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Divolis G, Synolaki E, Doulou A, Gavriil A, Giannouli CC, Apostolidou A, Foster ML, Matzuk MM, Skendros P, Galani IE, Sideras P. Neutrophil-derived Activin-A moderates their pro-NETotic activity and attenuates collateral tissue damage caused by Influenza A virus infection. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1302489. [PMID: 38476229 PMCID: PMC10929267 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1302489] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Pre-neutrophils, while developing in the bone marrow, transcribe the Inhba gene and synthesize Activin-A protein, which they store and release at the earliest stage of their activation in the periphery. However, the role of neutrophil-derived Activin-A is not completely understood. Methods To address this issue, we developed a neutrophil-specific Activin-A-deficient animal model (S100a8-Cre/Inhba fl/fl mice) and analyzed the immune response to Influenza A virus (IAV) infection. More specifically, evaluation of body weight and lung mechanics, molecular and cellular analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids, flow cytometry and cell sorting of lung cells, as well as histopathological analysis of lung tissues, were performed in PBS-treated and IAV-infected transgenic animals. Results We found that neutrophil-specific Activin-A deficiency led to exacerbated pulmonary inflammation and widespread hemorrhagic histopathology in the lungs of IAV-infected animals that was associated with an exuberant production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Moreover, deletion of the Activin-A receptor ALK4/ACVR1B in neutrophils exacerbated IAV-induced pathology as well, suggesting that neutrophils themselves are potential targets of Activin-A-mediated signaling. The pro-NETotic tendency of Activin-A-deficient neutrophils was further verified in the context of thioglycollate-induced peritonitis, a model characterized by robust peritoneal neutrophilia. Of importance, transcriptome analysis of Activin-A-deficient neutrophils revealed alterations consistent with a predisposition for NET release. Conclusion Collectively, our data demonstrate that Activin-A, secreted by neutrophils upon their activation in the periphery, acts as a feedback mechanism to moderate their pro-NETotic tendency and limit the collateral tissue damage caused by neutrophil excess activation during the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Divolis
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evgenia Synolaki
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasia Doulou
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ariana Gavriil
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina C. Giannouli
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Anastasia Apostolidou
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Martin M. Matzuk
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Panagiotis Skendros
- Laboratory of Molecular Hematology, Department of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- First Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Ioanna-Evdokia Galani
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Paschalis Sideras
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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2
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Sosa J, Oyelakin A, Sinha S. The Reign of Follistatin in Tumors and Their Microenvironment: Implications for Drug Resistance. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:130. [PMID: 38392348 PMCID: PMC10887188 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Follistatin (FST) is a potent neutralizer of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and is associated with normal cellular programs and various hallmarks of cancer, such as proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. The aberrant expression of FST by solid tumors is a well-documented observation, yet how FST influences tumor progression and therapy response remains unclear. The recent surge in omics data has revealed new insights into the molecular foundation underpinning tumor heterogeneity and its microenvironment, offering novel precision medicine-based opportunities to combat cancer. In this review, we discuss these recent FST-centric studies, thereby offering an updated perspective on the protean role of FST isoforms in shaping the complex cellular ecosystem of tumors and in mediating drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Sosa
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Akinsola Oyelakin
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Satrajit Sinha
- Department of Biochemistry, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
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3
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Sriramajayam K, Peng D, Lu H, Zhou S, Bhat N, McDonald OG, Que J, Zaika A, El-Rifai W. Activation of NRF2 by APE1/REF1 is redox-dependent in Barrett's related esophageal adenocarcinoma cells. Redox Biol 2021; 43:101970. [PMID: 33887608 PMCID: PMC8082268 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a major risk factor for the development of metaplastic Barrett's esophagus (BE) and its progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Uncontrolled accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to acidic bile salts (ABS) in reflux conditions can be lethal to cells. In this study, we investigated the role of APE1/REF1 in regulating nuclear erythroid factor-like 2 (NRF2), the master antioxidant transcription factor, in response to reflux conditions. RESULTS We found that APE1 protein was critical for protecting against cellular ROS levels, oxidative DNA damage, double strand DNA breaks, and cell death in response to conditions that mimic reflux. Analysis of cell lines and de-identified tissues from patients with EAC demonstrated overexpression of both APE1 and NRF2 in EAC cells, as compared to non-neoplastic esophageal cells. Using reflux conditions, we detected concordant and prolonged increases of APE1 and NRF2 protein levels for several hours, following transient short exposure to ABS (20 min). NRF2 transcription activity, as measured by ARE luciferase reporter, and expression of its target genes (HO-1 and TRXND1) were similarly increased in response to ABS. Using genetic knockdown of APE1, we found that APE1 was required for the increase in NRF2 protein stability, nuclear localization, and transcription activation in EAC. Using knockdown of APE1 with reconstitution of wild-type and a redox-deficient mutant (C65A) of APE1, as well as pharmacologic APE1 redox inhibitor (E3330), we demonstrated that APE1 regulated NRF2 in a redox-dependent manner. Mechanistically, we found that APE1 is required for phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK-3β, an important player in the NRF2 degradation pathway. CONCLUSION APE1 redox function was required for ABS-induced activation of NRF2 by regulating phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK-3β. The APE1-NRF2 network played a critical role in protecting esophageal cells against ROS and promoting cell survival under oxidative reflux conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannappan Sriramajayam
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL-33136, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Shoumin Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Oliver G McDonald
- Department of Pathology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Jianwen Que
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL-33136, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL-33136, USA; Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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4
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El-Deek SEM, Abd-Elghaffar SKH, Hna RS, Mohamed HG, El-Deek HEM. Effect of Hesperidin against Induced Colon Cancer in Rats: Impact of Smad4 and Activin A Signaling Pathway. Nutr Cancer 2021; 74:697-714. [PMID: 33818196 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2021.1907424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
SCOPE To evaluate the chemopreventive efficacy of hesperidin (Hsd) in 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) and demonstrate its role in mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4(Smad4) and activin A signaling pathways. METHODS AND RESULTS A CRC rat model was established by DMH exposure, and the animals were randomly divided into five groups: Control group, Hsd, DMH, DMH + Hsd, and DMH followed by Hsd. The resected colon was subjected to macroscopic, microscopic, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination. Activin A, Smad4, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in tissues were also measured. The DMH group exhibited a significant increase in the gene and protein expression of activin A as well as MDA and NO levels in tissues. There was a significant reduction in the gene and protein expression of Smad4 as well as GSH and SOD levels in tissues. Administration of Hsd significantly upregulated Smad4 and activin A gene expressions in both the DMH + Hsd and DMH followed by Hsd groups. Moreover, Hsd improved the antioxidant status of the former two groups. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the chemopreventive effect of Hsd against CRC by modulating Smad4 and activin A signaling in vivo. Further studies are needed to demonstrate its clinical value and explore its possible role in advanced malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar E M El-Deek
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Sary K H Abd-Elghaffar
- Pathology and Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Randa S Hna
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Heba G Mohamed
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Heba E M El-Deek
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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5
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Micati DJ, Radhakrishnan K, Young JC, Rajpert‐De Meyts E, Hime GR, Abud HE, Loveland KL. ‘Snail factors in testicular germ cell tumours and their regulation by the BMP4 signalling pathway’. Andrology 2020; 8:1456-1470. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diana J. Micati
- Centre for Reproductive Health Hudson Institute of Medical Research Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Karthika Radhakrishnan
- Centre for Reproductive Health Hudson Institute of Medical Research Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Julia C. Young
- Centre for Reproductive Health Hudson Institute of Medical Research Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Ewa Rajpert‐De Meyts
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Gary R. Hime
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Helen E. Abud
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Stem Cells and Development Program Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
| | - Kate L. Loveland
- Centre for Reproductive Health Hudson Institute of Medical Research Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University Clayton Victoria Australia
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6
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Lu H, Bhat AA, Peng D, Chen Z, Zhu S, Hong J, Maacha S, Yan J, Robbins DJ, Washington MK, Belkhiri A, El-Rifai W. APE1 Upregulates MMP-14 via Redox-Sensitive ARF6-Mediated Recycling to Promote Cell Invasion of Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2019; 79:4426-4438. [PMID: 31308045 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor clinical outcome. The incidence of EAC has been rising rapidly in the past three decades. Here, we showed that apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1) is overexpressed in EAC cell lines, and patients' samples of dysplasia and EAC. Downregulation of APE1 or inhibition of its redox function significantly repressed invasion. Overexpression of a redox-defective mutant, C65A, abrogated the proinvasive phenotype of APE1. APE1 regulated invasion via upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP-14), which subsequently activated MMP-2, leading to degradation of the extracellular matrix in a redox-dependent manner. Downregulation of APE1 or inhibition of its redox function decreased the rate of endocytosis and recycling of MMP-14 protein. APE1 interacted with ARF6, a key regulator of MMP-14 recycling, which maintained ARF6 activity in an APE1-redox-dependent manner, promoting its ability to regulate MMP-14 recycling to the cell surface. In summary, these findings identify a novel redox-sensitive APE1-ARF6-MMP-14 signaling axis that mediates cellular invasion in esophageal carcinogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates the association between oxidative stress and the development and metastatic behavior of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Division of Translational Medicine, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Jun Hong
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Selma Maacha
- Division of Translational Medicine, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jin Yan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangshu, China
| | - David J Robbins
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - M Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Abbes Belkhiri
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida. .,Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
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7
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NRF2 antioxidant response protects against acidic bile salts-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in esophageal cells. Cancer Lett 2019; 458:46-55. [PMID: 31132430 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.05.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the main risk factor for Barrett's tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of NRF2 in response to exposure to acidic bile salts (ABS), in conditions that mimic GERD, using Barrett's esophagus cell models. We detected an increase in NRF2 protein levels, following exposure to ABS. We found oxidization of cysteines (cysteines with oxidized thiol groups) in KEAP1 protein with a weaker interaction between NRF2 and KEAP1, following ABS exposure. Treatment with bile salts increased nuclear NRF2 levels, enhancing its transcription activity, as measured by an ARE (antioxidant response element) luciferase reporter assay. The mRNA expression levels of NRF2 target genes, HO-1 and GR, were increased in response to ABS exposure. Using genetic overexpression and knockdown of NRF2, we found that NRF2 has a critical role in suppressing ABS-induced ROS levels, oxidative DNA damage, DNA double strand breaks, and apoptosis. Collectively, our results suggest that transient induction of NRF2 in response to ABS plays a pivotal role in protecting esophageal cells by maintaining the levels of oxidative stress and DNA damage below lethal levels under GERD conditions.
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8
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Zhou Z, Lu H, Zhu S, Gomaa A, Chen Z, Yan J, Washington K, El-Rifai W, Dang C, Peng D. Activation of EGFR-DNA-PKcs pathway by IGFBP2 protects esophageal adenocarcinoma cells from acidic bile salts-induced DNA damage. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:13. [PMID: 30626422 PMCID: PMC6327430 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-1021-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is rising rapidly in the US and Western countries. The development of Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and its progression to EAC have been linked to chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Exposure of BE and EAC cells to acidic bile salts (ABS) in GERD conditions induces high levels of oxidative stress and DNA damage. In this study, we investigated the role of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) in regulating ABS-induced DNA double-strand breaks. Methods Real-time RT-PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry, and cycloheximide (CHX) chase assays were used in this study. To mimic GERD conditions, a cocktail of acidic bile salts (pH 4) was used in 2D and 3D organotypic culture models. Overexpression and knockdown of IGFBP2 in EAC cells were established to examine the functional and mechanistic roles of IGFBP2 in ABS-induced DNA damage. Results Our results demonstrated high levels of IGFBP2 mRNA and protein in EAC cell lines as compared to precancerous Barrett’s cell lines, and IGFBP2 is frequently overexpressed in EACs (31/57). Treatment of EAC cells with ABS, to mimic GERD conditions, induced high levels of IGFBP2 expression. Knocking down endogenous IGFBP2 in FLO1 cells (with constitutive high levels of IGFBP2) led to a significant increase in DNA double-strand breaks and apoptosis, following transient exposure to ABS. On the other hand, overexpression of exogenous IGFBP2 in OE33 cells (with low endogenous levels of IGFBP2) had a protective effect against ABS-induced double-strand breaks and apoptosis. We found that IGFBP2 is required for ABS-induced nuclear accumulation and phosphorylation of EGFR and DNA-PKcs, which are necessary for DNA damage repair activity. Using co-immunoprecipitation assay, we detected co-localization of IGFBP2 with EGFR and DNA-PKcs, following acidic bile salts treatment. We further demonstrated, using cycloheximide chase assay, that IGFBP2 promotes EGFR protein stability in response to ABS exposure. Conclusions IGFBP2 protects EAC cells against ABS-induced DNA damage and apoptosis through stabilization and activation of EGFR - DNA-PKcs signaling axis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-018-1021-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangjian Zhou
- Department of Surgical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta W. Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.,Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Ahmed Gomaa
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA
| | - Jin Yan
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA.,Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Chengxue Dang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta W. Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA. .,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136-1015, USA.
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9
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Bhat AA, Lu H, Soutto M, Capobianco A, Rai P, Zaika A, El-Rifai W. Exposure of Barrett's and esophageal adenocarcinoma cells to bile acids activates EGFR-STAT3 signaling axis via induction of APE1. Oncogene 2018; 37:6011-6024. [PMID: 29991802 PMCID: PMC6328352 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0388-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of Barret’s esophagus (BE) and its progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is highly linked to exposure to acidic bile salts due to chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this study, we investigated the role of Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 /redox effector factor-1 (APE-1/REF-1) in STAT3 activation in response to EAC. Our results indicate that APE1 is constitutively overexpressed in EAC whereas its expression is transiently induced in response to acidic bile salts in non-neoplastic BE. Using overexpression or shRNA knockdown of APE1, we found that APE1 is required for phosphorylation, nuclear localization, and transcription activation of STAT3. By using an APE1 redox-specific mutant (C65A) and APE1 redox inhibitor (E3330), we demonstrate that APE1 activates STAT3 in a redox-dependent manner. By using pharmacologic inhibitors and genetic knockdown systems, we found that EGFR is a required link between APE1 and STAT3. EGFR phosphorylation (Y1068) was directly associated with APE1 levels and redox function. Co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays indicated that APE-1 coexists and interacts with the EGFR-STAT3 protein complex. Consistent with these findings, we demonstrated a significant induction in mRNA expression levels of STAT3 target genes (IL-6, IL-17A, BCL-xL, Survivin and c-Myc) in BE and EAC cells, following acidic bile salts treatment. ChIP assays indicated that acidic bile salts treatment enhances binding of STAT3 to the promoter of its target genes, Survivin and BCL-xL. Inhibition of APE1/REF-1 redox activity using E3330 abrogated STAT3 DNA binding and transcriptional activity. The induction of APE-1 - STAT3 axis in acidic bile salts conditions provided a survival advantage and promoted cellular proliferation. In summary, our study provides multiple pieces of evidence supporting a critical role for APE1 induction in activating the EGFR-STAT3 signaling axis in response to acidic bile salts, the main risk factors for Barrett’s carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz A Bhat
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Translational Medicine, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Anthony Capobianco
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Priyamvada Rai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. .,Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, FL, USA.
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10
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Jana A, Krett NL, Guzman G, Khalid A, Ozden O, Staudacher JJ, Bauer J, Baik SH, Carroll T, Yazici C, Jung B. NFkB is essential for activin-induced colorectal cancer migration via upregulation of PI3K-MDM2 pathway. Oncotarget 2018; 8:37377-37393. [PMID: 28418896 PMCID: PMC5514916 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.16343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a common and deadly cancer due to metastatic disease. Activin and TGFB (TGFβ) signaling are growth suppressive pathways that exert non-canonical pro-metastatic effects late in CRC carcinogenesis. We have recently shown that activin downregulates p21 via ubiquitination and degradation associated with enhanced cellular migration independent of SMADs. To investigate the mechanism of metastatic activin signaling, we examined activated NFkB signaling and activin ligand expression in CRC patient samples and found a strong correlation. We hypothesize that activation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase MDM2 by NFkB leads to p21 degradation in response to activin treatment. To dissect the link between activin and pro-carcinogenic NFkB signaling and downstream targets, we found that activin but not TGFB induced activation of NFkB leading to increased MDM2 ubiquitin ligase via PI3K. Further, overexpression of wild type p65 NFkB increased MDM2 expression while the NFkB inhibitors NEMO-binding domain (NBD) and Bay11-7082 blocked the activin-induced increase in MDM2. In conclusion, in colon cancer cell migration, activin utilizes NFkB to induce MDM2 activity leading to the degradation of p21 in a PI3K dependent mechanism. This provides new mechanistic knowledge linking activin and NFkB signaling in advanced colon cancer which is applicable to targeted therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arundhati Jana
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Nancy L Krett
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Grace Guzman
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ahmer Khalid
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ozkan Ozden
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jonas J Staudacher
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jessica Bauer
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Seung Hyun Baik
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Timothy Carroll
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Cemal Yazici
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Barbara Jung
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois Medical College, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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11
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Whelan KA, Muir AB, Nakagawa H. Esophageal 3D Culture Systems as Modeling Tools in Esophageal Epithelial Pathobiology and Personalized Medicine. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018; 5:461-478. [PMID: 29713660 PMCID: PMC5924738 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2018.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus shows a proliferative basal layer of keratinocytes that undergo terminal differentiation in overlying suprabasal layers. Esophageal pathologies, including eosinophilic esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma, cause perturbations in the esophageal epithelial proliferation-differentiation gradient. Three-dimensional (3D) culture platforms mimicking in vivo esophageal epithelial tissue architecture ex vivo have emerged as powerful experimental tools for the investigation of esophageal biology in the context of homeostasis and pathology. Herein, we describe types of 3D culture that are used to model the esophagus, including organotypic, organoid, and spheroid culture systems. We discuss the development and optimization of various esophageal 3D culture models; highlight the applications, strengths, and limitations of each method; and summarize how these models have been used to evaluate the esophagus under homeostatic conditions as well as under the duress of inflammation and precancerous/cancerous conditions. Finally, we present future perspectives regarding the use of esophageal 3D models in basic science research as well as translational studies with the potential for personalized medicine.
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Key Words
- 3D, 3-dimensional
- BE, Barrett’s esophagus
- COX, cyclooxygenase
- CSC, cancer stem cell
- EADC, esophageal adenocarcinoma
- EGF, epidermal growth factor
- EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor
- EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition
- ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- EoE, eosinophilic esophagitis
- Esophageal Disease
- FEF3, primary human fetal esophageal fibroblast
- GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease
- OTC, organotypic 3-dimensional culture
- Organoid
- Organotypic Culture
- STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription-3
- Spheroid Culture
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A. Whelan
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Amanda B. Muir
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Correspondence Address correspondence to: Amanda B. Muir, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Abramson Research Center 902E, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. fax: (267) 426–7814.
| | - Hiroshi Nakagawa
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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12
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Zhang Y, Qi Y, Zhao Y, Sun H, Ge J, Liu Z. Activin A induces apoptosis of mouse myeloma cells via the mitochondrial pathway. Oncol Lett 2017; 15:2590-2594. [PMID: 29434978 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Activin A is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the transforming growth factor β superfamily. Abnormal expression of activin A is associated with tumorigenesis. Multiple myeloma is characterized by the development of osteolytic disease, which ultimately leads to cachexia. However, the involvement of activin A in myeloma cell viability and apoptosis remains to be fully elucidated. For this purpose, mouse myeloma NS-1 cells were treated with activin A, and subsequently subjected to 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine analysis, Hoechst 33342 staining, flow cytometry and western blot analysis. The results revealed that activin A significantly suppressed NS-1 cell viability, and induced NS-1 cell apoptosis. In addition, activin A-induced promotion of NS-1 cell apoptosis was accompanied by upregulated expression of BCL2 associated X, apoptosis regulator (Bax), but downregulated expression of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), resulting in an increase of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Furthermore, cytochrome c and caspase-3 protein expression also increased following treatment with activin A. These data suggest that activin A induces apoptosis in mouse myeloma NS-1 cells via the mitochondrial pathway, providing a novel insight into multiple myeloma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyi Zhang
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Yan Qi
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Hongyan Sun
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Jingyan Ge
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Zhonghui Liu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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13
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Konstorum A, Lowengrub JS. Activation of the HGF/c-Met axis in the tumor microenvironment: A multispecies model. J Theor Biol 2017; 439:86-99. [PMID: 29203124 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is an integral component in promoting tumor development. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which reside in the tumor stroma, produce Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), an important trigger for invasive and metastatic tumor behavior. HGF contributes to a pro-tumorigenic environment by activating its cognate receptor, c-Met, on tumor cells. Tumor cells, in turn, secrete growth factors that upregulate HGF production in CAFs, thereby establishing a dynamic tumor-host signaling program. Using a spatiotemporal multispecies model of tumor growth, we investigate how the development and spread of a tumor is impacted by the initiation of a dynamic interaction between tumor-derived growth factors and CAF-derived HGF. We show that establishment of such an interaction results in increased tumor growth and morphological instability, the latter due in part to increased cell species heterogeneity at the tumor-host boundary. Invasive behavior is further increased if the tumor lowers responsiveness to paracrine pro-differentiation signals, which is a hallmark of neoplastic development. By modeling anti-HGF and anti-c-Met therapy, we show how disruption of the HGF/c-Met axis can reduce tumor invasiveness and growth, thereby providing theoretical evidence that targeting tumor-microenvironment interactions is a promising avenue for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Konstorum
- Center for Quantitative Medicine, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA.
| | - John S Lowengrub
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, USA.
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14
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Loomans HA, Arnold SA, Hebron K, Taylor CJ, Zijlstra A, Andl CD. Loss of ACVRIB leads to increased squamous cell carcinoma aggressiveness through alterations in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion proteins. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:2422-2437. [PMID: 29312797 PMCID: PMC5752684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) and esophagus (ESCC) pose a global public health issue due to high mortality rates. Unfortunately, little progress has been made in improving patient outcomes. This is partially a result of a lack of understanding the mechanisms that drive SCC progression. Recently, Activin A signaling has been implicated in a number of cancers, yet the role of this pathway in SCC remains poorly understood. We have previously discovered that the Activin A ligand acts as a tumor suppressor when epithelial Activin receptor type IB (ACVRIB) is intact; however, this effect is lost upon ACVRIB downregulation. In the present study, we investigated the function of ACVRIB in the regulation of SCC. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ACVRIB-knockout and knockdown using siRNA, we found an increased capacity to proliferate, migrate, and invade upon ACRIB loss, as ACVRIB-KO cells exhibited an altered cytoskeleton and aberrant expression of E-cadherin and integrins. Based on chemical inhibitor studies, our data suggests that these effects are mediated through ACVRIB-independent signaling via downstream activation of Smad1/5/8 and MEK/ERK. Overall, we present a novel mechanism of SCC progression upon ACVRIB loss by showing that Activin A can transduce a signal in the absence of ACVRIB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holli A Loomans
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN, USA,Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer InstituteBethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shanna A Arnold
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare SystemNashville, TN, USA,Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN, USA
| | - Kate Hebron
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN, USA
| | - Chase J Taylor
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare SystemNashville, TN, USA,Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN, USA
| | - Andries Zijlstra
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN, USA,Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, TN, USA
| | - Claudia D Andl
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, TN, USA,Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL, USA
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15
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Sun X, Liu X. Cancer metastasis: enactment of the script for human reproductive drama. Cancer Cell Int 2017; 17:51. [PMID: 28469531 PMCID: PMC5414196 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-017-0421-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on compelling evidence from many biological disciplines, we put forth a hypothesis for cancer metastasis. In the hypothesis, the metastatic cascade is depicted as human reproduction in miniature. Illustrated in a reproductive light, the staggering resemblance of cancer metastasis to human reproduction becomes evident despite some ostensible dis-similarities. In parallel to the appearance of primordial germ cells during early embryogenesis, the cancer reproductive saga starts with the separation of metastasis initiating cells (MICs) from cancer initiating cells when the primary cancer is still in its infancy. Prime MICs embark on a journey to the host bone marrow where they undergo further development and regulation. Migrating MICs are guided by the same CXCR4/CYCL12 axis as used in the migration of primordial germ cells to the genital ridge. Like the ovary, the host bone marrow features immune privileges, coolness, hypoxia and acidity which are essential for stemness maintenance and regulation. Opportune activation of the MICs via fusion with bone marrow stem cells triggers a frenzy of cellular proliferation and sets them on the move again. This scenario is akin to oocyte fertilization in the Fallopian tube and its subsequent journey towards the decidum. Just as the human reproductive process is plagued with undesirable outcomes so is the cancer metastasis highly inefficient. The climax of the cancer metastatic drama (colonization) is reached when proliferating MIC clusters attempt to settle down on decidum-like premetastatic sites. Successfully colonized clusters blossom into overt macrometastases only after the execution of sophisticated immunomodulation, angiogenesis and vascular remodeling. Similarly, the implanted blastomere needs to orchestrate these feats before flourishing into a new life. What is more, the cancer reproductive drama seems to be directed by a primordial hypothalamus–pituitary–gonad axis. Pursuing this reproductive trail could lead to new frontiers and breakthroughs in cancer research and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xichun Sun
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McGuire Holmes Veteran Affairs Medical Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23249 USA.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Hunan, China
| | - Xiwu Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McGuire Holmes Veteran Affairs Medical Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA 23249 USA.,Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Hunan, China
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16
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Chen Z, Hu T, Zhu S, Mukaisho K, El-Rifai W, Peng DF. Glutathione peroxidase 7 suppresses cancer cell growth and is hypermethylated in gastric cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:54345-54356. [PMID: 28903346 PMCID: PMC5589585 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, and remains the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPX7) is a member of GPX family which is downregulated in some cancer types. In this study, we investigated the expression, regulation, and molecular function of GPX7 in gastric cancer using 2D and 3D in vitro models and de-identified human tissue samples. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, Western blot, 3D organotypic cultures, and pyrosequencing assays were used. We detected downregulation of GPX7 in all 7 gastric cancer cell lines that we tested and in approximately half (22/45) of human gastric cancer samples, as compared to histologically normal gastric tissues. Quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing methylation analysis demonstrated DNA hypermethylation (> 10% methylation level) of GPX7 promoter in all 7 gastric cancer cell lines and in 56% (25/45) of gastric cancer samples, as compared to only 13% (6/45) in normal samples (p < 0.0001). Treatment of AGS and SNU1 cells with 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine led to a significant demethylation of GPX7 promoter and restored the expression of GPX7. In vitro assays showed that reconstitution of GPX7 significantly suppressed gastric cancer cell growth in both 2D and 3D organotypic cell culture models. This growth suppression was associated with inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell death. We detected significant upregulation of p27 and cleaved PARP and downregulation of Cyclin D1 upon reconstitution of GPX7. Taken together, we conclude that epigenetic silencing of GPX7 could play an important role in gastric tumorigenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Tianling Hu
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shoumin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kenichi Mukaisho
- Department of Pathology, Division of Molecular Diagnostic Pathology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dun-Fa Peng
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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17
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Refaat B, El-Shemi AG, Mohamed AM, Kensara OA, Ahmad J, Idris S. Activins and their related proteins in colon carcinogenesis: insights from early and advanced azoxymethane rat models of colon cancer. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:879. [PMID: 27835986 PMCID: PMC5106801 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2914-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Activin-A may exert pro- or anti-tumorigenic activities depending on cellular context. However, little is known about its role, or the other mature activin proteins, in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). This study measured the expression of activin βA- & βB-subunits, activin type IIA & IIB receptors, smads 2/3/4/6/7 and follistatin in CRC induced by azoxymethane (AOM) in rats. The results were compared with controls and disseminated according to the characteristics of histopathological lesions. Methods Eighty male Wistar rats were allocated into 20 controls and the remaining were equally divided between short ‘S-AOM’ (15 weeks) and long ‘L-AOM’ (35 weeks) groups following injecting AOM for 2 weeks. Subsequent to gross and histopathological examinations and digital image analysis, the expression of all molecules was measured by immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR. Activin-A, activin-B, activin-AB and follistatin were measured by ELISA in serum and colon tissue homogenates. Results Colonic pre-neoplastic and cancerous lesions were identified in both AOM groups and their numbers and sizes were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in the L-AOM group. All the molecules were expressed in normal colonic epithelial cells. There was a significantly (P < 0.05) greater expression of βA-subunit, IIB receptor and follistatin in both pre-neoplastic and cancerous tissues. Oppositely, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the remaining molecules was detected in both AOM groups. Metastatic lesions were only observed within the L-AOM group and were associated with the most significant alterations of all molecules. Significantly higher concentrations of activin-A and follistatin and lower activin-AB were also detected in both groups of AOM. Tissue and serum concentrations of activin-A and follistatin correlated positively, while tissue activin-AB inversely, and significantly with the numbers and sizes of colonic lesions. Conclusions Normal rat colon epithelial cells are capable of synthesising, controlling as well as responding to activins in a paracrine/autocrine manner. Colonic activin systems are pathologically altered during tumorigenesis and appear to be time and lesion-dependent. Activins could also be potential sensitive markers and/or molecular targets for the diagnosis and/or treatment of CRC. Further studies are required to illustrate the clinical value of activins and their related proteins in colon cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2914-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Adel Galal El-Shemi
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Amr Mohamed Mohamed
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.,Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis, Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, 71526, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Osama Adnan Kensara
- Clinical Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawwad Ahmad
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Abdeyah, PO Box 7607, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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18
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Loomans HA, Arnold SA, Quast LL, Andl CD. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma invasion is inhibited by Activin A in ACVRIB-positive cells. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:873. [PMID: 27829391 PMCID: PMC5101642 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2920-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a global public health issue, as it is the eighth most common cancer worldwide. The mechanisms behind ESCC invasion and progression are still poorly understood, and warrant further investigation into these processes and their drivers. In recent years, the ligand Activin A has been implicated as a player in the progression of a number of cancers. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of Activin A signaling in ESCC. Methods To investigate the role Activin A plays in ESCC biology, tissue microarrays containing 200 cores from 120 ESCC patients were analyzed upon immunofluorescence staining. We utilized three-dimensional organotypic reconstruct cultures of dysplastic and esophageal squamous tumor cells lines, in the context of fibroblast-secreted Activin A, to identify the effects of Activin A on cell invasion and determine protein expression and localization in epithelial and stromal compartments by immunofluorescence. To identify the functional consequences of stromal-derived Activin A on angiogenesis, we performed endothelial tube formation assays. Results Analysis of ESCC patient samples indicated that patients with high stromal Activin A expression had low epithelial ACVRIB, the Activin type I receptor. We found that overexpression of stromal-derived Activin A inhibited invasion of esophageal dysplastic squamous cells, ECdnT, and TE-2 ESCC cells, both positive for ACVRIB. This inhibition was accompanied by a decrease in expression of the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein fibronectin and podoplanin, which is often expressed at the leading edge during invasion. Endothelial tube formation was disrupted in the presence of conditioned media from fibroblasts overexpressing Activin A. Interestingly, ACVRIB-negative TE-11 cells did not show the prior observed effects in the context of Activin A overexpression, indicating a dependence on the presence of ACVRIB. Conclusions We describe the first observation of an inhibitory role for Activin A in ESCC progression that is dependent on the expression of ACVRIB. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2920-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holli A Loomans
- Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shanna A Arnold
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Laura L Quast
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Claudia D Andl
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, 4110 Libra Drive, Building 20, BMS 223, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA.
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19
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Activin a signaling regulates cell invasion and proliferation in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Oncotarget 2016; 6:34228-44. [PMID: 26447543 PMCID: PMC4741448 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
TGFβ signaling has been implicated in the metaplasia from squamous epithelia to Barrett's esophagus and, ultimately, esophageal adenocarcinoma. The role of the family member Activin A in Barrett's tumorigenesis is less well established. As tumorigenesis is influenced by factors in the tumor microenvironment, such as fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix, we aimed to determine if epithelial cell-derived Activin affects initiation and progression differently than Activin signaling stimulation from a mimicked stromal source. Using Barrett's esophagus cells, CPB, and the esophageal adenocarcinoma cell lines OE33 and FLO-1, we showed that Activin reduces colony formation only in CPB cells. Epithelial cell overexpression of Activin increased cell migration and invasion in Boyden chamber assays in CPB and FLO-1 cells, which exhibited mesenchymal features such as the expression of the CD44 standard form, vimentin, and MT1-MMP. When grown in organotypic reconstructs, OE33 cells expressed E-cadherin and Keratin 8. As mesenchymal characteristics have been associated with the acquisition of stem cell-like features, we analyzed the expression and localization of SOX9, showing nuclear localization of SOX9 in esophageal CPB and FLO-1 cells.In conclusion, we show a role for autocrine Activin signaling in the regulation of colony formation, cell migration and invasion in Barrett's tumorigenesis.
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20
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Shurin MR, Ma Y, Keskinov AA, Zhao R, Lokshin A, Agassandian M, Shurin GV. BAFF and APRIL from Activin A-Treated Dendritic Cells Upregulate the Antitumor Efficacy of Dendritic Cells In Vivo. Cancer Res 2016; 76:4959-69. [PMID: 27364554 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-2668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The members of the TGFβ superfamily play a key role in regulating developmental and homeostasis programs by controlling differentiation, proliferation, polarization, and survival of different cell types. Although the role of TGFβ1 in inflammation and immunity is well evident, the contribution of other TGFβ family cytokines in the modulation of the antitumor immune response remains less documented. Here we show that activin A triggers SMAD2 and ERK1/2 pathways in dendritic cells (DC) expressing type I and II activin receptors, and upregulates production of the TNFα family cytokines BAFF (TALL-1, TNFSF13B) and APRIL (TALL-2, TNFSF13A), which is blocked by SMAD2 and ERK1/2 inhibitors, respectively. BAFF and APRIL derived from activin A-treated DCs upregulate proliferation and survival of T cells expressing the corresponding receptors, BAFF-R and TACI. In vivo, activin A-stimulated DCs demonstrate a significantly increased ability to induce tumor-specific CTLs and inhibit the growth of melanoma and lung carcinoma, which relies on DC-derived BAFF and APRIL, as knockdown of the BAFF and APRIL gene expression in activin A-treated DCs blocks augmentation of their antitumor potential. Although systemic administration of activin A, BAFF, or APRIL for the therapeutic purposes is not likely due to the pluripotent effects on malignant and nonmalignant cells, our data open a novel opportunity for improving the efficacy of DC vaccines. In fact, a significant augmentation of the antitumor activity of DC pretreated with activin A and the proven role of DC-derived BAFF and APRIL in the induction of antitumor immunity in vivo support this direction. Cancer Res; 76(17); 4959-69. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Shurin
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yang Ma
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Anton A Keskinov
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Ruijing Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Anna Lokshin
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Marianna Agassandian
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Galina V Shurin
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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21
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Bufalino A, Cervigne NK, de Oliveira CE, Fonseca FP, Rodrigues PC, Macedo CCS, Sobral LM, Miguel MC, Lopes MA, Leme AFP, Lambert DW, Salo TA, Kowalski LP, Graner E, Coletta RD. Low miR-143/miR-145 Cluster Levels Induce Activin A Overexpression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas, Which Contributes to Poor Prognosis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136599. [PMID: 26317418 PMCID: PMC4552554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulated expression of activin A is reported in several tumors, but its biological functions in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are unknown. Here, we investigate whether activin A can play a causal role in OSCCs. Activin A expression was assessed by qPCR and immunohistochemistry in OSCC tissues. Low activin A-expressing cells were treated with recombinant activin A and assessed for apoptosis, proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Those phenotypes were also evaluated in high activin A-expressing cells treated with follistatin (an activin A antagonist) or stably expressing shRNA targeting activin A. Transfections of microRNA mimics were performed to determine whether the overexpression of activin A is regulated by miR-143/miR-145 cluster. Activin A was overexpressed in OSCCs in comparison with normal oral mucosa, and high activin A levels were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation and poor survival. High activin A levels promoted multiple properties associated with malignant transformation, including decreased apoptosis and increased proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT. Both miR-143 and miR-145 were markedly downregulated in OSCC cell lines and in clinical specimens, and inversely correlated to activin A levels. Forced expression of miR-143 and miR-145 in OSCC cells significantly decreased the expression of activin A. Overexpression of activin A in OSCCs, which is controlled by downregulation of miR-143/miR-145 cluster, regulates apoptosis, proliferation and invasiveness, and it is clinically correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Bufalino
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | - Nilva K. Cervigne
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe Paiva Fonseca
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Lays Martin Sobral
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | - Marcia Costa Miguel
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
- Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, Brazil
| | - Marcio Ajudarte Lopes
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | | | - Daniel W. Lambert
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry and Sheffield Cancer Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Tuula A. Salo
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
- Department of Diagnostics and Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry and Oulu University Hospital and Medical Research Center, University of Oulu, Oulu and Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Luiz Paulo Kowalski
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, A. C. Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo-SP, Brazil
| | - Edgard Graner
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo D. Coletta
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Translational regulation of inhibin βA by TGFβ via the RNA-binding protein hnRNP E1 enhances the invasiveness of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitioned cells. Oncogene 2015; 35:1725-35. [PMID: 26096938 PMCID: PMC4688046 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2015] [Revised: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process that functions during embryonic development and tissue regeneration, thought to be aberrantly activated in epithelial-derived cancer and play an important role in the process of metastasis. The TGFβ signaling pathway is a key inducer of EMT and we have elucidated a post-transcriptional mechanism by which TGFβ modulates expression of select transcripts via the RNA binding protein hnRNP E1 during EMT. One such transcript inhibin βA is a member of the TGFβ superfamily. Here, we show by polysome profiling that inhibin βA is translationally regulated by TGFβ via hnRNP E1. TGFβ treatment or knockdown of hnRNP E1 relieves silencing of the inhibin βA transcript, resulting in increased protein expression and secreted levels of the inhibin βA homodimer, activin A. Our data indicates that the translational up-regulation of inhibin βA enhances the migration and invasion of cells that have undergone an EMT and promotes cancer progression in vivo.
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