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Kuburich NA, den Hollander P, Castaneda M, Pietilä M, Tang X, Batra H, Martínez-Peña F, Visal TH, Zhou T, Demestichas BR, Dontula RV, Liu JY, Maddela JJ, Padmanabhan RS, Phi LTH, Rosolen MJ, Sabapathy T, Kumar D, Giancotti FG, Lairson LL, Raso MG, Soundararajan R, Mani SA. Stabilizing vimentin phosphorylation inhibits stem-like cell properties and metastasis of hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal carcinomas. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113470. [PMID: 37979166 PMCID: PMC11062250 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) empowers epithelial cells with mesenchymal and stem-like attributes, facilitating metastasis, a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal (E/M) cells, retaining both epithelial and mesenchymal traits, exhibit heightened metastatic potential and stemness. The mesenchymal intermediate filament, vimentin, is upregulated during EMT, enhancing the resilience and invasiveness of carcinoma cells. The phosphorylation of vimentin is critical to its structure and function. Here, we identify that stabilizing vimentin phosphorylation at serine 56 induces multinucleation, specifically in hybrid E/M cells with stemness properties but not epithelial or mesenchymal cells. Cancer stem-like cells are especially susceptible to vimentin-induced multinucleation relative to differentiated cells, leading to a reduction in self-renewal and stemness. As a result, vimentin-induced multinucleation leads to sustained inhibition of stemness properties, tumor initiation, and metastasis. These observations indicate that a single, targetable phosphorylation event in vimentin is critical for stemness and metastasis in carcinomas with hybrid E/M properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick A Kuburich
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Legorreta Cancer Center, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Petra den Hollander
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Legorreta Cancer Center, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Maria Castaneda
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mika Pietilä
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland
| | - Ximing Tang
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Harsh Batra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Tanvi H Visal
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tieling Zhou
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Breanna R Demestichas
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Legorreta Cancer Center, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Ritesh V Dontula
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jojo Y Liu
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joanna Joyce Maddela
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Legorreta Cancer Center, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Reethi S Padmanabhan
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lan Thi Hanh Phi
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matthew J Rosolen
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Thiru Sabapathy
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Legorreta Cancer Center, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Dhiraj Kumar
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA; Cancer Metastasis Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Genetics and Development, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Filippo G Giancotti
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA; Cancer Metastasis Initiative, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Genetics and Development, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Luke L Lairson
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Maria Gabriela Raso
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rama Soundararajan
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sendurai A Mani
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Legorreta Cancer Center, The Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
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Czerwinska P, Mackiewicz AA. Bromodomain (BrD) Family Members as Regulators of Cancer Stemness-A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:995. [PMID: 36674511 PMCID: PMC9861003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24020995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms involving DNA methylation and chromatin modifications have emerged as critical facilitators of cancer heterogeneity, substantially affecting cancer development and progression, modulating cell phenotypes, and enhancing or inhibiting cancer cell malignant properties. Not surprisingly, considering the importance of epigenetic regulators in normal stem cell maintenance, many chromatin-related proteins are essential to maintaining the cancer stem cell (CSC)-like state. With increased tumor-initiating capacities and self-renewal potential, CSCs promote tumor growth, provide therapy resistance, spread tumors, and facilitate tumor relapse after treatment. In this review, we characterized the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate the acquisition and maintenance of cancer stemness concerning selected epigenetic factors belonging to the Bromodomain (BrD) family of proteins. An increasing number of BrD proteins reinforce cancer stemness, supporting the maintenance of the cancer stem cell population in vitro and in vivo via the utilization of distinct mechanisms. As bromodomain possesses high druggable potential, specific BrD proteins might become novel therapeutic targets in cancers exhibiting de-differentiated tumor characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Czerwinska
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
| | - Andrzej Adam Mackiewicz
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
- Department of Diagnostics and Cancer Immunology, Greater Poland Cancer Centre, 61-866 Poznan, Poland
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Chu J, Li Y, He M, Zhang H, Yang L, Yang M, Liu J, Cui C, Hong L, Hu X, Zhou L, Li T, Li C, Fan H, Jiang G, Lang T. Zinc finger and SCAN domain containing 1, ZSCAN1, is a novel stemness-related tumor suppressor and transcriptional repressor in breast cancer targeting TAZ. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1041688. [PMID: 36923432 PMCID: PMC10009259 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1041688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cancer stem cells (CSCs) targeted therapy holds the potential for improving cancer management; identification of stemness-related genes in CSCs is necessary for its development. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) datasets were used for survival analysis. ZSCAN1 correlated genes was identified by Spearman correlation analysis. Breast cancer stem-like cells (BCSLCs) were isolated by sorting CD44+CD24- cells from suspension cultured breast cancer (BC) spheroids. The sphere-forming capacity and sphere- and tumor-initiating capacities were determined by sphere formation and limiting dilution assays. The relative gene expression was determined by qRT-PCR, western blot. Lentivirus system was used for gene manipulation. Nuclear run-on assay was employed to examine the levels of nascent mRNAs. DNA pull-down and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were used for determining the interaction between protein and target DNA fragments. Luciferase reporter assay was used for evaluating the activity of the promoter. Results and discussion ZSCAN1 is aberrantly suppressed in BC, and this suppression indicates a bad prognosis. Ectopic expression of ZSCAN1 inhibited the proliferation, clonogenicity, and tumorigenicity of BC cells. ZSCAN1-overexpressing BCSLCs exhibited weakened stemness properties. Normal human mammary epithelial (HMLE) cells with ZSCAN1 depletion exhibited enhanced stemness properties. Mechanistic studies showed that ZSCAN1 directly binds to -951 ~ -925bp region of WWTR1 (encodes TAZ) promoter, inhibits WWTR1 transcription, thereby inhibiting the stemness of BCSCs. Our work thus revealed ZSCAN1 as a novel stemness-related tumor suppressor and transcriptional repressor in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Chu
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yunzhe Li
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Misi He
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingling Yang
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Muyao Yang
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingshu Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chenxi Cui
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liquan Hong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xingchi Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Yancheng City No.1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- School of Optometry, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Research Centre for SHARP Vision (RCSV), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.,Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), 17W Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tangya Li
- Department of General Surgery, Yancheng City No.1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Changchun Li
- Department of General Surgery, Yancheng City No.1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huiwen Fan
- Department of General Surgery, Yancheng City No.1 People's Hospital, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guoqin Jiang
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tingyuan Lang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China.,Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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