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Franco-Valls H, Tusquets-Uxó E, Sala L, Val M, Peña R, Iaconcig A, Villarino Á, Jiménez-Arriola M, Massó P, Trincado JL, Eyras E, Muro AF, Otero J, García de Herreros A, Baulida J. Formation of an invasion-permissive matrix requires TGFβ/SNAIL1-regulated alternative splicing of fibronectin. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:143. [PMID: 37964360 PMCID: PMC10647173 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01736-y] [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: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As in most solid cancers, the emergence of cells with oncogenic mutations in the mammary epithelium alters the tissue homeostasis. Some soluble factors, such as TGFβ, potently modify the behavior of healthy stromal cells. A subpopulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts expressing a TGFβ target, the SNAIL1 transcription factor, display myofibroblastic abilities that rearrange the stromal architecture. Breast tumors with the presence of SNAIL1 in the stromal compartment, and with aligned extracellular fiber, are associated with poor survival prognoses. METHODS We used deep RNA sequencing and biochemical techniques to study alternative splicing and human tumor databases to test for associations (correlation t-test) between SNAIL1 and fibronectin isoforms. Three-dimensional extracellular matrices generated from fibroblasts were used to study the mechanical properties and actions of the extracellular matrices on tumor cell and fibroblast behaviors. A metastatic mouse model of breast cancer was used to test the action of fibronectin isoforms on lung metastasis. RESULTS In silico studies showed that SNAIL1 correlates with the expression of the extra domain A (EDA)-containing (EDA+) fibronectin in advanced human breast cancer and other types of epithelial cancers. In TGFβ-activated fibroblasts, alternative splicing of fibronectin as well as of 500 other genes was modified by eliminating SNAIL1. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that SNAIL1 favors the inclusion of the EDA exon by modulating the activity of the SRSF1 splicing factor. Similar to Snai1 knockout fibroblasts, EDA- fibronectin fibroblasts produce an extracellular matrix that does not sustain TGFβ-induced fiber organization, rigidity, fibroblast activation, or tumor cell invasion. The presence of EDA+ fibronectin changes the action of metalloproteinases on fibronectin fibers. Critically, in an mouse orthotopic breast cancer model, the absence of the fibronectin EDA domain completely prevents lung metastasis. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the requirement of EDA+ fibronectin in the generation of a metastasis permissive stromal architecture in breast cancers and its molecular control by SNAIL1. From a pharmacological point of view, specifically blocking EDA+ fibronectin deposition could be included in studies to reduce the formation of a pro-metastatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Franco-Valls
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elsa Tusquets-Uxó
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Sala
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- National Institutes of Health: Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Maria Val
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Vall Hebron Institute of Research, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl Peña
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alessandra Iaconcig
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Álvaro Villarino
- Unitat Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain
| | - Martín Jiménez-Arriola
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Massó
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan L Trincado
- Research Program of Biomedical Informatics, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduardo Eyras
- Research Program of Biomedical Informatics, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Andrés F Muro
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Jorge Otero
- Unitat Biofísica i Bioenginyeria, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio García de Herreros
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Medicina i Ciències de la Vida, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Baulida
- Programa de Recerca en Càncer, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
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Richardson LS, Menon PR, Menon R. The effects of extracellular matrix rigidity on 3-dimensional cultures of amnion membrane cells. Placenta 2019; 90:82-89. [PMID: 32056556 DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To determine 3D growth of amnion membrane cells using soft substrate plates of various rigidities. METHODS Amnion epithelial (AEC) and mesenchymal cells (AMC) were cultured on 6-well soft substrate plates coated with matrigel and elastomer with rigidities of 0.5, 2, 8, 16, and 64 kPa (n = 3 each). Controls were cells in standard culture conditions. Cell morphology, spheroids' and sheets' formations and viability (bright field microscopy and crystal violet staining), and cellular transitions (vimentin/cytokeratin-18 [CK-18] ratios) were analyzed. A Student t-test was used for statistical analyses. RESULTS AECs in substrate rigidities between 2 and 8 kPa formed 3D features (spheroids and sheets) while retaining viability. Two kPa produced spheroids with epithelial characteristics (decrease in vimentin), and 8 kPa favored sheets. Transplantation and culture of AEC sheets with no matrix or elastomers, retained AECs' viability and maintained their epithelial characteristics. Optimum AMC growth was also between 2 and 8 kP A, with predominance of vimentin; however, AMCs did not form 3D structures. Lower and higher rigidities transitioned AMCs into AECs (decrease in vimentin). DISCUSSION Matrix rigidities between 2 and 8 kPa produced 3D structures of AECs (spheroids and sheets), resembling amnion membranes' morphology and exhibiting regenerative capacity in utero. Although AMCs grew in similar rigidities, a lack of 3D structures support their dispersed character in the membrane matrix. Extreme rigidities transitioned AMCs into AECs, suggesting that AMCs are transient cells (reservoirs) in the matrix required for remodeling. Compromises in matrix rigidity can cause membrane dysfunction and lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren S Richardson
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Perinatal Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology & Anatomy, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
| | - Poorna R Menon
- Clear Falls High School, 4380 Village Way, League City, TX, 77573, USA
| | - Ramkumar Menon
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine & Perinatal Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
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Nasser M, Wu Y, Danaoui Y, Ghosh G. Engineering microenvironments towards harnessing pro-angiogenic potential of mesenchymal stem cells. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl 2019; 102:75-84. [PMID: 31147047 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2019.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapy for promoting vascular regeneration is a promising strategy for treating ischemic diseases. However, low engraftment and retention rate of MSCs at the target site highlights the importance of paracrine signaling of MSCs in the reparative process. Thus, harnessing MSC-secretome is essential for rational design of MSC-based therapies. The role of microenvironment in regulating the paracrine signaling of MSCs is not well known. In this study, human bone marrow-derived MSCs were seeded on matrices with varying stiffness or cell adhesive sites, and conditioned media was collected. The concentrations of angiogenic molecules in the media was measured via ELISA. In addition, the bioactivity of the released molecules was investigated via assessing the proliferation and capillary morphogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) incubated with conditioned media. Our study revealed that secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is dependent on substrate stiffness. Maximal secretion was observed when MSCs were seeded on hydrogel matrices of 5.0 kPa stiffness. Proliferation and tubulogenesis of HUVECs supported ELISA data. On the other hand, variation of cell adhesive sites while maintaining a uniform optimal stiffness, did not influence the pro-angiogenic activity of MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malak Nasser
- Bioengineering Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn, United States of America
| | - Yang Wu
- Bioengineering Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn, United States of America
| | - Youssef Danaoui
- Bioengineering Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn, United States of America
| | - Gargi Ghosh
- Bioengineering Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan-Dearborn, United States of America.
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Ma P, Shen X, Tan P, Yang L, Liu W. Effect of matrix rigidity on organ-specific capture of tumor cells by flow. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 63:10-15. [PMID: 28478797 DOI: 10.14715/cmb/2017.63.4.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidences have suggested that tumor metastasis exists prominent organ discrepancy. In this progression, the capture of intravascular tumor cells (TCs) to endothelium in distant tissues and organs plays a decisive role in the organ-specific metastasis formation. However, the mechanism of tumor cells preferentially arrest and adhere to endothelial cells (ECs) of target organ still remains elusive. By using the parallel plate flow chamber and the polyacrylamide gels with different matrix stiffness, we here explored the combined effects of matrix rigidity, shear stress, and chemokine SDF-1 on the capture of circulating tumor cells to ECs in the bloodstream. In addition, the expression and the role of integrin β1 on the tumor cells surface were also detected by SDF-1 treatment. The results show that breast tumor cells MDA-MB-231 display an increasing number of adherent cells on the preferred substrate, which is similar to the matrix rigidity of breast cancer tissue (about 5kPa), under a certain shear stress. Moreover, ECs exacerbates the preferred capture of tumor cells compared with the FN-coated substrate alone. Besides, SDF-1 upregulates the number of adherent tumor cells by responding to matrix stiffness via promoting the expression of integrin β1, which is abolished by blocking of integrin β1. These results may provide a novel point of view for the mechanism of "organ specificity" phenomenon in tumor metastasis, which in turn contribute to a rational development of new drugs for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - X Shen
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - P Tan
- Dazu Middle School, Chongqing, China
| | - L Yang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - W Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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Abstract
Clinically, non-invasive carcinomas are confined to the epithelial side of the basement membrane and are classified as benign, whereas invasive cancers invade through the basement membrane and thereby acquire the potential to metastasize. Recent findings suggest that, in addition to protease-mediated degradation and chemotaxis-stimulated migration, basement membrane invasion by malignant cells is significantly influenced by the stiffness of the associated interstitial extracellular matrix and the contractility of the tumor cells that is dictated in part by their oncogenic genotype. In this review, we highlight recent findings that illustrate unifying molecular mechanisms whereby these physical cues contribute to tissue fibrosis and malignancy in three epithelial organs: breast, pancreas, and liver. We also discuss the clinical implications of these findings and the biological properties and clinical challenges linked to the unique biology of each of these organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tammy T Chang
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Dhruv Thakar
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Valerie M Weaver
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Anatomy, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; The Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Kurniawan NA, Chaudhuri PK, Lim CT. Mechanobiology of cell migration in the context of dynamic two-way cell-matrix interactions. J Biomech 2015; 49:1355-1368. [PMID: 26747513 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Migration of cells is integral in various physiological processes in all facets of life. These range from embryonic development, morphogenesis, and wound healing, to disease pathology such as cancer metastasis. While cell migratory behavior has been traditionally studied using simple assays on culture dishes, in recent years it has been increasingly realized that the physical, mechanical, and chemical aspects of the matrix are key determinants of the migration mechanism. In this paper, we will describe the mechanobiological changes that accompany the dynamic cell-matrix interactions during cell migration. Furthermore, we will review what is to date known about how these changes feed back to the dynamics and biomechanical properties of the cell and the matrix. Elucidating the role of these intimate cell-matrix interactions will provide not only a better multi-scale understanding of cell motility in its physiological context, but also a more holistic perspective for designing approaches to regulate cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A Kurniawan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands; Department of Systems Biophysics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Chwee Teck Lim
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Page JM, Merkel AR, Ruppender NS, Guo R, Dadwal UC, Cannonier S, Basu S, Guelcher SA, Sterling JA. Matrix rigidity regulates the transition of tumor cells to a bone-destructive phenotype through integrin β3 and TGF-β receptor type II. Biomaterials 2015; 64:33-44. [PMID: 26115412 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer patients frequently develop skeletal metastases that significantly impact quality of life. Since bone metastases remain incurable, a clearer understanding of molecular mechanisms regulating skeletal metastases is required to develop new therapeutics that block establishment of tumors in bone. While many studies have suggested that the microenvironment contributes to bone metastases, the factors mediating tumors to progress from a quiescent to a bone-destructive state remain unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that the "soil" of the bone microenvironment, specifically the rigid mineralized extracellular matrix, stimulates the transition of the tumor cells to a bone-destructive phenotype. To test this hypothesis, we synthesized 2D polyurethane (PUR) films with elastic moduli ranging from the basement membrane (70 MPa) to cortical bone (3800 MPa) and measured expression of genes associated with mechanotransduction and bone metastases. We found that expression of Integrin β3 (Iβ3), as well as tumor-produced factors associated with bone destruction (Gli2 and parathyroid hormone related protein (PTHrP)), significantly increased with matrix rigidity, and that blocking Iβ3 reduced Gli2 and PTHrP expression. To identify the mechanism by which Iβ3 regulates Gli2 and PTHrP (both are also known to be regulated by TGF-β), we performed Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and immunoprecipitation, which indicated that Iβ3 co-localized with TGF-β Receptor Type II (TGF-β RII) on rigid but not compliant films. Finally, transplantation of tumor cells expressing Iβ3 shRNA into the tibiae of athymic nude mice significantly reduced PTHrP and Gli2 expression, as well as bone destruction, suggesting a crucial role for tumor-produced Iβ3 in disease progression. This study demonstrates that the rigid mineralized bone matrix can alter gene expression and bone destruction in an Iβ3/TGF-β-dependent manner, and suggests that Iβ3 inhibitors are a potential therapeutic approach for blocking tumor transition to a bone destructive phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Page
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Alyssa R Merkel
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Nazanin S Ruppender
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Ruijing Guo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Ushashi C Dadwal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Shellese Cannonier
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | | | - Scott A Guelcher
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA.,Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA
| | - Julie A Sterling
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.,Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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Chang CC, Hsieh TL, Tiong TY, Hsiao CH, Ji AT, Hsu WT, Lee OK, Ho JH. Regulation of metastatic ability and drug resistance in pulmonary adenocarcinoma by matrix rigidity via activating c-Met and EGFR. Biomaterials 2015; 60:141-50. [PMID: 26000960 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.04.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2014] [Revised: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Lung fibrosis is a poor prognostic factor for pulmonary adenocarcinoma, and the effect of a rigid microenvironment on cancer behavior is unclear. We cultured A549 cells on matrices of 0.2, 2, and 25 kPa to mimic the rigidities of normal lung parenchyma, progressive fibrotic change, and lung fibrosis, respectively. Lung tissue from patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma was used to confirm the in vitro findings. Increased matrix rigidity promoted cell proliferation and upregulated the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-Met), and Snail expression in A549 cells. A549 cells became more resistant to the EGFR inhibitor (Erlotinib) and c-Met inhibitor (PHA-665752) when matrix rigidity increased; however, a high concentration of PHA-665752 reversed the rigidity-induced morphological pleomorphism. In human lung tissue, expression of type I collagen was more consistent with clinical fibrosis than the expression of alpha-smooth muscle antibody was. c-Met- and Snail-expressing tumor cells, rather than EGFR-experssing cells, were localized with lung parenchyma rich in type I collagen. Our findings suggest that c-Met causes the rigidity-induced biophysical reaction in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Treatment targeting both EGFR and c-Met should be considered for patients with lung fibrosis and who are abundant type I collagen expression in the tumor mass.
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O'Connor JW, Gomez EW. Biomechanics of TGFβ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition: implications for fibrosis and cancer. Clin Transl Med 2014; 3:23. [PMID: 25097726 PMCID: PMC4114144 DOI: 10.1186/2001-1326-3-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis, a disease that results in loss of organ function, contributes to a significant number of deaths worldwide and sustained fibrotic activation has been suggested to increase the risk of developing cancer in a variety of tissues. Fibrogenesis and tumor progression are regulated in part through the activation and activity of myofibroblasts. Increasing evidence links myofibroblasts found within fibrotic lesions and the tumor microenvironment to a process termed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a phenotypic change in which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal characteristics. EMT can be stimulated by soluble signals, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and recent studies have identified a role for mechanical cues in directing EMT. In this review, we describe the role that EMT plays in fibrogenesis and in the progression of cancer, with particular emphasis placed on biophysical signaling mechanisms that control the EMT program. We further describe specific TGFβ-induced intracellular signaling cascades that are affected by cell- and tissue-level mechanics. Finally, we highlight the implications of mechanical induction of EMT on the development of treatments and targeted intervention strategies for fibrosis and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W O'Connor
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 204 Fenske Laboratory, 16802 University Park, PA, USA
| | - Esther W Gomez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 204 Fenske Laboratory, 16802 University Park, PA, USA ; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 16802 University Park, PA, USA
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