In both cases, hepsin was highly expressed and predominantly localized to cytosol. Knockdown of hepsin by shRNA rescued HrasV12-induced epithelial integrity defects in mammary epithelial 3D culture and furthermore, MEK and ERK inhibitors prevented HrasV12-induced hepsin deregulation as well as desmosomal and basement membrane defects. Critical pathways downstream of MAPK pathway are being studied and will be discussed. These findings suggest a critical role for hepsin in mediating Ras-MAPK-mediated disruption of epithelial integrity during tumorigenesis.
Citation Format: Topi A. Tervonen, Shishir M. Pant, Denis Belitskin, Johanna Englund, Katja Närhi, Emmy Verschuren, Panu Kovanen, Juha Klefström. Ras recruits oncogenic serine protease hepsin to disrupt mammary epithelial integrity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3484.
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Pant SM, Mukonoweshuro A, Desai B, Ramjee MK, Selway CN, Tarver GJ, Wright AG, Birchall K, Chapman TM, Tervonen TA, Klefström J. Design, Synthesis, and Testing of Potent, Selective Hepsin Inhibitors via Application of an Automated Closed-Loop Optimization Platform. J Med Chem 2018; 61:4335-4347. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shishir M. Pant
- Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Biology & Medicum, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Bimbisar Desai
- Cyclofluidic Ltd., Biopark, Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3AX, U.K
| | - Manoj K. Ramjee
- Cyclofluidic Ltd., Biopark, Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3AX, U.K
| | | | - Gary J. Tarver
- Cyclofluidic Ltd., Biopark, Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3AX, U.K
| | - Adrian G. Wright
- Cyclofluidic Ltd., Biopark, Broadwater Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3AX, U.K
| | - Kristian Birchall
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, SG1 2FX, U.K
| | - Timothy M. Chapman
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, SG1 2FX, U.K
| | - Topi A. Tervonen
- Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Biology & Medicum, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Research Programs Unit/Translational Cancer Biology & Medicum, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 63, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Pant SM, Belitskin D, Ala-Hongisto H, Klefström J, Tervonen TA. Analyzing the Type II Transmembrane Serine Protease Hepsin-Dependent Basement Membrane Remodeling in 3D Cell Culture. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1731:169-178. [PMID: 29318553 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7595-2_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Breakdown of the basement membrane is a key step that precedes tumor invasion, and accumulating evidence suggests a key role for the type II transmembrane proteases (TTSPs) in that process. Overexpression of a TTSP hepsin characterizes many solid cancers, including prostate, breast, and ovarian cancer, and in experimental tumor models, the elevated proteolytic activity of hepsin simultaneously activates several growth factors and cleaves basement membrane protein laminin-332, which is an essential component of the cell-basement membrane junction hemidesmosome. These hepsin-dependent molecular events associate with dramatic loss of basement membrane integrity in mouse tumor models and in three-dimensional (3D) epithelial culture. In particular, the 3D culture systems offer unprecedented possibilities to clarify the mechanistic basis of destructive interactions between out-of-control serine protease activity and the basement membrane structure. Here, we describe how to establish 3D mammary epithelial culture in an exogenous basement membrane-free egg white matrix and provide a protocol for quantitative analysis of the impact of hepsin on laminin-332 and its hemidesmosomal receptor α6-integrin by means of confocal microscopy imaging. These protocols were established to facilitate studies aiming to decipher the exact role of oncogenic proteases in tumor invasion processes and to identify novel therapeutic agents able to intervene these cancer critical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shishir M Pant
- Translational Cancer Biology, Research Programs Unit and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Denis Belitskin
- Translational Cancer Biology, Research Programs Unit and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Ala-Hongisto
- Translational Cancer Biology, Research Programs Unit and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Klefström
- Translational Cancer Biology, Research Programs Unit and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Topi A Tervonen
- Translational Cancer Biology, Research Programs Unit and Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Tervonen TA, Belitškin D, Pant SM, Englund JI, Marques E, Ala-Hongisto H, Nevalaita L, Sihto H, Heikkilä P, Leidenius M, Hewitson K, Ramachandra M, Moilanen A, Joensuu H, Kovanen PE, Poso A, Klefström J. Deregulated hepsin protease activity confers oncogenicity by concomitantly augmenting HGF/MET signalling and disrupting epithelial cohesion. Oncogene 2015; 35:1832-46. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Revised: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Partanen JI, Tervonen TA, Klefström J. Breaking the epithelial polarity barrier in cancer: the strange case of LKB1/PAR-4. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20130111. [PMID: 24062587 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The PAR clan of polarity regulating genes was initially discovered in a genetic screen searching for genes involved in asymmetric cell divisions in the Caenorhabditis elegans embryo. Today, investigations in worms, flies and mammals have established PAR proteins as conserved and fundamental regulators of animal cell polarization in a broad range of biological phenomena requiring cellular asymmetries. The human homologue of invertebrate PAR-4, a serine-threonine kinase LKB1/STK11, has caught attention as a gene behind Peutz-Jeghers polyposis syndrome and as a bona fide tumour suppressor gene commonly mutated in sporadic cancer. LKB1 functions as a master regulator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and 12 other kinases referred to as the AMPK-related kinases, including four human homologues of PAR-1. The role of LKB1 as part of the energy sensing LKB1-AMPK module has been intensively studied, whereas the polarity function of LKB1, in the context of homoeostasis or cancer, has gained less attention. Here, we focus on the PAR-4 identity of LKB1, discussing the weight of evidence indicating a role for LKB1 in regulation of cell polarity and epithelial integrity across species and highlight recent investigations providing new insight into the old question: does the PAR-4 identity of LKB1 matter in cancer?
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna I Partanen
- Cancer Cell Circuitry Laboratory, Translational Cancer Biology Research Program and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Helsinki, , Biomedicum Helsinki, Rm B507b, PO Box 63, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Tervonen TA, Partanen JI, Saarikoski ST, Myllynen M, Marques E, Paasonen K, Moilanen A, Wohlfahrt G, Kovanen PE, Klefstrom J. Faulty epithelial polarity genes and cancer. Adv Cancer Res 2011; 111:97-161. [PMID: 21704831 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385524-4.00003-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial architecture is formed in tissues and organs when groups of epithelial cells are organized into polarized structures. The epithelial function and integrity as well as signaling across the epithelial layer is orchestrated by apical junctional complexes (AJCs), which are landmarks for PAR/CRUMBS and lateral SCRIB polarity modules and by dynamic interactions of the cells with underlying basement membrane (BM). These highly organized epithelial architectures are demolished in cancer. In all advanced epithelial cancers, malignant cells have lost polarity and connections to the basement membrane and they have become proliferative, motile, and invasive. Clearly, loss of epithelial integrity associates with tumor progression but does it contribute to tumor development? Evidence from studies in Drosophila and recently also in vertebrate models have suggested that even the oncogene-driven enforced cell proliferation can be conditional, dependant on the influence of cell-cell or cell-microenvironment contacts. Therefore, loss of epithelial integrity may not only be an obligate consequence of unscheduled proliferation of malignant cells but instead, malignant epithelial cells may need to acquire capacity to break free from the constraints of integrity to freely and autonomously proliferate. We discuss how epithelial polarity complexes form and regulate epithelial integrity, highlighting the roles of enzymes Rho GTPases, aPKCs, PI3K, and type II transmembrane serine proteases (TTSPs). We also discuss relevance of these pathways to cancer in light of genetic alterations found in human cancers and review molecular pathways and potential pharmacological strategies to revert or selectively eradicate disorganized tumor epithelium.
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Tervonen TA, Ajamian F, De Wit J, Verhaagen J, Castrén E, Castrén M. Overexpression of a truncated TrkB isoform increases the proliferation of neural progenitors. Eur J Neurosci 2006; 24:1277-85. [PMID: 16987215 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2006.05010.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The truncated isoform of TrkB, TrkB.T1, has been shown to be expressed in the neurogenic region of rodent brain. TrkB.T1 lacks tyrosine kinase activity and it may modify the action of the full-length TrkB. We show here that the full-length TrkB and TrkB.T1 are expressed at the same relative expression levels in mouse neural progenitor cell cultures. The number of neurosphere-forming progenitors was reduced and apoptosis increased in neurospheres generated from mice overexpressing TrkB.T1 when compared with wild-type neurospheres. The proliferation of the transgenic neural progenitors was increased, as indicated by the larger average diameter of spheres (140% of control), the increased cell growth in an MTT assay (137% of control) and the faster rate of 3H-thymidine incorporation (128% of control) in the transgenic cell cultures than in controls. The proliferation of neural progenitors was also increased after lentivirus-mediated TrkB.T1 overexpression. A significant increase in 3H-thymidine incorporation (119% of control) and the average diameter of spheres (112% of control) in the TrkB.T1-transduced neurospheres compared with neurospheres transduced with the control vectors confirmed the role of TrkB.T1 in proliferation of neural progenitor. When induced to differentiate, progenitors overexpressing TrkB.T1 generated two to three times more neurons than did wild-type cells. The increase in the number of neurons correlated with an increase in the number of apoptotic cells (two-fold) at these time points. The data indicate that changes in the relative expression levels of different TrkB isoforms influence the replicative capacity of neural progenitors.
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MESH Headings
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Cell Proliferation
- Cell Survival/genetics
- Cells, Cultured
- Embryo, Mammalian
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology
- In Situ Nick-End Labeling/methods
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism
- Neurons/metabolism
- Protein Isoforms/genetics
- Protein Isoforms/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Receptor, trkB/genetics
- Receptor, trkB/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
- Statistics, Nonparametric
- Stem Cells/metabolism
- Tetrazolium Salts
- Thiazoles
- Thymidine/metabolism
- Time Factors
- Tritium/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Topi A Tervonen
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, PO Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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