The transcription factor Slug represses E-cadherin expression and induces epithelial to mesenchymal transitions: a comparison with Snail and E47 repressors

Native and iron-saturated bovine lactoferrin differently hinder migration in a model of human glioblastoma by reverting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-like process and inhibiting interleukin-6/STAT3 axis

Glioblastoma, the most lethal form of brain cancer, is characterized by fast growth, migration and invasion of the surrounding parenchyma, with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like process being mostly responsible for tumour spreading and dissemination. A number of actors, including cadherins, vimentin, transcriptional factors such as SNAIL, play critical roles in the EMT process. The interleukin (IL)-6/STAT3 axis has been related to enhanced glioblastoma's migration and invasion abilities as well. Here, we present data on the differential effects of native and iron-saturated bovine lactoferrin (bLf), an iron-chelating glycoprotein of the innate immune response, in inhibiting migration in a human glioblastoma cell line. Through a wound healing assay, we found that bLf was able to partially or completely hinder cell migration, depending on its iron saturation rate. At a molecular level, bLf down-regulated both SNAIL and vimentin expression, while inducing a notable increase in cadherins' levels and inhibiting IL-6/STAT3 axis. Again, these effects positively correlated to bLf iron-saturation state, with the Holo-form resulting more efficient than the native one. Overall, our data suggest that bLf could represent a novel and efficient adjuvant treatment for glioblastoma's standard therapeutic approaches.

Self-organizing neuruloids model developmental aspects of Huntington's disease in the ectodermal compartment

Harnessing the potential of human embryonic stem cells to mimic normal and aberrant development with standardized models is a pressing challenge. Here we use micropattern technology to recapitulate early human neurulation in large numbers of nearly identical structures called neuruloids. Dual-SMAD inhibition followed by bone morphogenic protein 4 stimulation induced self-organization of neuruloids harboring neural progenitors, neural crest, sensory placode and epidermis. Single-cell transcriptomics unveiled the precise identities and timing of fate specification. Investigation of the molecular mechanism of neuruloid self-organization revealed a pulse of pSMAD1 at the edge that induced epidermis, whose juxtaposition to central neural fates specifies neural crest and placodes, modulated by fibroblast growth factor and Wnt. Neuruloids provide a unique opportunity to study the developmental aspects of human diseases. Using isogenic Huntington's disease human embryonic stem cells and deep neural network analysis, we show how specific phenotypic signatures arise in our model of early human development as a consequence of mutant huntingtin protein, outlining an approach for phenotypic drug screening.

SOX18 Affects Cell Viability, Migration, Invasiveness, and Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Cells by Participating in Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) Progression and Adenosine Monophosphate Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK)/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR)

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies around the world. It has been verified that the expression of SOX18 is correlated to poor clinical prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, or breast invasive ductal carcinoma. However, the expression pattern and biological function of SOX18 in HCC tissues remains unclear. In this study, we set out to investigate the associated biological function and potential molecular mechanism of the SOX18 gene in HCC cells.

Material/Methods

The mRNA and protein expression levels of experimental related genes were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting assay, respectively. The MTT method was used to assess cell viability, and cell apoptosis analysis was performed by means of FACScan flow cytometry. Wound-healing assay and Transwell analysis were performed to evaluate the ability of cell migration and invasiveness, respectively.

Results

SOX18 was highly expressed in various HCC cell lines. In addition, SOX18 promoted cell viability, migration, and invasion and simultaneously induce cell apoptosis. SOX18 promoted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression, and SOX18 downregulation activated the autophagy signaling pathway AMPK/mTOR in HCC cells.

Conclusions

SOX18 downregulation in HCC cells suppressed cell viability and metastasis, induced cell apoptosis and hindered the occurrence and progression of tumor cells by participating in the EMT process and regulating the autophagy signaling pathway AMPK/mTOR.

The Transcription Factor Elf3 Is Essential for a Successful Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition

The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) are two critical biological processes that are involved in both physiological events such as embryogenesis and development and also pathological events such as tumorigenesis. They present with dramatic changes in cellular morphology and gene expression exhibiting acute changes in E-cadherin expression. Despite the comprehensive understanding of EMT, the regulation of MET is far from being understood. To find novel regulators of MET, we hypothesized that such factors would correlate with Cdh1 expression. Bioinformatics examination of several expression profiles suggested Elf3 as a strong candidate. Depletion of Elf3 at the onset of MET severely impaired the progression to the epithelial state. This MET defect was explained, in part, by the absence of E-cadherin at the plasma membrane. Moreover, during MET, ELF3 interacts with the Grhl3 promoter and activates its expression. Our findings present novel insights into the regulation of MET and reveal ELF3 as an indispensable guardian of the epithelial state. A better understanding of MET will, eventually, lead to better management of metastatic cancers.

Role of AKT and mTOR signaling pathways in the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process in the development of many tissues and organs in multicellular organisms that its important role in the pathogenesis of metastasis and tumor cell migration has been firmly established. Decreased adhesive capacity, cytoskeletal reorganization, and increased mobility are hallmarks of the EMT. Several molecular mechanisms promote EMT, Including regulation of the levels of specific cell-surface proteins, ECM-degrading enzymes, and altering the expression of certain transcription factors and microRNAs. EMT process is modulated through multiple signaling pathways including the AKT/mTOR pathway. AKT is a key component in numerous processes which was recently shown to regulate the EMT through suppression of the expression of E-cadherin via EMT transcription factors. On the other hand, mTOR complexes can also regulate the EMT through the regulation of cell's actin cytoskeleton by altering the PKC phosphorylation state and direct phosphorylation and activation of Akt. Here we review the effect of AKT and mTOR on EMT and consequently metastasis and cell motility.

The Role Played by SLUG, an Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Factor, in Invasion and Therapeutic Resistance of Malignant Glioma

In malignant gliomas, invasive phenotype and cancer stemness promoting resurgence of residual tumor cells render treatment very difficult. Hence, identification of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) factors associated with invasion and stemness of glioma cells is critical. To address the issue, we investigated several EMT factors in hypermotile U87MG and U251 cells, orthotopic mouse glioma model, and human glioma samples. Of several EMT markers, SLUG expression was notably increased at the invasive fronts of gliomas, both in mouse tumor grafts and human glioma samples. The biological role played by SLUG was investigated using a colony-forming assay after chemotherapy and irradiation, and by employing a neurosphere culture assay. The effect of SLUG on glioma progression was examined in our patient cohort and samples, and compared to large public data from the REMBRANDT and TCGA. Genetic upregulation of SLUG was associated with increased levels of stemness factors and enhanced resistance to radiation and temozolomide. In our cohort, patients exhibiting lower-level SLUG expression evidenced longer progression-free survival (P = 0.042). Also, in the REMBRANDT dataset, a group in which SLUG was downregulated exhibited a significant survival benefit (P < 0.001). Although paired glioblastoma samples from our patients did not show a significant increase of SLUG expression, increased mRNA levels of SLUG were found in recurrent glioblastoma from TCGA (P = 0.052), and in temozolomide-treated glioma cells and mouse tumor grafts. SLUG may contribute to glioma progression by controlling invasion at infiltrating margins, associated with increased stemness and therapeutic resistance.

miR-1-3p suppresses the epithelial-mesenchymal transition property in renal cell cancer by downregulating Fibronectin 1

Purpose

Renal cell cancer (RCC) is one of the primary causes of malignancy deaths all over the world. The most important cause of RCC-related mortality is metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in metastasis of malignant tumors including RCC. miR-1-3p is confirmed to be decreased in many types of cancer. Nevertheless, the function of miR-1-3p in RCC metastasis and EMT process was still unclear.

Materials and methods

In this study, information from clinical investigation, in vitro study, and in vivo study discovered miR-1-3p expression character and its status in RCC. The character of miR-1-3p in invasive and metastatic properties in vitro and in vivo was also inspected in RCC cells and xenograft tumor model, and expression levels of EMT markers were evaluated in RCC cells and tissues.

Results

miR-1-3p was proved to be decreased in RCC cell lines and tissues compared with normal renal cells and tissues. miR-1-3p expression level in RCC tissues was closely related with capsulation, lymph node metastasis, and vascular invasion. miR-1-3p was found to be able to block the EMT process in A498 and CAKI-1 RCC cells and tumors. Luciferase reporter assay and expression level rescue assays were employed to reveal that miR-1-3p inhibited the invasion and migration property of RCC cells by directly targeting Fibronectin 1. Upregulation of Fibronectin 1 partially reversed the suppressive effect of miR-1-3p on EMT process.

Conclusion

In brief, this study has verified that miR-1-3p blocked the EMT process of RCC cells by reducing Fibronectin 1 expression. miR-1-3p/Fibronectin 1 axis may be considered as a new target for drug development of RCC.

Cellular plasticity and metastasis in breast cancer: a pre- and post-malignant problem

As a field we have made tremendous strides in treating breast cancer, with a decline in the past 30 years of overall breast cancer mortality. However, this progress is met with little affect once the disease spreads beyond the primary site. With a 5-year survival rate of 22%, 10-year of 13%, for those patients with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), our ability to effectively treat wide spread disease is minimal. A major contributing factor to this ineffectiveness is the complex make-up, or heterogeneity, of the primary site. Within a primary tumor, secreted factors, malignant and pre-malignant epithelial cells, immune cells, stromal fibroblasts and many others all reside alongside each other creating a dynamic environment contributing to metastasis. Furthermore, heterogeneity contributes to our lack of understanding regarding the cells' remarkable ability to undergo epithelial/non-cancer stem cell (CSC) to mesenchymal/CSC (E-M/CSC) plasticity. The enhanced invasion & motility, tumor-initiating potential, and acquired therapeutic resistance which accompanies E-M/CSC plasticity implicates a significant role in metastasis. While most work trying to understand E-M/CSC plasticity has been done on malignant cells, recent evidence is emerging concerning the ability for pre-malignant cells to undergo E-M/CSC plasticity and contribute to the metastatic process. Here we will discuss the importance of E-M/CSC plasticity within malignant and pre-malignant populations of the tumor. Moreover, we will discuss how one may potentially target these populations, ultimately disrupting the metastatic cascade and increasing patient survival for those with mBC.

Homeobox C8 is a transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin gene expression in non-small cell lung cancer

Loss of E-cadherin expression is a hallmark of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor progression. Because previous findings suggested that homeobox C8 (HOXC8) promotes EMT in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we investigated whether E-cadherin is a target of HOXC8 protein. In this study, we report that HOXC8 binds to the E-cadherin promoter and acts as a transcriptional repressor to regulate E-cadherin transcription in NSCLC. We further show that loss of E-cadherin leads to an increase in anchorage-independent growth and migration of NSCLC cells, and the inhibitory effects mediated by HOXC8 knockdown can be largely rescued by reduction of E-cadherin expression, suggesting that the HOXC8-E-cadherin pathway is involved in lung cancer progression. Moreover, analysis of E-cadherin and HOXC8 expression indicates that expression of HOXC8 is strongly correlated with loss of E-cadherin expression, and high HOXC8 / low E-cadherin expression is significantly correlated with poor survival for lung cancer patients. Taken together, these data indicate that E-cadherin is a target gene of HOXC8 and that the loss of E-cadherin promotes the growth and migration of NSCLC.

Upregulation of LSD1 promotes migration and invasion in gastric cancer through facilitating EMT

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system. In addition, GC metastasis is an extremely complicated process. A previous study has found that lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is abnormal expression in a variety of cancers and its overexpression correlates with aggressive disease and poor outcome.

Methods

qRT-PCR and Western blot assays were used to assess the expression of LSD1 in GC tissue samples and cell lines. Colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay, scratch-wound assay and transwell invasion, were performed to determine the effect of LSD1 on cell proliferation and migration as well as invasion in GC.

Results

Our results show that LSD1 was up-regulated in GC tumor tissues and cell lines, and high expression level of LSD1 was found to be positively correlated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis and pathological grade. Moreover, LSD1 promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion of GC. In addition, LSD1 regulated E-cadherin expression through demethylating H3K4me2, thereby promoting EMT in GC.

Conclusion

Our work indicated that LSD1 may be used as a potential target of gastric cancer.

The Root Bark of Morus alba L. Suppressed the Migration of Human Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells through Inhibition of Epithelial⁻Mesenchymal Transition Mediated by STAT3 and Src

The root bark of Morus alba L. (MA) has been traditionally used for the treatment of various lung diseases in Korea. Although recent research has demonstrated its anticancer effects in several cancer cells, it is still unclear whether MA inhibits the migratory ability of lung cancer cells. The present study investigated the effects of MA on the migration of lung cancer cells and explored the underlying mechanism. Results from a transwell assay and wound-healing assay demonstrated that methylene chloride extracts of MA (MEMA) suppressed the migration and invasion of H1299, H460, and A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Results from Western blot analyses showed that MEMA reduced the phosphorylation of STAT3 and Src. In addition, MEMA downregulated the expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker proteins including Slug, Snail, Vimentin, and N-cadherin, while upregulating the expression of Occludin—a tight-junction protein. The regulation of EMT markers and the decrease of migration by MEMA treatment were reversed once phospho-mimetic STAT3 (Y705D) or Src (Y527F) was transfected into H1299 cells. In conclusions, MEMA inhibited the migratory activity of human NSCLC cells through blocking Src/STAT3-mediated EMT.

Context-dependent EMT programs in cancer metastasis

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental process whereby stationary, adherent cells acquire the ability to migrate. EMT is critical for dramatic cellular movements during embryogenesis; however, tumor cells can reactivate EMT programs, which increases their aggressiveness. In addition to motility, EMT is associated with enhanced stem cell properties and drug resistance; thus it can drive metastasis, tumor recurrence, and therapy resistance in the context of cancer. However, the precise requirements for EMT in metastasis have not been fully delineated, with different tumor types relying on discrete EMT effectors. Most tumor cells do not undergo a full EMT, but rather adopt some qualities of mesenchymal cells and maintain some epithelial characteristics. Emerging evidence suggests that partial EMT can drive distinct migratory properties and enhance the epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of cancer cells as well as cell fate plasticity. This review discusses the diverse regulatory mechanisms and functional consequences of EMT, with an emphasis on the importance of partial EMT.

Upregulation of FOXP4 in breast cancer promotes migration and invasion through facilitating EMT

Background

Family of forkhead box transcription factors has been found to play key roles in multiple types of cancer.

Materials and methods

Our study is to decipher the effects of FOXP4 in human breast cancer (BC). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses were performed to determine the mRNA and protein expressions of FOXP4 in BC tissue samples and cell lines. The gain and loss of function assay were used to explore the detailed roles of FOXP4 in breast cell lines, including MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells. Its effect on BC growth, migration, and invasion were evaluated by colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay, wound-healing assay, and transwell invasion assay, respectively.

Results

Our findings revealed that FOXP4 promotes cell proliferation, migration, as well as invasion of BC cells. Furthermore, FOXP4 also facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition. ChIP, qChIP assay, and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to examine whether Snail is a downstream target of FOXP4. Moreover, overexpression of Snail could partially rescue the effects of FOXP4 inhibition on cancer cell migration and invasion.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that FOXP4 is a critical regulator in BC.

Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Cholangiocarcinoma: An Insight into Epidemiologic Evidences and Hypothetical Mechanisms of Oncogenesis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global public health problem because it is a main cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This human oncogenic virus is also associated with the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The association between HCV infection and CCA has been examined in a number of epidemiologic studies. However, in vivo and in vitro results demonstrating the oncogenic mechanisms of HCV in CCA development and progression are insufficient. Here, we review the epidemiologic association of HCV and CCA and recent publications of studies of HCV infection of cholangiocytes and CCA cell lines as well as studies of viral infection performed with liver samples obtained from patients. In addition, we also discuss the preliminary results of in vitro assays of HCV protein expression in CCA cell lines. Finally, we discuss the hypothetical role of HCV infection in CCA development by induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and up-regulation of hedgehog signaling, and consequently biliary tree inflammation and liver fibrosis. Further studies are required to demonstrate these hypotheses and therefore to elucidate the mechanisms of HCV as a risk factor for CCA.

Visco-Node-Pore Sensing: A Microfluidic Rheology Platform to Characterize Viscoelastic Properties of Epithelial Cells

Viscoelastic properties of cells provide valuable information regarding biological or clinically relevant cellular characteristics. Here, we introduce a new, electronic-based, microfluidic platform-visco-node-pore sensing (visco-NPS)-which quantifies cellular viscoelastic properties under periodic deformation. We measure the storage (G') and loss (G″) moduli (i.e., elasticity and viscosity, respectively) of cells. By applying a wide range of deformation frequencies, our platform quantifies the frequency dependence of viscoelastic properties. G' and G″ measurements show that the viscoelastic properties of malignant breast epithelial cells (MCF-7) are distinctly different from those of non-malignant breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A). With its sensitivity, visco-NPS can dissect the individual contributions of different cytoskeletal components to whole-cell mechanical properties. Moreover, visco-NPS can quantify the mechanical transitions of cells as they traverse the cell cycle or are initiated into an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Visco-NPS identifies viscoelastic characteristics of cell populations, providing a biophysical understanding of cellular behavior and a potential for clinical applications.

MDM2 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition through activation of Smad2/3 signaling pathway in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

Mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) contributes to cancer metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This study aimed to investigate small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad) signaling in MDM2-mediated EMT in lung adenocarcinoma (LAC).

Materials and methods

Expression patterns of MDM2 in LAC tissues, adjacent tissues, and cell lines (BEAS-2B, PC9, H1975, and A549) were detected. We then overexpressed MDM2 in PC9 cells and knocked it down in H1975 cells. To explore whether MDM2 activates EMT through the Smad2/3 signaling pathway, Smad2 and Smad3 were also silenced by siRNA in H1975 cells. Male BALB/c nude mice were used in in vivo model to validate the effects of MDM2 on LAC cells.

Results

MDM2 was significantly upregulated in LAC tissues compared with adjacent tissues. The expression of MDM2 was relatively higher in PC9 cells and relatively lower in H1975 cells compared with A549 cells. Overexpression of MDM2 significantly increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in LAC cells, while inhibiting apoptosis in PC9 cells. On the contrary, silencing of MDM2 significantly inhibited the expression of EMT-related genes N-cadherin and vimentin, while promoting the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin. In vivo, MDM2 knockdown inhibited tumor growth. In addition, the expression of Smad2/3 was correlated with MDM2 in H1975 cells transfected with Smad2 and Smad3 siRNAs, which inhibited EMT progress.

Conclusion

MDM2 can activate the Smad2/3 signaling pathway, which promotes the proliferation and EMT progress of LAC cells.

C-Met as a Key Factor Responsible for Sustaining Undifferentiated Phenotype and Therapy Resistance in Renal Carcinomas

C-Met tyrosine kinase receptor plays an important role under normal and pathological conditions. In tumor cells’ overexpression or incorrect activation of c-Met, this leads to stimulation of proliferation, survival and increase of motile activity. This receptor is also described as a marker of cancer initiating cells. The latest research shows that the c-Met receptor has an influence on the development of resistance to targeted cancer treatment. High c-Met expression and activation in renal cell carcinomas is associated with the progression of the disease and poor survival of patients. C-Met receptor has become a therapeutic target in kidney cancer. However, the therapies used so far using c-Met tyrosine kinase inhibitors demonstrate resistance to treatment. On the other hand, the c-Met pathway may act as an alternative target pathway in tumors that are resistant to other therapies. Combination treatment together with c-Met inhibitor reduces tumor growth, vascularization and pro-metastatic behavior and results in suppressed mesenchymal phenotype and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. Recently, it has been shown that the acquirement of mesenchymal phenotype or lack of cell differentiation might be related to the presence of the c-Met receptor and is consequently responsible for therapy resistance. This review presents the results from recent studies identifying c-Met as an important factor in renal carcinomas being responsible for tumor growth, progression and metastasis, indicating the role of c-Met in resistance to antitumor therapy and demonstrating the pivotal role of c-Met in supporting mesenchymal cell phenotype.

Prevention of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in colorectal carcinoma by regulation of the E-cadherin-β-catenin-vinculin axis

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is compulsory for metastatic dissemination and is stimulated by TGF-β. Although targeting EMT has significant therapeutic potential, very few pharmacological agents have been shown to exert anti-metastatic effects. BI-69A11, a competitive Akt inhibitor, displays anti-tumor activity toward melanoma and colon carcinoma. This study provides molecular and biochemical insights into the effects of BI-69A11 on EMT in colon carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo. BI-69A11 inhibited metastasis-associated cellular migration, invasion and adhesion by inhibiting the Akt-β-catenin pathway. The underlying mechanism of BI-69A11-mediated inhibition of EMT included suppression of nuclear transport of β-catenin and diminished phosphorylation of β-catenin, which was accompanied by enhanced E-cadherin-β-catenin complex formation at the plasma membrane. Additionally, BI-69A11 caused increased accumulation of vinculin in the plasma membrane, which fortified focal adhesion junctions leading to inhibition of metastasis. BI-69A11 downregulated activation of the TGF-β-induced non-canonical Akt/NF-κB pathway and blocked TGF-β-induced enhanced expression of Snail causing restoration of E-cadherin. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanism of BI-69A11-induced reversal of EMT in colorectal carcinoma cells in vitro, in vivo and in TGF-β-induced model systems.

The First Approved Gene Therapy Product for Cancer Ad-p53 (Gendicine): 12 Years in the Clinic

Gendicine (recombinant human p53 adenovirus), developed by Shenzhen SiBiono GeneTech Co. Ltd., was approved in 2003 by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) as a first-in-class gene therapy product to treat head and neck cancer, and entered the commercial market in 2004. Gendicine is a biological therapy that is delivered via minimally invasive intratumoral injection, as well as by intracavity or intravascular infusion. The wild-type (wt) p53 protein expressed by Gendicine-transduced cells is a tumor suppressor that is activated by cellular stress, and mediates cell-cycle arrest and DNA repair, or induces apoptosis, senescence, and/or autophagy, depending upon cellular stress conditions. Based on 12 years of commercial use in >30,000 patients, and >30 published clinical studies, Gendicine has exhibited an exemplary safety record, and when combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy has demonstrated significantly higher response rates than for standard therapies alone. In addition to head and neck cancer, Gendicine has been successfully applied to treat various other cancer types and different stages of disease. Thirteen published studies that include long-term survival data showed that Gendicine combination regimens yield progression-free survival times that are significantly longer than standard therapies alone. Although the p53 gene is mutated in >50% of all human cancers, p53 mutation status did not significantly influence efficacy outcomes and long-term survival rate for Ad-p53-treated patients. To date, Shenzhen SiBiono GeneTech has manufactured 41 batches of Gendicine in compliance with CFDA QC/QA requirements, and 169,571 vials (1.0 × 10¹² vector particles per vial) have been used to treat patients. No serious adverse events have been reported, except for vector-associated transient fever, which occurred in 50-60% of patients and persisted for only a few hours. The manufacturing accomplishments and clinical experience with Gendicine, as well as the understanding of its cellular mechanisms of action and implications, could provide valuable insights for the international gene therapy community and add valuable data to promote further developments and advancements in the gene therapy field.

Expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulators TWIST, SLUG and SNAIL in follicular thyroid tumours may relate to widely invasive, poorly differentiated and distant metastasis

AIMS

To assess the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulators in follicular thyroid tumours.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The expression of E-cadherin (E-CAD) and transcription factors TWIST, SLUG and SNAIL in follicular thyroid tumours was examined by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples, including 18 follicular adenomas (FA), 12 minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinomas (MI-FTC), 16 widely invasive follicular thyroid carcinomas (WI-FTC), 10 poorly differentiated follicular thyroid carcinomas (PDTC) and six anaplastic thyroid carcinomas (ATC). Metastatic tumour tissues from six of these cases were also examined. The results showed an increasing expression trend of EMT regulators in a panel of follicular tumour cases with a spectrum of morphological subtypes from low- to high-risk malignancy. The expression of EMT regulators was higher in the WI-FTC, PDTC and ATC groups but focal and lower in the FA and MI-FTC groups. Different expression intensity of E-CAD and EMT regulators at the tumour centre part and the invasive front (IF) was observed. The loss of E-CAD and expression of EMT regulators was significantly correlated with distant metastasis and vascular invasion (VI) in the well-differentiated follicular carcinoma (WD-FTC), and six tumours of metastatic sites also showed variables positive for EMT regulators. The disease-free survival analysis showed an apparent relationship between the expression of EMT regulators and the tumour disease-free outcomes in WD-FTC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study supported the role of EMT in the development of follicular thyroid carcinoma and indicated that EMT regulatory proteins may play an important role in WD-FTC that are widely invasive and exhibit distant metastasis.

Therapeutic effects of obeticholic acid (OCA) treatment in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis rat model

PURPOSE

We recently demonstrated a protective effect of the farnesoid X receptor agonist obeticholic acid (OCA) in rat models of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Aim of the present study was to investigate whether the positive effects of OCA treatment are apparent also on ongoing bleomycin-induced PF, i.e., after 2 weeks of bleomycin administration.

METHODS

Bleomycin-induced PF rats were treated 2 weeks after bleomycin administration with OCA or pirfenidone for two additional weeks. Pulmonary function test was performed at 2 and 4 weeks in all experimental groups. At the same time points, lung morphological features and mRNA expression profile of genes related to fibrosis, inflammation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were also assessed.

RESULTS

After 2 weeks, bleomycin significantly increased the pressure at the airway opening (PAO), a functional parameter related to fibrosis-induced lung stiffness, and induced diffuse lung interstitium fibrosis, with upregulation of inflammation (IL1β, MCP1) and tissue remodeling (COL1A1, COL3A1, ET1, MMP7, PDGFa, αSMA, SNAI1) markers. At week four, a further increase of lung fibrosis and PAO was observed, accompanied by upregulation of extracellular matrix-related mRNA expression. OCA administration, even after the establishment of PF, significantly improved pulmonary function, normalizing PAO, and reverted the bleomycin-induced lung alterations, with significant reduction of markers of inflammation (CD206, COX2, HIF1, IL1β, MCP1), epithelial proliferation (CTGF, PDGFa) and fibrosis (COL1A1, COL3A1, ET1, FN1, MMPs, αSMA, SNAIs, TGFβ1, TIMPs). Results with OCA were similar or superior to those obtained with pirfenidone.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our results demonstrate a significant therapeutic effect of OCA in already established PF.

Integrated analysis of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases identifies Axl as a therapeutic target and mediator of resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Aberrant activation of Axl is implicated in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We explored the biologic significance and preclinical efficacy of Axl inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in sorafenib-naive and resistant HCC.

METHODS

We evaluated Axl expression in sorafenib-naive and resistant (SR) clones of epithelial (HuH7) and mesenchymal origin (SKHep-1) using antibody arrays and confirmed tissue expression. We tested the effect of Axl inhibition with RNA-interference and pharmacologically with R428 on a number of phenotypic assays.

RESULTS

Axl mRNA overexpression in cell lines (n = 28) and RNA-seq tissue datasets (n = 373) correlated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Axl was overexpressed in HCC compared to cirrhosis and normal liver. We confirmed sorafenib resistance to be associated with EMT and enhanced motility in both HuH7-SR and SKHep-1-SR cells documenting a 4-fold increase in Axl phosphorylation as an adaptive feature of chronic sorafenib treatment in SKHep-1-SR cells. Axl inhibition reduced motility and enhanced sensitivity to sorafenib in SKHep-1SR cells. In patients treated with sorafenib (n = 40), circulating Axl levels correlated with shorter survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Suppression of Axl-dependent signalling influences the transformed phenotype in HCC cells and contributes to adaptive resistance to sorafenib, providing a pre-clinical rationale for the development of Axl inhibitors as a measure to overcome sorafenib resistance.

Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells

Cellular Phenotype and Apoptosis: The function of epithelial tissues is the protection of the organism from chemical, microbial, and physical challenges which is indispensable for viability. To fulfill this task, oral epithelial cells follow a strongly regulated scheme of differentiation that results in the formation of structural proteins that manage the integrity of epithelial tissues and operate as a barrier. Oral epithelial cells are connected by various transmembrane proteins with specialized structures and functions. Keratin filaments adhere to the plasma membrane by desmosomes building a three-dimensional matrix.

Cell-Cell Contacts and Bacterial Influence: It is known that pathogenic oral bacteria are able to affect the expression and configuration of cell-cell junctions. Human keratinocytes up-regulate immune-modulatory receptors upon stimulation with bacterial components. Periodontal pathogens including P. gingivalis are able to inhibit oral epithelial innate immune responses through various mechanisms and to escape from host immune reaction, which supports the persistence of periodontitis and furthermore is able to affect the epithelial barrier function by altering expression and distribution of cell-cell interactions including tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs).

In the pathogenesis of periodontitis a highly organized biofilm community shifts from symbiosis to dysbiosis which results in destructive local inflammatory reactions.

Cellular Receptors: Cell-surface located toll like receptors (TLRs) and cytoplasmatic nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) belong to the pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs recognize microbial parts that represent pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).

A multimeric complex of proteins known as inflammasome, which is a subset of NLRs, assembles after activation and proceeds to pro-inflammatory cytokine release.

Cytokine Production and Release: Cytokines and bacterial products may lead to host cell mediated tissue destruction. Keratinocytes are able to produce diverse pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Infection by pathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans) can induce a differentiated production of these cytokines.

Immuno-modulation, Bacterial Infection, and Cancer Cells: There is a known association between bacterial infection and cancer. Bacterial components are able to up-regulate immune-modulatory receptors on cancer cells. Interactions of bacteria with tumor cells could support malignant transformation an environment with deficient immune regulation.

The aim of this review is to present a set of molecular mechanisms of oral epithelial cells and their reactions to a number of toxic influences.

Structure Identification of ViceninII Extracted from Dendrobium officinale and the Reversal of TGF-β1-Induced Epithelial⁻Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells through TGF-β/Smad and PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathways

ViceninII is a naturally flavonoid glycoside extracted from Dendrobium officinale, a precious Chinese traditional herb, has been proven to be valuable for cancer treatment. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), promotes the induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process involved in the metastasis of cells that leads to enhanced migration and invasion. However, there is no previously evidence that ViceninII has an inhibitory effect on cancer metastasis, specifically on the TGF-β1-induced EMT process in lung adenocarcinoma cells. In this experiment, we used UV, ESIMS, and NMR to identify the structure of ViceninII.A549 and H1299 cells were treated with TGF-β1 in the absence and presence of ViceninII, and subsequent migration and invasion were measured by wound-healing and transwell assays. The protein localization and expressions were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The results indicated that TGF-β1 induced spindle-shaped changes, increased migration and invasion, and upregulated or downregulated the relative expression of EMT biomarkers. Meanwhile, these alterations were significantly inhibited when co-treated with ViceninII and inhibitors LY294002 and SB431542. In conclusion, ViceninII inhibited TGF-β1-induced EMT via the deactivation of TGF-β/Smad and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways.This is the first time that the anti-metastatic effects of ViceninII have been demonstrated, and their molecular mechanisms provided.

Look-alikes may not act alike: Gene expression regulation and cell-type-specific responses of three valproic acid analogues in the neural embryonic stem cell test (ESTn)

In vitro assays to assess developmental neurotoxicity of chemicals are highly desirable. The murine neural embryonic stem cell test (ESTn) can mimic parts of early differentiation of embryonic brain and may therefore be useful for this purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this test is able to rank the toxic potencies of three valproic acid analogues and to study their mode of action by investigating their individual effects on four cell types: stem cells, neurons, astrocytes and neural crest cells. Using immunocytochemical read-outs and qPCR for cell type-specific genes, the effects of valproic acid (VPA), 2-ethylhexanoic acid (EHA) and 2-ethyl-4-methylpentanoic (EMPA) were assessed. VPA and EHA but not EMPA downregulated cell type-specific differentiation makers and upregulated stem cell related markers (Fut4, Cdh1) at different time points during differentiation. Expression of Gfap, a marker for astrocytes, was dramatically downregulated by VPA and EHA, but not by EMPA. This finding was verified using immunostainings. Based on the number and extent of genes regulated by the three compounds, relative potencies were determined as VPA > EHA > EMPA, which is consistent with in vivo developmental toxicity potency ranking of these compounds. Thus, ESTn using a combination of morphology, gene and protein expression readouts, may provide a medium-throughput system for monitoring the effects of compounds on differentiation of cell types in early brain development.

MDA-19 Suppresses Progression of Melanoma Via Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt Pathway

Objective

To investigate the effect of MDA-19 on progression of melanoma, and explore the relevant mechanism.

Methods

The melanoma cell lines, M14 and UACC257, were treated with different concentrations of MDA-19, then CCK8, clone formation assay, Transwell and flow cytometry assays were performed to examine cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, respectively. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins (Bcl-2, Bax and caspase 3 P17), EMT and signaling pathway-related proteins were also detected by Western blot.

Results

MDA-19 inhibited melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. Compared to the NC group, MDA-19 significantly inhibited cell growth capacity, migration and invasion of M14 and UACC257 cells, and accelerated cell apoptosis in a mitochondrial pathway through regulating Bcl-2/Bax and Caspase 3 in M14 and UACC257 cells. Moreover, MDA-19 was observed to up-regulate the expression of E-cad and down-regulate the expression of N-cad, Vimentin and Slug in melanoma cells in vitro. Furthermore, MDA-19 could inhibit the PI3K/Akt pathway by blocking Akt phosphorylation (p-Akt) and downstream proteins, P70 and Cyclin D1 in M14 and UACC257 cells.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate that MDA-19 could inhibit progression of melanoma by suppressing the PI3K/Akt pathway, suggesting that MDA-19 is a potential anti-cancer agent for therapy of melanoma.

Tetraspanin CD82 represses Sp1-mediated Snail expression and the resultant E-cadherin expression interrupts nuclear signaling of β-catenin by increasing its membrane localization

Tetraspanin membrane proteins form physical complexes with signaling molecules and have been suggested to influence the signaling events of associated molecules. Of the tetraspanin proteins, CD82 has been shown to promote homotypic cell-cell adhesion, which partially accounts for its role in suppressing cancer invasion and metastasis. We found here that CD82-induced cell-cell adhesion is attributed to increased E-cadherin expression through CD82-mediated downregulation of the E-cadherin repressor Snail. The Snail repression by CD82 resulted from the reduced binding of the Sp1 transcription factor to the Snail gene promoter. Notably, high CD82 expression did not allow the fibronectin matrix to induce Sp1 phosphorylation, implicating CD82 inhibition of the fibronectin-integrin signaling-dependent Sp1 activation. Meanwhile, E-cadherin upregulated by CD82 pulled β-catenin up to the membrane region, and consequently reduced the amount of cytoplasmic β-catenin that was able to move into to the nucleus. The Wnt signal-induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin was also inhibited by the CD82 function of upregulating E-cadherin. Overall, high CD82 expression was likely to suppress fibronectin adhesion-induced Sp1 activation signaling for Snail expression, resulting in continuous E-cadherin expression, which contributed not only to the maintenance of strong cell-cell adhesion but also to the blockage of nuclear β-catenin signaling.

Phosphorylation state of Ser165 in α-tubulin is a toggle switch that controls proliferating human breast tumors

Engineered overexpression of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) is known to phosphorylate Ser165 in α-tubulin resulting in stimulated microtubule dynamics and cell motility, and activation of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non-transformed human breast cells. Here it is shown that endogenous phosphorylation of native α-tubulin in two metastatic breast cell lines, MDA-MB-231-LM2-4175 and MDA-MB-468 is detected at PKC phosphorylation sites. α-Tubulin mutants that simulated phosphorylated (S165D) or non-phosphorylated (S165 N) states were stably expressed in MDA-MB-231-LM2-4175 cells. The S165D-α-tubulin mutant engendered expression of the EMT biomarker N-cadherin, whereas S165 N-α-tubulin suppressed N-cadherin and induced E-cadherin expression, revealing a 'cadherin switch'. S165 N-α-tubulin engendered more rapid passage through the cell cycle, induced shorter spindle fibers and exhibited more rapid proliferation. In nude mice injected with MDA-MB-231-LM2-4175 cells, cells expressing S165 N-α-tubulin (but not the S165D mutant) produced hyper-proliferative lung tumors with increased tumor incidence and higher Ki67 expression. These results implicate the phosphorylation state of Ser165 in α-tubulin as a PKC-regulated molecular switch that causes breast cells to exhibit either EMT characteristics or hyper-proliferation. Evaluation of genomic databases of human tumors strengthens the clinical significance of these findings.

Dual-target MDM2/MDMX inhibitor increases the sensitization of doxorubicin and inhibits migration and invasion abilities of triple-negative breast cancer cells through activation of TAB1/TAK1/p38 MAPK pathway

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis mainly due to insensitivity or resistance to standard anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy, urgently calling for new adjuvants to reverse drug resistance. Dual-target murine double minute 2 (MDM2) and murine double minute X (MDMX) inhibitor has been proved to play a critical part against cancer, particularly focusing on the tremendous potential to enhance the efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX), however little was reported in TNBC. In the present study, we investigated the synergistic antitumor effect of the MDM2/MDMX inhibitor with DOX using three TNBC cell lines, two in situ transplantation tumor models and 214 clinical samples. We observed that the MDM2/MDMX inhibitor combined with DOX could not only inhibit cell vitality and migration and invasion abilities, but also highly inhibit tumor growth in TNBC nude mice. Besides, co-treatment of MDM2/MDMX inhibitor and DOX suppressed epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) through increasing the TAK1-binding protein 1 (TAB1), transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) expression. Small interfering RNA-mediated TAB1 knockdown induced the EMT, desensitized cells to DOX and enhanced the migration and invasion abilities. High MDM2/MDMX expression was positively associated with weak TAB1 expression in 214 TNBC tumor tissues confirmed by immumohistochemical staining and MDM2/MDMX/TAB1 expression was significantly related to TNBC patient survival. These findings indicate that dual-target MDM2/MDMX inhibitor could increase the sensitization of doxorubicin and inhibit migration and invasion abilities in TNBC cells through p38 MAPK pathway activation caused EMT suppression and hence could be useful in TNBC treatments in future.

Ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 2 promotes cell migration and invasion through Wnt/β-catenin signaling in gastric cancer

AIM

To investigate the function and mechanism of ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 2 (Uba2) in progression of gastric cancer (GC) cells.

METHODS

Uba2 level in patients with GC was analyzed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. MTT and colony formation assays were performed to examine cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis. Wound healing and Transwell assays were conducted to examine the effects of Uba2 on migration and invasion. Expression levels of cell cycle-related proteins, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers, and involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was assessed by Western blotting. Activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was confirmed by luciferase assay.

RESULTS

Uba2 expression was higher in GC than in normal tissues. Increased Uba2 expression was correlated with tissue differentiation, Lauren’s classification, vascular invasion, and TNM stage, as determined by the analysis of 100 GC cases (P < 0.05). Knock-down of Uba2 inhibited GC cell proliferation, induced cell cycle arrest, and altered expression of cyclin D1, P21, P27, and Bcl-2, while up-regulation of Uba2 showed the opposite effects. The wound healing and Transwell assays showed that Uba2 promoted GC cell migration and invasion. Western blotting revealed alterations in EMT biomarkers, suggesting the role of Uba2 in EMT. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay indicated the involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as a possible modulator of Uba2 oncogenic functions.

CONCLUSION

Uba2 plays a vital role in GC cell migration and invasion, possibly by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and EMT.

Effect of modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulators Snail1 and Snail2 on cancer cell radiosensitivity by targeting of the cell cycle, cell apoptosis and cell migration/invasion

Cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Several strategies of treatment, including radiotherapy, have been developed and used to treat this disease. However, post-treatment metastasis and resistance to treatment are two major causes for the limited effectiveness of radiotherapy in cancer patients. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is regulated by SNAIL family transcription factors, including Snail1 and Snail2 (Slug), and serves important roles in progression and cancer resistance to treatment. Snail1 and Slug also have been shown to be implicated in cancer treatment resistance. For resolving the resistance to treatment problems, combining the modulation of gene expression with radiotherapy is a novel strategy to treat patients with cancer. The present review focuses on the effect of Snail1 and Slug on cancer radiosensitivity by targeting cell apoptosis, the cell cycle and cell migration/invasion.

Inactivation of ATF-2 enhances epithelial-mesenchymal transition and gemcitabine sensitivity in human pancreatic cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to study the activating transcription factor 2 or AMP-dependent transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) inhibition mediated gemcitabine sensitivity in human pancreatic cancer cells.

METHODS

The protein and messenger RNA expressions of ATF-2 in 42 pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent nontumorous tissues were detected. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed based on the expression level of ATF-2 protein in tumor tissues. Then the pancreatic cancer cells were transduced with ATF-2-expressing lentivirus and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to investigate the effect of ATF-2 on pancreatic cancer cell invasion, epithelium to mesenchyme transition, apoptosis, and gemcitabine sensitivity.

RESULTS

The expression of phosphorylated (p)-ATF-2 protein was upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with adjacent nontumorous tissues. Patients with relative higher p-ATF-2 level showed significantly lower survival time. Then we found that the transfection ATF-2 siRNA into BxPC3 cells inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and epithelium to mesenchyme transition, but enhanced cell apoptosis. These changes could be enhanced by the additional administration of gemcitabine. In addition, we confirmed that the overexpression of ATF-2 in Panc-1 cells promoted cell invasion and epithelium to mesenchyme transition.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that inhibition-promoted ATF-2 expression was responsible for epithelium to mesenchyme transition and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, while the inhibition of ATF-2 confers to gemcitabine sensitivity in human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.

Kindlin-2 interacts with and stabilizes DNMT1 to promote breast cancer development

Integrin-interacting protein Kindlin-2, as a focal adhesion protein, promotes growth and progression of breast cancer. However, the precise mechanism that underlie the role of Kindlin-2 in breast cancer is elusive. Here, we report that the expression of Kindlin-2 positively correlated with DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1) in breast cancer patients. Further, we found that DNMT1 was upregulated in mammary gland tissues of mammary specific Kindlin-2 transgenic mice. More importantly, high expression of DNMT1 was observed in mammary tumors formed by Kindlin-2 transgenic mice. On the basis of these observations, DNMT inhibitor 5-aza-CdR was used and found its treatment strongly decreased Kindlin-2-induced breast cancer cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, Kindlin-2 increased the stability of DNA methyltransferase DNMT1 through interaction with DNMT1 and methylated CpG islands in the E-cadherin promoter. Kindlin-2 increased the occupancy of DNMT1 at E-cadherin promoter, thereby suppressing E-cadherin expression. Taken together, our data reveal that Kindlin-2 promotes breast cancer development by enhancing the stability of DNMT1.

Protein kinase CK2 activation is required for transforming growth factor β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is overexpressed in advanced cancers and promotes tumorigenesis by inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which enhances invasiveness and metastasis. Although we previously reported that EMT could be induced by increasing CK2 activity alone, it is not known whether CK2 also plays an essential role in TGFβ‐induced EMT. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated whether TGFβ signaling could activate CK2 and, if so, whether such activation is required for TGFβ‐induced EMT. We found that CK2 is activated by TGFβ treatment, and that activity peaks at 48 h after treatment. CK2 activation is dependent on TGFβ receptor (TGFBR) I kinase activity, but independent of SMAD4. Inhibition of CK2 activation through the use of either a CK2 inhibitor or shRNA against CSNK2A1 inhibited TGFβ‐induced EMT. TGFβ signaling decreased CK2β but did not affect CK2α protein levels, resulting in a quantitative imbalance between the catalytic α and regulatory β subunits, thereby increasing CK2 activity. The decrease in CK2β expression was dependent on TGFBRI kinase activity and the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. The E3 ubiquitin ligases responsible for TGFβ‐induced CK2β degradation were found to be CHIP and WWP1. Okadaic acid (OA) pretreatment protected CK2β from TGFβ‐induced degradation, suggesting that dephosphorylation of CK2β by an OA‐sensitive phosphatase might be required for CK2 activation in TGFβ‐induced EMT. Collectively, our results suggest CK2 as a therapeutic target for the prevention of EMT and metastasis of cancers.

OCT4B mediates hypoxia-induced cancer dissemination

Hypoxia, the reduction of oxygen levels in cells or tissues, elicits a set of genes to adjust physiological and pathological demands during normal development and cancer progression. OCT4, a homeobox transcription factor, is essential for self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, but little is known about the role of OCT4 in non-germ-cell tumorigenesis. Here, we report that hypoxia stimulates a short isoform of OCT4, called OCT4B, via a HIF2α-dependent pathway to induce the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and facilitate cancer dissemination. OCT4B overexpression decreased epithelial barrier properties, which led to an increase in cell migration and invasion in lung cancer cells. OCT4B knockdown attenuated HIF2α-induced EMT and inhibited cancer dissemination in cell-line and animal models. We observed that OCT4B bound the SLUG promoter and enhanced its expression, and SLUG silencing inhibited OCT4B-mediated EMT, accompanied with decreased cell migration and invasion. Correlation analysis revealed that OCT4B expression was significantly associated with the SLUG level in lung tumors. These results provide novel insights into OCT4B-mediated oncogenesis in cancer dissemination.

ARHGAP9 suppresses the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells through up-regulating FOXJ2/E-cadherin

Rho GTPase activating protein 9 (ARHGAP9), a member of RhoGAP family, has been identified as a RhoGAP for Cdc42 and Rac1. Here, we aimed to clarify the expression and functional role of ARHGAP9 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). By analyzing TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) LIHC (liver hepatocellular carcinoma) database, we found that ARHGAP9 expression was lower in HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues, and that patients with ARHGAP9 lower expression had a significant shorter overall survival time than those with ARHGAP9 higher expression. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), transwell assays and in vivo experimental lung metastasis assay revealed that ARHGAP9 overexpression could inhibit HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, as well as HCC lung metastases. By next-generation RNA-sequencing, we identified that a transcription factor, Forkhead Box J2 (FOXJ2), was significantly induced by ARHGAP9 overexpression in HepG2 cells. Ectopic expression of FOXJ2 in HCC cell lines also exerted inhibitory effects on cell migration and invasion. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of ARHGAP9 on HCC cell migration and invasion was significantly attenuated by FOXJ2 knockdown. Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that ARHGAP9 enhanced the transcription of E-cadherin (CDH1) via FOXJ2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay demonstrated that FOXJ2 modulated the transcription of E-cadherin (CDH1) by directly binding to its promoter. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that the mRNA levels of ARHGAP9 in HCC tissues were positively correlated with the mRNA levels of FOXJ2 and CDH1. These data clearly show that ARHGAP9/FOXJ2 inhibit cell migration and invasion during HCC development via inducing the transcription of CDH1.

FOXF1 Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer Metastasis by Transcriptionally Activating SNAI1

Forkhead Box F1 (FOXF1) has been recently implicated in cancer progression and metastasis of lung cancer and breast cancer. However, the biological functions and underlying mechanisms of FOXF1 in the regulation of the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) are largely unknown. We showed that FOXF1 was up-regulated in 93 paraffin-embedded archived human CRC tissue, and both high expression and nuclear location of FOXF1 were significantly associated with the aggressive characteristics and poorer survival of CRC patients. The GSEA analysis showed that the higher level of FOXF1 was positively associated with an enrichment of EMT gene signatures, and exogenous overexpression of FOXF1 induced EMT by transcriptionally activating SNAI1. Exogenous overexpression FOXF1 functionally promoted invasion and metastasis features of CRC cells, and inhibition of SNAI1 attenuates the invasive phenotype and metastatic potential of FOXF1-overexpressing CRC cells. Furthermore, the results of the tissue chip showed that the expression of FOXF1 was positively correlated with SNAI1 in CRC tissues chip. These results suggested that FOXF1 plays a critical role in CRC metastasis by inducing EMT via transcriptional activation of SNAI1, highlighting a potential new therapeutic strategy for CRC.

Ophiopogonin B suppresses the metastasis and angiogenesis of A549 cells in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the EphA2/Akt signaling pathway

Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common metastatic cancer, and is associated with high patient mortality. Therefore, investigation of anti‑metastatic treatments for lung adenocarcinoma is crucial. Ophiopogonin B (OP‑B) is a bioactive component of Radix Ophiopogon Japonicus, which is often used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat pulmonary disease. Screening of transcriptome and digital gene expression (DGE) profiling data in NSCLC cell lines showed that OP‑B regulated the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway in A549 cells. Further results showed that 10 µmol/l OP‑B downregulated EphA2 expression and phosphorylation (Ser897) in A549 cells but upregulated them in NCI‑H460 cells. Meanwhile, the Ras/ERK pathway was unaffected in A549 cells and stimulated in NCI‑H460 cells. More importantly, detection of the EMT pathway showed that OP‑B treatment increased the epithelial markers ZO‑1 and E‑cadherin and decreased the expression of the mesenchymal marker N‑cadherin and the transcriptional repressors Snail, Slug and ZEB1. Furthermore, through Transwell migration and scratch wound healing assays, we found that 10 µmol/l OP‑B significantly reduced the invasion and migration of A549 cells. In vivo, we found that 75 mg/kg OP‑B inhibited A549 cell metastasis in a pulmonary metastasis nude mouse model. In addition, we also found that 10 µmol/l OP‑B significantly inhibited tube formation in EA.hy926 cells. The expression of VEGFR2 and Tie‑2, the phosphorylation of Akt (S473) and PLC (S1248), and the levels of EphA2 and phosphorylated EphA2 (S897) were all inhibited by OP‑B in this cell line. In vivo, using a Matrigel plug assay, we found that OP‑B inhibited angiogenesis and the hemoglobin content of A549 transplanted tumors. Taken together, OP‑B inhibited the metastasis and angiogenesis of A549 cells by inhibiting EphA2/Akt and the corresponding pathway. The investigation gives new recognition to the anticancer mechanism of OP‑B in NSCLC and this compound is a promising inhibitor of metastasis and angiogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Axin2 overexpression promotes the early epithelial disintegration and fusion of facial prominences during avian lip development

The epithelial disintegration and the mesenchymal bridging are critical steps in the fusion of facial prominences during the upper lip development. These processes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and programmed cell death are mainly influenced by Wnt signals. Axis inhibition protein2 (Axin2), a major component of the Wnt pathway, has been reported to be involved in lip development and cleft pathogenesis. We wanted to study the involvement of Axin2 in the lip development, especially during the epithelial disintegration of facial prominences. Our results show that Axin2 was expressed mainly in the epithelium of facial prominences and decreased when the prominences were about to contact each other between Hamburger-Hamilton stages 27 and 28 of chicken embryos. The epithelial integrity was destructed or kept intact by the local gain or loss of Axin2 expression, resulting in morphological changes in the facial processes and their skeletal derivatives including the maxilla, nasal, premaxilla bone, and their junctions without cleft formation. These changes were related to expression changes in nuclear β-catenin, pGSK3β, Slug, Smad3, E-cadherin, and p63. All these data indicate that Axin2 participates in the regulation of epithelial integrity and fusion by promoting epithelial disassociation, basement membrane breakdown, and seam loss during the fusion of facial prominences in lip development.

Chronic hypoxia-induced slug promotes invasive behavior of prostate cancer cells by activating expression of ephrin-B1

Advanced solid tumors are exposed to hypoxic conditions over longer periods of time as they grow. Tumor hypoxia is a major factor that induces malignant progression, but most previous studies on tumor hypoxia were performed under short-term hypoxia for up to 72 hours and few studies have focused on tumor response to chronic hypoxic conditions. Here we show a molecular mechanism by which chronic hypoxia promotes invasive behavior in prostate cancer cells. We found that an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-driving transcription factor, slug, is specifically upregulated under chronic hypoxia and promotes tumor cell migration and invasion. Unexpectedly, processes associated with EMT, such as loss of E-cadherin, are not observed under chronic hypoxia. Instead, expression of ephrin-B1, a ligand of Eph-related receptor tyrosine kinases, is markedly induced by slug through E-box motifs and promotes cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, slug and ephrin-B1 are highly coexpressed in chronic hypoxic cells of human prostate adenocarcinoma tissues after androgen deprivation, which is known to cause tumor hypoxia. Taken together, these results indicate that chronic hypoxia-induced slug promotes invasive behavior of prostate cancer cells by activating the expression of ephrin-B1. In addition, ephrin-B1 may be a novel therapeutic target in combination with androgen deprivation therapy for aggressive prostate cancer.

PAR1 signaling on tumor cells limits tumor growth by maintaining a mesenchymal phenotype in pancreatic cancer

Protease activated receptor-1 (PAR1) expression is associated with disease progression and overall survival in a variety of cancers. However, the importance of tumor cell PAR1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) remains unexplored. Utilizing orthotopic models with wild type and PAR1-targeted PDAC cells, we show that tumor cell PAR1 negatively affects PDAC growth, yet promotes metastasis. Mechanistically, we show that tumor cell-specific PAR1 expression correlates with mesenchymal signatures in PDAC and that PAR1 is linked to the maintenance of a partial mesenchymal cell state. Indeed, loss of PAR1 expression results in well-differentiated pancreatic tumors in vivo, with enhanced epithelial characteristics both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, we have identified a novel growth inhibitory role of PAR1 in PDAC, which is linked to the induction, and maintenance of a mesenchymal-like phenotype. The recognition that PAR1 actively limits pancreatic cancer cell growth suggest that the contributions of PAR1 to tumor growth differ between cancers of epithelial origin and that its targeting should be applied with care.

Identification of biomarkers associated with partial epithelial to mesenchymal transition in the secretome of slug over-expressing hepatocellular carcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Complete epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has long been considered as a crucial step for metastasis initiation. It has, however, become apparent that many carcinoma cells can metastasize without complete loss of epithelial traits or with incomplete gain of mesenchymal traits, i.e., partial EMT. Here, we aimed to determine the similarities and differences between complete and partial EMT through over-expression of the EMT-associated transcription factor Slug in different HCC-derived cell lines.

METHODS

Slug over-expressing HCC-derived HepG2 and Huh7 cells were assessed for their EMT, chemo-resistance and stemness features using Western blotting, qRT-PCR, neutral red uptake, doxorubicin accumulation and scratch wound healing assays. We also collected conditioned media from Slug over-expressing HCC cells and analyzed its exosomal protein content for the presence of chemo-resistance and partial EMT markers using MALDI-TOF/TOF and ELISA assays, respectively.

RESULTS

We found that Slug over-expression resulted in the induction of both complete and partial EMT in the different HCC-derived cell lines tested. Complete EMT was characterized by downregulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of ZEB2. Partial EMT was characterized by upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of vimentin and ZEB2. Interestingly, we found that Slug induced chemo-resistance through downregulation of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter ABCB1 and upregulation of the ABC transporter ABCG2, as well as through expression of CD133, a stemness marker that exhibited a similar expression pattern in cells with either a complete or a partial EMT phenotype. In addition, we found that Slug-mediated partial EMT was associated with enhanced exosomal secretion of post-translationally modified fibronectin 1 (FN1), collagen type II alpha 1 (COL2A1) and native fibrinogen gamma chain (FGG).

CONCLUSIONS

From our data we conclude that the exosomal proteins identified may be considered as potential non-invasive biomarkers for chemo-resistance and partial EMT in HCC.

The transcriptional factor ZEB1 represses Syndecan 1 expression in prostate cancer

Syndecan 1 (SDC-1) is a cell surface proteoglycan with a significant role in cell adhesion, maintaining epithelial integrity. SDC1 expression is inversely related to aggressiveness in prostate cancer (PCa). During epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), loss of epithelial markers is mediated by transcriptional repressors such as SNAIL, SLUG, or ZEB1/2 that bind to E-box promoter sequences of specific genes. The effect of these repressors on SDC-1 expression remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that SNAIL, SLUG and ZEB1 expressions are increased in advanced PCa, contrarily to SDC-1. SNAIL, SLUG and ZEB1 also showed an inversion to SDC-1 in prostate cell lines. ZEB1, but not SNAIL or SLUG, represses SDC-1 as demonstrated by experiments of ectopic expression in epithelial prostate cell lines. Inversely, expression of ZEB1 shRNA in PCa cell line increased SDC-1 expression. The effect of ZEB1 is transcriptional since ectopic expression of this gene represses SDC-1 promoter activity and ZEB1 binds to the SDC-1 promoter as detected by ChIP assays. An epigenetic mark associated to transcription repression H3K27me3 was bound to the same sites that ZEB1. In conclusion, this study identifies ZEB1 as a key repressor of SDC-1 during PCa progression and point to ZEB1 as a potentially diagnostic marker for PCa.

Prostate cancer tends to metastasize in the bone-mimicking microenvironment via activating NF-κB signaling

Prostate cancer preferentially metastasizes to the bone. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. To explore the effects of a bone-mimicking microenvironment on PC3 prostate cancer cell growth and metastasis, we used osteoblast differentiation medium (ODM; minimal essential medium alpha supplemented with L-ascorbic acid) to mimic the bone microenvironment. PC3 cells grown in ODM underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition and showed enhanced colony formation, migration, and invasion abilities compared to the cells grown in normal medium. PC3 cells grown in ODM showed enhanced metastasis when injected in mice. A screening of signaling pathways related to invasion and metastasis revealed that the NF-κB pathway was activated, which could be reversed by Bay 11-7082, a NF-κB pathway inhibitor. These results indicate that the cells in different culture conditions manifested significantly different biological behaviors and the NF-κB pathway is a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer bone metastasis.

Bornyl cis-4-Hydroxycinnamate Suppresses Cell Metastasis of Melanoma through FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK Signaling Pathways and Inhibition of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

Bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate, a bioactive compound isolated from Piper betle stems, has the potential for use as an anti-cancer agent. This study investigated the effects of bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate on cell migration and invasion in melanoma cells. Cell migration and invasion were compared in A2058 and A375 melanoma cell lines treated with/without bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate (1–6 µM). To examine whether bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate has a potential anti-metastatic effect on melanoma cells, cell migration and invasion assays were performed using a Boyden chamber assay and a transwell chamber in A2058 and A375 cells. Gelatin zymography was employed to determine the enzyme activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Cell lysates were collected for Western blotting analysis of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1/2 (TIMP-1/2), as well as key molecules in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/ phosphatidylinositide-3 kinases (PI3K)/Akt/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2) signaling pathways. Our results demonstrated that bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate is a potentially useful agent that inhibits melanoma cell migration and invasion, and altered melanoma cell metastasis by reducing MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression through inhibition of the FAK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, and GRB2 signaling pathways. Moreover, bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate inhibited the process of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in A2058 and A375 melanoma cells. These findings suggested that bornyl cis-4-hydroxycinnamate has potential as a chemotherapeutic agent, and warrants further investigation for its use in the management of human melanoma.