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Peng Q, Cao T, Yang X, Ye Z, Wang J, Chen S, Yu Y, Yu Y, Xue W, Chen Z, Fan J. RSPO2-associated mitochondrial metabolism defines molecular subtypes with distinct clinical and immune features in esophageal cancer. Environ Toxicol 2024. [PMID: 38491805 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal cancer is a highly aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. The identification of novel molecular subtypes and therapeutic targets is crucial for improving clinical outcomes. METHOD In this study, we investigated the role of R-spondin 2 (RSPO2) in esophageal cancer and its association with mitochondrial metabolism. Using bioinformatics analysis of publicly available datasets, we identified a panel of RSPO2-related mitochondrial metabolism genes and their expression patterns in esophageal cancer. Based on these genes, we stratified esophageal cancer patients into distinct molecular subtypes with different survival rates, immune cell infiltration profiles, and drug sensitivities. RESULTS Our findings suggest that RSPO2-related mitochondrial metabolism genes may serve as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for esophageal cancer. These genes play an important role in the prognosis, immune cell infiltration and drug sensitivity of esophageal cancer. CONCLUSION The identified molecular subtypes provide valuable insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of esophageal cancer and could guide personalized treatment strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanzhou Peng
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, China
| | - Tianfeng Cao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, Xi'an No. 1 Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Xue Yang
- Medical Insurance Office, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhujia Ye
- AnchorDx Medical Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Wang
- AnchorDx Medical Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shang Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanqi Yu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingdian Yu
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenyuan Xue
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Jianbing Fan
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- AnchorDx Medical Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, China
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2
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Srivastava A, Rikhari D, Srivastava S. RSPO2 as Wnt signaling enabler: Important roles in cancer development and therapeutic opportunities. Genes Dis 2024; 11:788-806. [PMID: 37692504 PMCID: PMC10491879 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
R-spondins are secretory proteins localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi bodies and are processed through the secretory pathway. Among the R-spondin family, RSPO2 has emanated as a novel regulator of Wnt signaling, which has now been acknowledged in numerous in vitro and in vivo studies. Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that proliferates and spreads uncontrollably due to the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic factors that constitutively activate Wnt signaling in various types of cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) begins when cells in the colon and rectum follow an indefinite pattern of division due to aberrant Wnt activation as one of the key hallmarks. Decades-long progress in research on R-spondins has demonstrated their oncogenic function in distinct cancer types, particularly CRC. As a critical regulator of the Wnt pathway, it modulates several phenotypes of cells, such as cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and cancer stem cell properties. Recently, RSPO mutations, gene rearrangements, fusions, copy number alterations, and altered gene expression have also been identified in a variety of cancers, including CRC. In this review, we addressed the recent updates regarding the recurrently altered R-spondins with special emphasis on the RSPO2 gene and its involvement in potentiating Wnt signaling in CRC. In addition to the compelling physiological and biological roles in cellular fate and regulation, we propose that RSPO2 would be valuable as a potential biomarker for prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic use in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Srivastava
- Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh 211004, India
| | - Deeksha Rikhari
- Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh 211004, India
| | - Sameer Srivastava
- Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh 211004, India
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3
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Lee H, Camuto CM, Niehrs C. R-Spondin 2 governs Xenopus left-right body axis formation by establishing an FGF signaling gradient. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1003. [PMID: 38307837 PMCID: PMC10837206 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44951-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Establishment of the left-right (LR, sinistral, dextral) body axis in many vertebrate embryos relies on cilia-driven leftward fluid flow within an LR organizer (LRO). A cardinal question is how leftward flow triggers symmetry breakage. The chemosensation model posits that ciliary flow enriches a signaling molecule on the left side of the LRO that promotes sinistral cell fate. However, the nature of this sinistralizing signal has remained elusive. In the Xenopus LRO, we identified the stem cell growth factor R-Spondin 2 (Rspo2) as a symmetrically expressed, sinistralizing signal. As predicted for a flow-mediated signal, Rspo2 operates downstream of leftward flow but upstream of the asymmetrically expressed gene dand5. Unexpectedly, in LR patterning, Rspo2 acts as an FGF receptor antagonist: Rspo2 via its TSP1 domain binds Fgfr4 and promotes its membrane clearance by Znrf3-mediated endocytosis. Concordantly, we find that at flow-stage, FGF signaling is dextralizing and forms a gradient across the LRO, high on the dextral- and low on the sinistral side. Rspo2 gain- and loss-of function equalize this FGF signaling gradient and sinistralize and dextralize development, respectively. We propose that leftward flow of Rspo2 produces an FGF signaling gradient that governs LR-symmetry breakage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeyoon Lee
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Celine Marie Camuto
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof Niehrs
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128, Mainz, Germany.
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4
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Yue F, Ku AT, Stevens PD, Michalski MN, Jiang W, Tu J, Shi Z, Dou Y, Wang Y, Feng XH, Hostetter G, Wu X, Huang S, Shroyer NF, Zhang B, Williams BO, Liu Q, Lin X, Li Y. Loss of ZNRF3/RNF43 Unleashes EGFR in Cancer. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.10.574969. [PMID: 38260423 PMCID: PMC10802575 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.10.574969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
ZNRF3 and RNF43 are closely related transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligases with significant roles in development and cancer. Conventionally, their biological functions have been associated with regulating WNT signaling receptor ubiquitination and degradation. However, our proteogenomic studies have revealed EGFR as the most negatively correlated protein with ZNRF3/RNF43 mRNA levels in multiple human cancers. Through biochemical investigations, we demonstrate that ZNRF3/RNF43 interact with EGFR via their extracellular domains, leading to EGFR ubiquitination and subsequent degradation facilitated by the E3 ligase RING domain. Overexpression of ZNRF3 reduces EGFR levels and suppresses cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo, whereas knockout of ZNRF3/RNF43 stimulates cell growth and tumorigenesis through upregulated EGFR signaling. Together, these data highlight ZNRF3 and RNF43 as novel E3 ubiquitin ligases of EGFR and establish the inactivation of ZNRF3/RNF43 as a driver of increased EGFR signaling, ultimately promoting cancer progression. This discovery establishes a connection between two fundamental signaling pathways, EGFR and WNT, at the level of cytoplasmic membrane receptor, uncovering a novel mechanism underlying the frequent co-activation of EGFR and WNT signaling in development and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yue
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Amy T. Ku
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Payton D. Stevens
- Van Andel Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, USA
| | - Megan N. Michalski
- Van Andel Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, USA
| | - Weiyu Jiang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jianghua Tu
- Texas Therapeutics Institute and Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Zhongcheng Shi
- Advanced Technology Cores, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yongchao Dou
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xin-Hua Feng
- Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Galen Hostetter
- Van Andel Institute, Core Technologies and Services, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, USA
| | - Xiangwei Wu
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Shixia Huang
- Advanced Technology Cores, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Education, Innovation & Technology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Noah F. Shroyer
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Bing Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Bart O. Williams
- Van Andel Institute, Department of Cell Biology, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, USA
- Van Andel Institute, Core Technologies and Services, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, USA
| | - Qingyun Liu
- Texas Therapeutics Institute and Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Xia Lin
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310003, China
| | - Yi Li
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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5
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Sakibuzzaman M, Mahmud S, Afroze T, Fathma S, Zakia UB, Afroz S, Zafar F, Hossain M, Barua A, Akter S, Chowdhury HI, Ahsan E, Eshan SH, Fariza TT. Pathology of breast cancer metastasis and a view of metastasis to the brain. Int J Neurosci 2023; 133:544-554. [PMID: 34044732 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2021.1935929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite the advances in diagnosis and management of breast cancer, metastasis has been responsible for the staggering percentage of breast cancer-related death. Mortality threat can be explained mostly by the lack of proper understanding of the diversity of pathological features and underlying mechanism of breast cancer metastasis and effective targeted therapy. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are the potential source of tumor cells spread to distant organs. BCSCs targeted therapy can suppress the breast cancer progression to metastasis. Spreading of tumor cells to the bone, lung, liver, and brain occurs through a distinct non-random process; called metastasis organotropism. Recently, brain metastasis in breast cancer patients has been detected more frequently, causing a significant clinical burden. BRCA1 and BRCA2 associated breast cancers carry a remarkably higher propensity of CNS metastasis. BRCA1 and BRCA2 associated breast cancers commonly have the propensity to be the triple-negative (TN) and hormone receptors (HR)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative molecular subtypes, respectively. Regardless of molecular subtypes, metastasis is most commonly evident at the bone. Heterogeneity is a critical pathological feature, leads to therapeutic resistance. BCSCs, biomarkers expression patterns, and mutations contribute to heterogeneity. In this paper, we discuss crucial pathological features of breast cancer metastasis, emphasizing metastasis organotropism and heterogeneity; and mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis, highlighting the pathways of metastasis to the brain. We consider that this paper reinforces future research areas and benefits the general readers, physicians, and researchers to identify potential areas to develop targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sakibuzzaman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Shahriar Mahmud
- Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital, Barisal, Bangladesh
| | | | - Sawsan Fathma
- Bangladesh Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Sabrina Afroz
- Faridpur Medical College and Hospital, Faridpur, Bangladesh
| | - Farzina Zafar
- Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Maksuda Hossain
- Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Amit Barua
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Sabiha Akter
- Sher-E-Bangla Medical College and Hospital, Barisal, Bangladesh
| | | | - Eram Ahsan
- Medical College for Women and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shayet Hossain Eshan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Amita Health Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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6
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Parisi F, Freer G, Mazzanti CM, Pistello M, Poli A. Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV) and MMTV-like Viruses: An In-depth Look at a Controversial Issue. Viruses 2022; 14:v14050977. [PMID: 35632719 PMCID: PMC9147501 DOI: 10.3390/v14050977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its discovery as a milk factor, mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) has been shown to cause mammary carcinoma and lymphoma in mice. MMTV infection depends upon a viral superantigen (sag)-induced immune response and exploits the immune system to establish infection in mammary epithelial cells when they actively divide. Simultaneously, it avoids immune responses, causing tumors through insertional mutagenesis and clonal expansion. Early studies identified antigens and sequences belonging to a virus homologous to MMTV in human samples. Several pieces of evidence fulfill a criterion for a possible causal role for the MMTV-like virus in human breast cancer (BC), though the controversy about whether this virus was linked to BC has raged for over 40 years in the literature. In this review, the most important issues related to MMTV, from its discovery to the present days, are retraced to fully explore such a controversial issue. Furthermore, the hypothesis of an MMTV-like virus raised the question of a potential zoonotic mouse–man transmission. Several studies investigate the role of an MMTV-like virus in companion animals, suggesting their possible role as mediators. Finally, the possibility of an MMTV-like virus as a cause of human BC opens a new era for prevention and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Parisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge, 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Giulia Freer
- Dipartimento di Ricerca Traslazionale e delle Nuove Tecnologie in Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (M.P.)
| | - Chiara Maria Mazzanti
- Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Via Ferruccio Giovannini, 13, 56017 San Giuliano Terme, Italy;
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Dipartimento di Ricerca Traslazionale e delle Nuove Tecnologie in Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.F.); (M.P.)
| | - Alessandro Poli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge, 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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7
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Lee H, Sun R, Niehrs C. Uncoupling the BMP receptor antagonist function from the WNT agonist function of R-spondin 2 using the inhibitory peptide dendrimer RW d. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101586. [PMID: 35032551 PMCID: PMC8842081 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Signaling by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) plays pivotal roles in embryogenesis, adult tissue homeostasis, and disease. Recent studies revealed that the well-established WNT agonist R-spondin 2 (RSPO2) is also a BMP receptor (BMP receptor type 1A) antagonist, with roles in early Xenopus embryogenesis and human acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To uncouple the BMP antagonist function from the WNT agonist function and to promote development of AML therapeutics, here we identified a 10-mer peptide (RW) derived from the thrombospondin 1 domain of RSPO2, which specifically prevents binding between RSPO2 and BMP receptor type 1A without altering WNT signaling. We also show that a corresponding RW dendrimer (RWd) exhibiting improved half-life relieves inhibition of BMP receptor signaling by RSPO2 in human AML cells, reduces cell growth, and induces differentiation. Moreover, microinjection of RWd in Xenopus embryos ventralizes the dorsoventral embryonic patterning by upregulating BMP signaling without affecting WNT signaling. Our study corroborates the function of RSPO2 as a BMP receptor antagonist and provides a proof of concept for pharmacologically uncoupling BMP antagonist from WNT agonist functions of RSPO2 using the inhibitor peptide RWd with enhanced target selectivity and limited side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeyoon Lee
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rui Sun
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof Niehrs
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), Mainz, Germany.
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8
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Abstract
R-spondin (RSPO) proteins constitute a family of four secreted glycoproteins (RSPO1-4) that have appeared as multipotent signaling ligands. The best-known molecular function of RSPOs lie within their capacity to agonize the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. As RSPOs act upon cognate receptors LGR4/5/6 that are typically expressed by stem cells and progenitor cells, RSPO proteins importantly potentiate Wnt/β-catenin signaling especially within these proliferative stem cell compartments. Since multiple organs express LGR4/5/6 receptors and RSPO ligands within their stem cell niches, RSPOs can exert an influential role in stem cell regulation throughout the body. Inherently, over the last decade a multitude of reports implicated the deregulation of RSPOs in cancer development. First, RSPO2 and RSPO3 gene fusions with concomitant enhanced expression have been identified in colon cancer patients, and proposed as an alternative driver of Wnt/β-catenin hyperactivation that earmarks cancer in the colorectal tract. Moreover, the causal oncogenic capacity of RSPO3 overactivation has been demonstrated in the mouse intestine. As a paradigm organ in this field, most of current knowledge about RSPOs in cancer is derived from studies in the intestinal tract. However, RSPO gene fusions as well as enhanced RSPO expression have been reported in multiple additional cancer types, affecting different organs that involve divergent stem cell hierarchies. Importantly, the emerging oncogenic role of RSPO and its potential clinical utility as a therapeutic target have been recognized and investigated in preclinical and clinical settings. This review provides a survey of current knowledge on the role of RSPOs in cancer biology, addressing the different organs implicated, and of efforts made to explore intervention opportunities in cancer cases with RSPO overrepresentation, including the potential utilization of RSPO as novel therapeutic target itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline J Ter Steege
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elvira R M Bakker
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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9
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Sun R, He L, Lee H, Glinka A, Andresen C, Hübschmann D, Jeremias I, Müller-Decker K, Pabst C, Niehrs C. RSPO2 inhibits BMP signaling to promote self-renewal in acute myeloid leukemia. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109559. [PMID: 34407399 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rapidly progressing cancer, for which chemotherapy remains standard treatment and additional therapeutic targets are requisite. Here, we show that AML cells secrete the stem cell growth factor R-spondin 2 (RSPO2) to promote their self-renewal and prevent cell differentiation. Although RSPO2 is a well-known WNT agonist, we reveal that it maintains AML self-renewal WNT independently, by inhibiting BMP receptor signaling. Autocrine RSPO2 signaling is also required to prevent differentiation and to promote self-renewal in normal hematopoietic stem cells as well as primary AML cells. Comprehensive datamining reveals that RSPO2 expression is elevated in patients with AML of poor prognosis. Consistently, inhibiting RSPO2 prolongs survival in AML mouse xenograft models. Our study indicates that in AML, RSPO2 acts as an autocrine BMP antagonist to promote cancer cell renewal and may serve as a marker for poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Sun
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lixiazi He
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory-Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hyeyoon Lee
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrey Glinka
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carolin Andresen
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Hübschmann
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Computational Oncology, Molecular Diagnostics Program, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and DKFZ, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Irmela Jeremias
- Research Unit Apoptosis in Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Munich, Germany
| | - Karin Müller-Decker
- Core Facility Tumor Models, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Caroline Pabst
- Department of Medicine V, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory-Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof Niehrs
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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10
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Wang Z, Wang Y, Ma X, Dang C. RSPO2 silence inhibits tumorigenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma by ZNRF3/Hedgehog-Gli1 signal pathway. Life Sci 2021; 282:119817. [PMID: 34273374 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
R-spondins 2 (RSPO2) protein is a member of RSPO family which plays an essential role in stem cell survival, development and tumorigenicity. There has several evidence suggested that RSPO2 involved in breast, gastric, liver and colorectal cancer. However, the specific function and mechanism of RSPO2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unknown. In the present study, we first observed that RSPO2 expression was elevated in NPC cell lines SUNE-6-10B, SUNE-5-8F, and CNE-1 compared with the normal laryngeal epithelia cell line NP69. Knockdown of RSPO2 significantly inhibits SUNE-6-10B and CNE-1 cell survival and proliferation by using CCK-8 assay and Edu assay, respectively. Further studies verified that RSPO2 silence suppressed migration and invasion of SUNE-6-10B and CNE-1 cells. Further studies suggested that RSPO2 silence suppressed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related protein E-cadherin expression and promoted Vimentin and N-cadherin expression both in SUNE-6-10B and CNE-1 cells. Molecular mechanism explorations showed that RSPO2 deletion increased ZNRF3 expression and inhibited Gli1 expression. Additionally, knockdown ZNRF3 expression or overexpression Gli1 both reversed the effects of RSPO2 silence on NPC growth and metastasis. Finally, RSPO2 depletion was impaired NPC tumor growth in vivo animal experiments. In conclusion, the present study confirmed that RSPO2 silence inhibits the tumorigenesis of NPC via ZNRF3/Hedgehog-Gli1 signal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- ZhongWei Wang
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - YaLi Wang
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - XiuLong Ma
- Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - ChengXue Dang
- Tumor Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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11
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Conboy CB, Vélez-Reyes GL, Rathe SK, Abrahante JE, Temiz NA, Burns MB, Harris RS, Starr TK, Largaespada DA. R-Spondins 2 and 3 Are Overexpressed in a Subset of Human Colon and Breast Cancers. DNA Cell Biol 2020; 40:70-79. [PMID: 33320737 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2020.5585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling is activated in many cancer types, yet targeting the canonical Wnt pathway has been challenging for cancer therapy. The pathway might be effectively targeted at many levels depending on the mechanism by which it has become hyperactive. Recently, mouse genetic screens have found that R-spondins (RSPOs) act as oncogenes. Evidence includes recurrent genomic rearrangements that led to increased RSPO2 or RSPO3 expression in human colorectal adenocarcinomas, exclusive of APC mutations. RSPOs modulate Wnt signaling to promote epithelial cell proliferation and survival. These secreted proteins modulate Wnt signaling by binding to G-coupled receptors LGR4/5/6, ultimately inhibiting frizzled membrane clearance by RNF43 and ZNRF3. They also exert their function independent of leucine-rich repeat-containing, G protein-coupled receptors (LGRs) by binding to ZNRF3 and RNF43. This results in increased β-catenin concentration that, after translocation to the nucleus, acts as a transcriptional coactivator of genes necessary for proliferation and cell survival. In this article, we aimed to identify the role of RSPOs in colon and breast cancers by using in silico and in vitro studies. We found that expression of RSPO2 and RSPO3 at high levels characterized a subset of colorectal cancers (CRCs). RSPO2 expression was found to characterize a subset of triple-negative breast cancers. In both instances, increased expression of RSPOs was associated with an activated Wnt signaling gene expression profile. Furthermore, knockdown of RSPO2 decreased Wnt signaling and proliferation in human breast cancer cells. Our findings show and confirm that RSPO2 and RSPO3 expression is upregulated in a subset of colorectal adenocarcinomas and breast cancers and that both are attractive druggable oncoprotein targets against such cancers. We also describe novel fusion transcripts that occur in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin B Conboy
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Susan K Rathe
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Juan E Abrahante
- University of Minnesota Informatics Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nuri A Temiz
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michael B Burns
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Reuben S Harris
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Institute for Molecular Virology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Timothy K Starr
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health and University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - David A Largaespada
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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12
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Lee H, Seidl C, Sun R, Glinka A, Niehrs C. R-spondins are BMP receptor antagonists in Xenopus early embryonic development. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5570. [PMID: 33149137 PMCID: PMC7642414 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19373-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BMP signaling plays key roles in development, stem cells, adult tissue homeostasis, and disease. How BMP receptors are extracellularly modulated and in which physiological context, is therefore of prime importance. R-spondins (RSPOs) are a small family of secreted proteins that co-activate WNT signaling and function as potent stem cell effectors and oncogenes. Evidence is mounting that RSPOs act WNT-independently but how and in which physiological processes remains enigmatic. Here we show that RSPO2 and RSPO3 also act as BMP antagonists. RSPO2 is a high affinity ligand for the type I BMP receptor BMPR1A/ALK3, and it engages ZNRF3 to trigger internalization and degradation of BMPR1A. In early Xenopus embryos, Rspo2 is a negative feedback inhibitor in the BMP4 synexpression group and regulates dorsoventral axis formation. We conclude that R-spondins are bifunctional ligands, which activate WNT- and inhibit BMP signaling via ZNRF3, with implications for development and cancer. R-spondins are known modulators of Wnt signaling. Here, the authors demonstrate that R-spondins function in Xenopus embryonic development as BMP antagonists by targeting BMP receptor 1A for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeyoon Lee
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carina Seidl
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rui Sun
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrey Glinka
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof Niehrs
- Division of Molecular Embryology, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128, Mainz, Germany.
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13
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Ramaiah MJ, Vasavi PJ, Chandana NV. Potentials of miR-15/16 targeting cancer stem cell pathways: Novel implication in cancer chemotherapy. Gene Reports 2020; 20:100755. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2020.100755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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14
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Gao L, Meng J, Zhang M, Fan S, Gao S, Wang X, Liang C. Expression and Prognostic Values of the Roof Plate-Specific Spondin Family in Bladder Cancer. DNA Cell Biol 2020; 39:1072-1089. [PMID: 32352838 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2019.5224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Gao
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P.R. China
| | - Jialin Meng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Institute of Urology and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Institute of Urology and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Song Fan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Institute of Urology and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Shenglin Gao
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaolu Wang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, P.R. China
| | - Chaozhao Liang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Institute of Urology and Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
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15
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Tocci JM, Felcher CM, García Solá ME, Kordon EC. R-spondin-mediated WNT signaling potentiation in mammary and breast cancer development. IUBMB Life 2020; 72:1546-1559. [PMID: 32233118 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The mammary gland is a secretory organ, which develops as a network of growing epithelial ducts composed of luminal and basal cells that invade the surrounding adipose tissue through a series of developmental cycles. Mammary stem cells (MaSCs) maintain an accurate tissue homeostasis, and their proliferation and cell fate determination are regulated by multiple hormones and local factors. The WNT pathway plays a critical role in controlling the enormous tissue expansion and remodeling during mammary gland development through the maintenance and differentiation of MaSCs, and its deregulation has been implicated in breast cancer (BC) initiation and progression. The R-spondins (RSPOs) are four secreted proteins that strongly enhance target cell sensitivity to WNT ligands. Moreover, leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptors (LGRs) 4-6 are considered obligate high-affinity receptors for RSPOs and have been described as stem cell markers. Importantly, elevated RSPO expression has been recently identified in several tumor types from patients, including BC, and it has been reported that they play a significant role in mammary tumor progression in experimental models. In this review, exploring our present knowledge, we summarize the role of the RSPO-LGR axis as a WNT-enhancing signaling cascade in the MaSC compartment and during the normal and neoplastic mammary gland development. In addition, we include an updated expression profile of the RSPOs and their action mediators at the cell membrane, the LGRs, and the ubiquitin-ligases ZNRF3/RNF43, in different BC subtypes. Finally and based on these data, we discuss the significance of tumor-associated alterations of these proteins and their potential use as molecular targets for detection and treatment of BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M Tocci
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla M Felcher
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín E García Solá
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Edith C Kordon
- Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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16
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Haseeb M, Pirzada RH, Ain QU, Choi S. Wnt Signaling in the Regulation of Immune Cell and Cancer Therapeutics. Cells 2019; 8:E1380. [PMID: 31684152 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling is one of the important pathways to play a major role in various biological processes, such as embryonic stem-cell development, tissue regeneration, cell differentiation, and immune cell regulation. Recent studies suggest that Wnt signaling performs an essential function in immune cell modulation and counteracts various disorders. Nonetheless, the emerging role and mechanism of action of this signaling cascade in immune cell regulation, as well as its involvement in various cancers, remain debatable. The Wnt signaling in immune cells is very diverse, e.g., the tolerogenic role of dendritic cells, the development of natural killer cells, thymopoiesis of T cells, B-cell-driven initiation of T-cells, and macrophage actions in tissue repair, regeneration, and fibrosis. The purpose of this review is to highlight the current therapeutic targets in (and the prospects of) Wnt signaling, as well as the potential suitability of available modulators for the development of cancer immunotherapies. Although there are several Wnt inhibitors relevant to cancer, it would be worthwhile to extend this approach to immune cells.
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17
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Dzobo K, Thomford NE, Senthebane DA. Targeting the Versatile Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics: From Concept to Actionable Strategy. OMICS 2019; 23:517-538. [PMID: 31613700 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2019.0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This expert review offers a critical synthesis of the latest insights and approaches at targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in various cancers such as colorectal cancer, melanoma, leukemia, and breast and lung cancers. Notably, from organogenesis to cancer, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling displays varied and highly versatile biological functions in animals, with virtually all tissues requiring the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in one way or the other. Aberrant expression of the members of the Wnt/β-catenin has been implicated in many pathological conditions, particularly in human cancers. Mutations in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway genes have been noted in diverse cancers. Biochemical and genetic data support the idea that inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is beneficial in cancer therapeutics. The interaction of this important pathway with other signaling systems is also noteworthy, but remains as an area for further research and discovery. In addition, formation of different complexes by components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the precise roles of these complexes in the cytoplasmic milieu are yet to be fully elucidated. This article highlights the latest medical technologies in imaging, single-cell omics, use of artificial intelligence (e.g., machine learning techniques), genome sequencing, quantum computing, molecular docking, and computational softwares in modeling interactions between molecules and predicting protein-protein and compound-protein interactions pertinent to the biology and therapeutic value of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We discuss these emerging technologies in relationship to what is currently needed to move from concept to actionable strategies in translating the Wnt/β-catenin laboratory discoveries to Wnt-targeted cancer therapies and diagnostics in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dzobo
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nicholas Ekow Thomford
- Pharmacogenetics Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dimakatso A Senthebane
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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18
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Zhang L, Song Y, Ling Z, Li Y, Ren X, Yang J, Wang Z, Xia J, Zhang W, Cheng B. R-spondin 2-LGR4 system regulates growth, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem-like properties of tongue squamous cell carcinoma via Wnt/β-catenin signaling. EBioMedicine 2019; 44:275-288. [PMID: 31097406 PMCID: PMC6603804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.03.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background R-spondins (Rspo) and leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptors (LGR) play important roles in development, stem cells survival, and tumorigenicity by activating Wnt signaling pathway. Whether R-spondins-LGR signaling affects the progression of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remain unknown. This study aims to uncover the role of R-spodin2/LGR4 in tongue SCC (TSCC). Methods The expression of Rspo2 in TSCC specimens and its correlation with TSCC clinical outcome were evaluated. Levels of Rspo2 or LGR4 were altered by pharmacological and genetic approaches, and the effects on TSCC progression were assessed. Findings Aberrantly high levels of Rspo2 were detected in TSCC specimens. Its levels were closely related with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and survival rate in patients with tongue SCC. Exogenous Rspo2 or overexpression of Rspo2 promoted growth, migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stem-like properties in SCC both in vivo and in vitro. Silence of Rspo2 abolished these phenotypes. LGR4 was functionally upregulated by Rspo2 in TSCC. Overexpression of Rspo2 increased, whereas Rspo2 silencing decreased the expression of LGR4, leading to subsequent phosphorylation of LRP6 and nuclear translocation of β-catenin in TSCC cell lines. This nuclear translocation of β-catenin was associated with a significant alteration in TCF-1, a downstream nuclear transcription factor of β-catenin, as well as its target genes: CD44, CyclinD1 and c-Myc. Interpretation Rspo2-LGR4 system regulates growth, migration and invasion, EMT and stem-like properties of TSCC via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Rspo2 and LGR4 are aberrantly expressed in TSCC. Rspo2-LGR4 up-regulates growth, migration and invasion, EMT and stem-like properties of TSCC. Rspo2-LGR4 regulates TSCC progression via Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Zhang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yan Song
- First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zihang Ling
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xianyue Ren
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Juan Xia
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Weizhen Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Bin Cheng
- Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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19
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Yeh Y, Guo Q, Connelly Z, Cheng S, Yang S, Prieto-Dominguez N, Yu X. Wnt/Beta-Catenin Signaling and Prostate Cancer Therapy Resistance. Adv Exp Med Biol 2019; 1210:351-78. [PMID: 31900917 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-32656-2_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic or locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa) is typically treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Initially, PCa responds to the treatment and regresses. However, PCa almost always develops resistance to androgen deprivation and progresses to castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPCa), a currently incurable form of PCa. Wnt/β-Catenin signaling is frequently activated in late stage PCa and contributes to the development of therapy resistance. Although activating mutations in the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway are not common in primary PCa, this signaling cascade can be activated through other mechanisms in late stage PCa, including cross talk with other signaling pathways, growth factors and cytokines produced by the damaged tumor microenvironment, release of the co-activator β-Catenin from sequestration after inhibition of androgen receptor (AR) signaling, altered expression of Wnt ligands and factors that modulate the Wnt signaling, and therapy-induced cellular senescence. Research from genetically engineered mouse models indicates that activation of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in the prostate is oncogenic, enables castrate-resistant PCa growth, induces an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), promotes neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation, and confers stem cell-like features to PCa cells. These important roles of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling in PCa progression underscore the need for the development of drugs targeting this pathway to treat therapy-resistant PCa.
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20
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Zhang H, Han X, Wei B, Fang J, Hou X, Lan T, Wei H. RSPO2 enhances cell invasion and migration via the WNT/β‐catenin pathway in human gastric cancer. J Cell Biochem 2018; 120:5813-5824. [PMID: 30362605 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Xiaoyan Han
- Central Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Jiafeng Fang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Xuerui Hou
- Central Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Tianyun Lan
- Central Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
| | - Hongbo Wei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
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21
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Tocci JM, Felcher CM, García Solá ME, Goddio MV, Zimberlin MN, Rubinstein N, Srebrow A, Coso OA, Abba MC, Meiss RP, Kordon EC. R-spondin3 Is Associated with Basal-Progenitor Behavior in Normal and Tumor Mammary Cells. Cancer Res 2018; 78:4497-4511. [PMID: 29748375 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-2676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
R-spondin3 (RSPO3) is a member of a family of secreted proteins that enhance Wnt signaling pathways in diverse processes, including cancer. However, the role of RSPO3 in mammary gland and breast cancer development remains unclear. In this study, we show that RSPO3 is expressed in the basal stem cell-enriched compartment of normal mouse mammary glands but is absent from committed mature luminal cells in which exogenous RSPO3 impairs lactogenic differentiation. RSPO3 knockdown in basal-like mouse mammary tumor cells reduced canonical Wnt signaling, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-like features, migration capacity, and tumor formation in vivo Conversely, RSPO3 overexpression, which was associated with some LGR and RUNX factors, highly correlated with the basal-like subtype among patients with breast cancer. Thus, we identified RSPO3 as a novel key modulator of breast cancer development and a potential target for treatment of basal-like breast cancers.Significance: These findings identify RSPO3 as a potential therapetuic target in basal-like breast cancers.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/16/4497/F1.large.jpg Cancer Res; 78(16); 4497-511. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M Tocci
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla M Felcher
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín E García Solá
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Victoria Goddio
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Noel Zimberlin
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia Rubinstein
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anabella Srebrow
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Omar A Coso
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín C Abba
- Basic and Applied Immunological Research Center, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Roberto P Meiss
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Oncology Studies, National Academy of Medicine, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Edith C Kordon
- CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Química Biológica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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22
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Jin L, Han B, Siegel E, Cui Y, Giuliano A, Cui X. Breast cancer lung metastasis: Molecular biology and therapeutic implications. Cancer Biol Ther 2018; 19:858-868. [PMID: 29580128 PMCID: PMC6300341 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2018.1456599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Distant metastasis accounts for the vast majority of deaths in patients with cancer. Breast cancer exhibits a distinct metastatic pattern commonly involving bone, liver, lung, and brain. Breast cancer can be divided into different subtypes based on gene expression profiles, and different breast cancer subtypes show preference to distinct organ sites of metastasis. Luminal breast tumors tend to metastasize to bone while basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) displays a lung tropism of metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying this organ-specific pattern of metastasis still remain to be elucidated. In this review, we will summarize the recent advances regarding the molecular signaling pathways as well as the therapeutic strategies for treating breast cancer lung metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liting Jin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Bingchen Han
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Emily Siegel
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yukun Cui
- Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Armando Giuliano
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Xiaojiang Cui
- Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- CONTACT Xiaojiang Cui Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Davis Building 2065, Los Angeles, CA 90048
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23
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Raafat A, Bargo S, McCurdy D, Callahan R. The ANK repeats of Notch-4/Int3 activate NF-κB canonical pathway in the absence of Rbpj and causes mammary tumorigenesis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:13690. [PMID: 29057904 PMCID: PMC5651869 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13989-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgenic mice expressing the Notch-4 intracellular domain (designated Int3) in the mammary gland have two phenotypes exhibited with 100% penetrance: arrest of mammary alveolar/lobular development and mammary tumorigenesis. Notch-4 signaling is mediated primarily through the interaction of Int3 with the transcription repressor/activator Rbpj. Interestingly, WAP-Int3/Rbpj knockout mice have normal mammary gland development but still developed mammary tumors with a slightly longer latency than the WAP-Int3 mice. Thus, Notch-induced mammary tumor development is Rbpj-independent. Here, we show that Int3 activates NF-κB in HC11 cells in absence of Rbpj through an association with the IKK signalosome. Int3 induced the canonical NF-κB activity and P50 phosphorylation in HC11 cells without altering the NF-κB2 pathway. The minimal domain within the Int3 protein required to activate NF-κB consists of the CDC10/Ankyrin (ANK) repeats domain. Treatment of WAP-Int3 tumor bearing mice with an IKK inhibitor resulted in tumor regression. In a soft agar assay, treatment of HC11-Int3 cells with P50-siRNA caused a significant decrease in colony formation. In addition, Wap-Int3/P50 knockout mice did not develop mammary tumors. This data indicates that the activation of NF-κB canonical signaling by Notch-4/Int3 is ANK repeats dependent, Rbpj-independent, and is mediated by IKK activation and P50 phosphorylation causing mammary tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Raafat
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA.
| | - Sharon Bargo
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - David McCurdy
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Robert Callahan
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
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24
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Dong X, Liao W, Zhang L, Tu X, Hu J, Chen T, Dai X, Xiong Y, Liang W, Ding C, Liu R, Dai J, Wang O, Lu L, Lu X. RSPO2 suppresses colorectal cancer metastasis by counteracting the Wnt5a/Fzd7-driven noncanonical Wnt pathway. Cancer Lett 2017; 402:153-165. [PMID: 28600110 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
R-spondins play critical roles in development, stem cell survival, and tumorigenicity by modulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling; however, the role of R-spondins in noncanonical Wnt signaling regulation remains largely unknown. We demonstrate here that R-spondin 2 (RSPO2) has an inhibitory effect on colorectal cancer (CRC) cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Reduced RSPO2 expression was associated with tumor metastasis and poor survival in CRC patients. The metastasis-suppressive activity of RSPO2 was independent of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway but dependent on the Fzd7-mediated noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway. The physical interaction of RSPO2 and Fzd7 increased the degradation of cell surface Fzd7 via ZNRF3-mediated ubiquitination, which led to the suppression of the downstream PKC/ERK signaling cascade. In late-stage metastatic cancer, Wnt5a promoted CRC cell migration by preventing degradation of Fzd7, and RSPO2 antagonized Wnt5a-driven noncanonical Wnt signaling activation and tumor cell migration by blocking the binding of Wnt5a to the Fzd7 receptor. Our study reveals a novel RSPO2/Wnt5a-competing noncanonical Wnt signaling mechanism that regulates cellular migration and invasion, and our data suggest that secreted RSPO2 protein could serve as a potential therapy for Wnt5a/Fzd7-driven aggressive CRC tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Dong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Wanqin Liao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Li Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Xi Tu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang, 317000, China
| | - Jin Hu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Tianke Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Xiaowei Dai
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Yan Xiong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Weicheng Liang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Chaodong Ding
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Rui Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Juji Dai
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Ouchen Wang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Liting Lu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Xincheng Lu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China.
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25
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Coussy F, Lallemand F, Vacher S, Schnitzler A, Chemlali W, Caly M, Nicolas A, Richon S, Meseure D, El Botty R, De-Plater L, Fuhrmann L, Dubois T, Roman-Roman S, Dangles-Marie V, Marangoni E, Bièche I. Clinical value of R-spondins in triple-negative and metaplastic breast cancers. Br J Cancer 2017; 116:1595-1603. [PMID: 28472820 PMCID: PMC5518860 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2017.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: RSPO ligands, activators of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, are overexpressed in different cancers. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of RSPOs in breast cancer (BC). Methods: Expression of RSPO and markers of various cancer pathways were measured in breast tumours and cell lines by qRT–PCR. The effect of RSPO on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity was determined by luciferase assay, western blotting, and qRT–PCR. The effect of RSPO2 inhibition on proliferation was determined by using RSPO2 siRNAs. The effect of IWR-1, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, was examined on the growth of an RSPO2-positive patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model of metaplastic triple-negative BC. Results: We detected RSPO2 and RSPO4 overexpression levels in BC, particularly in triple-negative BC (TNBC), metaplastic BC, and triple-negative cell lines. Various mechanisms could account for this overexpression: presence of fusion transcripts involving RSPO, and amplification or hypomethylation of RSPO genes. Patients with RSPO2-overexpressing tumours have a poorer metastasis-free survival (P=3.6 × 10−4). RSPO2 and RSPO4 stimulate Wnt/β-catenin pathway activity. Inhibition of RSPO expression in a TN cell line inhibits cell growth, and IWR-1 significantly inhibits the growth of an RSPO2-overexpressing PDX. Conclusions: RSPO overexpression could therefore be a new prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Coussy
- Unit of pharmacogenomics, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - F Lallemand
- Unit of pharmacogenomics, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - S Vacher
- Unit of pharmacogenomics, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - A Schnitzler
- Unit of pharmacogenomics, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - W Chemlali
- Unit of pharmacogenomics, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - M Caly
- Department of Biopathology, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - A Nicolas
- Department of Biopathology, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - S Richon
- CNRS, UMR 144, Research Center, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - D Meseure
- Department of Biopathology, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - R El Botty
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - L De-Plater
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - L Fuhrmann
- Department of Biopathology, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - T Dubois
- Breast Cancer Biology Group, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - S Roman-Roman
- Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - V Dangles-Marie
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France.,Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris 75006, France
| | - E Marangoni
- Laboratory of Preclinical Investigation, Department of Translational Research, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - I Bièche
- Unit of pharmacogenomics, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France.,EA7331, University Paris Descartes, 4 avenue de l'observatoire, Paris 75006, France
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26
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Abstract
Wnt signaling is one of the key cascades regulating development and stemness, and has also been tightly associated with cancer. The role of Wnt signaling in carcinogenesis has most prominently been described for colorectal cancer, but aberrant Wnt signaling is observed in many more cancer entities. Here, we review current insights into novel components of Wnt pathways and describe their impact on cancer development. Furthermore, we highlight expanding functions of Wnt signaling for both solid and liquid tumors. We also describe current findings how Wnt signaling affects maintenance of cancer stem cells, metastasis and immune control. Finally, we provide an overview of current strategies to antagonize Wnt signaling in cancer and challenges that are associated with such approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Zhan
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, Heidelberg University, Department Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - N Rindtorff
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, Heidelberg University, Department Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Boutros
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, Heidelberg University, Department Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
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27
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Abstract
Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), which was discovered as a milk-transmitted, infectious, cancer-inducing agent in the 1930s, has been used as an animal model for the study of retroviral infection and transmission, antiviral immune responses, and breast cancer and lymphoma biology. The main target cells for MMTV infection in vivo are cells of the immune system and mammary epithelial cells. Although the host mounts an immune response to the virus, MMTV has evolved multiple means of evading this response. MMTV causes mammary tumors when the provirus integrates into the mammary epithelial and lymphoid cell genome during viral replication and thereby activates cellular oncogene expression. Thus, tumor induction is a by-product of the infection cycle. A number of important oncogenes have been discovered by carrying out MMTV integration site analysis, some of which may play a role in human breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaquelin P Dudley
- Jaquelin P. Dudley, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Infectious Disease and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. Tatyana V. Golovkina, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Susan R. Ross, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Microbiology in the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Tatyana V Golovkina
- Jaquelin P. Dudley, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Infectious Disease and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. Tatyana V. Golovkina, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Susan R. Ross, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Microbiology in the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Susan R Ross
- Jaquelin P. Dudley, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Infectious Disease and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. Tatyana V. Golovkina, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Susan R. Ross, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Microbiology in the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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28
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Callahan R, Chestnut BA, Raafat A. Original Research: Featured Article: Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) inhibits Notch and c-Myc signaling: Five-day treatment permanently rescues mammary development. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 242:53-67. [PMID: 27550925 DOI: 10.1177/1535370216665175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Wap-Int3 transgenic females expressing the Notch4 intracellular domain (designated Int3) from the whey acidic protein promoter exhibit two phenotypes in the mammary gland: blockage of lobuloalveolar development and lactation, and tumor development with 100% penetrance. Previously, we have shown that treatment of Wap-Int3 tumor bearing mice with Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is associated with complete regression of the tumor. In the present study, we show that treatment of Wap-Int3 mice during day 1 through day 6 of pregnancy with Gleevec leads to the restoration of their lobuloalveolar development and ability to lactate in subsequent pregnancies in absence of Gleevec treatment. In addition, these mice do not develop mammary tumors. We investigated the mechanism for Gleevec regulation of Notch signaling and found that Gleevec treatment results in a loss of Int3 protein but not of Int3 mRNA in HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells expressing Int3. The addition of MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, shows increased ubiquitination of Int3 in the presence of Gleevec. Thus, Gleevec affects the stability of Int3 by promoting the degradation of Int3 via E3 ubiquitin ligases targeting it for the proteasome degradation. Gleevec is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that acts on c-Kit and PDGFR. Therefore, we investigated the downstream substrate kinase GSK3β to ascertain the possible role that this kinase might play in the stability of Int3. Data show that Gleevec degradation of Int3 is GSK3β dependent. We have expanded our study of the effects Gleevec has on tumorigenesis of other oncogenes. We have found that anchorage-independent growth of HC11-c-Myc cells as well as tumor growth in nude mice is inhibited by Gleevec treatment. As with Int3, Gleevec treatment appears to destabilize the c-Myc protein but not mRNA. These results indicate that Gleevec could be a potential therapeutic drug for patients bearing Notch4 and/or c-Myc positive breast carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Callahan
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Barry A Chestnut
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Ahmed Raafat
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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29
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Yan H, Wang S, Li Z, Sun Z, Zan J, Zhao W, Pan Y, Wang Z, Wu M, Zhu J. Rspo2 suppresses CD36-mediated apoptosis in oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced macrophages. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:2945-52. [PMID: 27571704 PMCID: PMC5042761 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced apoptosis of macrophages contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. R-spondin 2 (Rspo2), a member of the cysteine-rich secreted proteins, has been shown to be involved in the oncogenesis of several types of cancer. It has also been found to be abundantly expressed among the four R-spondin members in macrophages. The present study was performed to determine whether Rspo2 is involved in the ox-LDL-induced apoptosis of macrophages. It was identified that Rspo2 inhibited oxLDL-induced apoptosis in the presence of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activator using flow cytometry. In addition, Rspo2 was observed to suppress oxLDL-induced ER stress and reactive oxygen species production as demonstrated by western blotting. Furthermore, analysis of the role of Rspo2 in macrophage lipid uptake identified that Rspo2 negatively regulated the Dil-oxLDL uptake by inhibiting the expression of cluster of differentiation (CD)36, through the transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ. The manipulation of Rspo2 had a direct effect on PPAR-γ nuclear translocation. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that Rspo2 manipulation led to regulation of the direct binding between PPAR-γ and CD36. In conclusion, Rspo2 was found to have a negative regulatory effect during oxLDL-induced macrophage apoptosis by regulating lipid uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yan
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Zhenwei Li
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Zewei Sun
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zan
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Wenting Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Yanyun Pan
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Mingjie Wu
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
| | - Jianhua Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, P.R. China
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30
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Yu QC, Verheyen EM, Zeng YA. Mammary Development and Breast Cancer: A Wnt Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:E65. [PMID: 27420097 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8070065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt pathway has emerged as a key signaling cascade participating in mammary organogenesis and breast oncogenesis. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge of how the pathway regulates stem cells and normal development of the mammary gland, and discuss how its various components contribute to breast carcinoma pathology.
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31
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Hao HX, Jiang X, Cong F. Control of Wnt Receptor Turnover by R-spondin-ZNRF3/RNF43 Signaling Module and Its Dysregulation in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:E54. [PMID: 27338477 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8060054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is frequently found in various cancers, often through mutations of downstream components. Inhibiting β-catenin signaling in tumors with downstream pathway mutations remains challenging, due to a lack of favorable targets. On the other hand, targeting upstream components of the Wnt pathway is rather straightforward. However, it is difficult to identify tumors addicted to autocrine or paracrine Wnt signaling. Discovery of the R-spondin-ZNRF3/RNF43 signaling module and its genetic alterations in cancers represents a breakthrough in this area. Membrane E3 ligase ZNRF3 and RNF43 are critical negative feedback regulators of the Wnt pathway, which function through promoting ubiquitination and degradation of Wnt receptors. R-spondin proteins (RSPO1-4) serve as natural antagonists of ZNRF3/RNF43. To maintain strong and sustained Wnt/β-catenin signaling, cancers need to overcome ZNRF3/RNF43-mediated feedback inhibition. Indeed, mutations of RNF43/ZNRF3 and recurrent translocations of RSPO2/RSPO3 have recently been identified in various cancers. Significantly, genetic alterations in RNF43/ZNRF3/RSPO2/RSPO3 have shown promise as predictive biomarkers in pre-clinical models for the efficacy of upstream Wnt inhibitors. In this review, we will discuss the biology of the R-spondin-ZNRF3/RNF43 signaling module, cancer-associated alterations of this signaling module, and their value as biomarkers to identify Wnt-addicted tumors.
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32
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Wu C, Qiu S, Lu L, Zou J, Li WF, Wang O, Zhao H, Wang H, Tang J, Chen L. RSPO2-LGR5 signaling has tumour-suppressive activity in colorectal cancer. Nat Commun. 2014;5:3149. [PMID: 24476626 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 12/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
R-spondins are a family of secreted Wnt agonists. One of the family members, R-spondin 2 (RSPO2), has an important role in embryonic development, bone formation and myogenic differentiation; however, its role in human cancers remains largely unknown. Here we show that RSPO2 expression is downregulated in human colorectal cancers (CRCs) due to promoter hypermethylation, and that the RSPO2 reduction correlates with tumour differentiation, size and metastasis. Overexpression of RSPO2 suppresses CRC cell proliferation and tumorigenicity, whereas the depletion of RSPO2 enhances tumour cell growth. RSPO2 has an inhibitory effect on Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the CRC cells that show suppressed cell proliferation. In human CRC cells, the RSPO2-induced inhibition of Wnt signaling depends on leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5); RSPO2 interacts with LGR5 to stabilize the membrane-associated zinc and ring finger 3 (ZNRF3). Our data suggest that RSPO2 functions as a tumour suppressor in human CRCs, and these data reveal a RSPO2-induced, LGR5-dependent Wnt signaling-negative feedback loop that exerts a net growth-suppressive effect on CRC cells.
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33
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Zhang S, Han X, Wei B, Fang J, Wei H. RSPO2 enriches LGR5(+) spheroid colon cancer stem cells and promotes its metastasis by epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Am J Transl Res 2016; 8:354-364. [PMID: 27158331 PMCID: PMC4846888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Colon cancer stem cells (CCSCs) account for the tumorigenicity of colon cancer and promote its progression and metastasis. RSPO2, the agonist of canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and serves as the growth factor of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), is considered playing an important role in CCSCs. However, the specific function of RSPO2 in CCSCs remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that RSPO2 was highly expressed in CCSCs-enriched HCT116 spheroid cells. Elevates the concentration of RSPO2 in medium in favor of enriching the LGR5(+) cells and increasing the LGR5 expression in HCT116 spheroid cells, meanwhile silencing of RSPO2 by small interfering RNA inhibits LGR5 expression in HCT116 spheroid cells. In addition, RSPO2 promotes spheres formation but has little effect on the proliferation of HCT116 spheroid cells in vitro. Moreover, RSPO2 also promotes the invasion of HCT116 spheroid cells through enhancing Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). These findings suggests that RSPO2 is a potential growth factor for CCSCs, helps enriching the CCSCs by serum-free DMEM/F12 medium (SFM) culture and plays a vital role in the metastasis of colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Han
- Central Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Bo Wei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Jiafeng Fang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Hongbo Wei
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
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Chartier C, Raval J, Axelrod F, Bond C, Cain J, Dee-Hoskins C, Ma S, Fischer MM, Shah J, Wei J, Ji M, Lam A, Stroud M, Yen WC, Yeung P, Cancilla B, O'Young G, Wang M, Kapoun AM, Lewicki J, Hoey T, Gurney A. Therapeutic Targeting of Tumor-Derived R-Spondin Attenuates β-Catenin Signaling and Tumorigenesis in Multiple Cancer Types. Cancer Res 2015; 76:713-23. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-0561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Sharma AR, Chakraborty C, Lee SS, Sharma G, Yoon JK, George Priya Doss C, Song DK, Nam JS. Computational biophysical, biochemical, and evolutionary signature of human R-spondin family proteins, the member of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Biomed Res Int 2014; 2014:974316. [PMID: 25276837 PMCID: PMC4172882 DOI: 10.1155/2014/974316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In human, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a significant role in cell growth, cell development, and disease pathogenesis. Four human (Rspo)s are known to activate canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Presently, (Rspo)s serve as therapeutic target for several human diseases. Henceforth, basic understanding about the molecular properties of (Rspo)s is essential. We approached this issue by interpreting the biochemical and biophysical properties along with molecular evolution of (Rspo)s thorough computational algorithm methods. Our analysis shows that signal peptide length is roughly similar in (Rspo)s family along with similarity in aa distribution pattern. In Rspo3, four N-glycosylation sites were noted. All members are hydrophilic in nature and showed alike GRAVY values, approximately. Conversely, Rspo3 contains the maximum positively charged residues while Rspo4 includes the lowest. Four highly aligned blocks were recorded through Gblocks. Phylogenetic analysis shows Rspo4 is being rooted with Rspo2 and similarly Rspo3 and Rspo1 have the common point of origin. Through phylogenomics study, we developed a phylogenetic tree of sixty proteins (n = 60) with the orthologs and paralogs seed sequences. Protein-protein network was also illustrated. Results demonstrated in our study may help the future researchers to unfold significant physiological and therapeutic properties of (Rspo)s in various disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Ranjan Sharma
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon 200704, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 200-704, Republic of Korea
| | - Chiranjib Chakraborty
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon 200704, Republic of Korea
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Computer Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida 203201, India
| | - Sang-Soo Lee
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon 200704, Republic of Korea
| | - Garima Sharma
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon 200704, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Kyo Yoon
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medial Center Research Institute, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
| | - C. George Priya Doss
- Medical Biotechnology Division, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 632014, India
| | - Dong-Keun Song
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon 200704, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju-Suk Nam
- Institute for Skeletal Aging & Orthopedic Surgery, Hallym University-Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon 200704, Republic of Korea
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Carmon KS, Gong X, Yi J, Thomas A, Liu Q. RSPO-LGR4 functions via IQGAP1 to potentiate Wnt signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E1221-9. [PMID: 24639526 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1323106111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
R-spondins (RSPOs) and their receptor leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) play pleiotropic roles in normal and cancer development as well as the survival of adult stem cells through potentiation of Wnt signaling. Current evidence indicates that RSPO-LGR4 functions to elevate levels of Wnt receptors through direct inhibition of two membrane-bound E3 ligases (RNF43 and ZNRF3), which otherwise ubiquitinate Wnt receptors for degradation. Whether RSPO-LGR4 is coupled to intracellular signaling proteins to regulate Wnt pathways remains unknown. We identified the intracellular scaffold protein IQ motif containing GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) as an LGR4-interacting protein that mediates RSPO-LGR4's interaction with the Wnt signalosome. IQGAP1 binds to and modulates the activities of a plethora of signaling molecules, including MAP kinases, Rho GTPases, and components of the Wnt signaling pathways. Interaction of LGR4 with IQGAP1 brings RSPO-LGR4 to the Wnt signaling complex through enhanced IQGAP1-DVL interaction following RSPO stimulation. In this configuration, RSPO-LGR4-IQGAP1 potentiates β-catenin-dependent signaling by promoting MEK1/2-medidated phosphorylation of LRP5/6 as well as β-catenin-independent signaling through regulation of actin dynamics. Overall, these findings reveal that RSPO-LGR4 not only induces the clearance of RNF43/ZNRF3 to increase Wnt receptor levels but also recruits IQGAP1 into the Wnt signaling complex, leading to potent and robust potentiation of both the canonical and noncanonical pathways of Wnt signaling.
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Schneider BG, Piazuelo MB, Sicinschi LA, Mera R, Peng DF, Roa JC, Romero-Gallo J, Delgado AG, de Sablet T, Bravo LE, Wilson KT, El-Rifai W, Peek Jr RM, Correa P. Virulence of infecting Helicobacter pylori strains and intensity of mononuclear cell infiltration are associated with levels of DNA hypermethylation in gastric mucosae. Epigenetics 2013; 8:1153-61. [PMID: 24128875 PMCID: PMC3927747 DOI: 10.4161/epi.26072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Revised: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation changes are known to occur in gastric cancers and in premalignant lesions of the gastric mucosae. In order to examine variables associated with methylation levels, we quantitatively evaluated DNA methylation in tumors, non-tumor gastric mucosae, and in gastric biopsies at promoters of 5 genes with methylation alterations that discriminate gastric cancers from non-tumor epithelia (EN1, PCDH10, RSPO2, ZIC1, and ZNF610). Among Colombian subjects at high and low risk for gastric cancer, biopsies from subjects from the high-risk region had significantly higher levels of methylation at these 5 genes than samples from subjects in the low risk region (p ≤ 0.003). When results were stratified by Helicobacter pylori infection status, infection with a cagA positive, vacA s1m1 strain was significantly associated with highest methylation levels, compared with other strains (p = 0.024 to 0.001). More severe gastric inflammation and more advanced precancerous lesions were also associated with higher levels of DNA methylation (p ≤ 0.001). In a multivariate model, location of residence of the subject and the presence of cagA and vacA s1m1 in the H. pylori strain were independent variables associated with higher methylation in all 5 genes. High levels of mononuclear cell infiltration were significantly related to methylation in PCDH10, RSPO2, and ZIC1 genes. These results indicate that for these genes, levels of methylation in precancerous lesions are related to H. pylori virulence, geographic region and measures of chronic inflammation. These genes seem predisposed to sustain significant quantitative changes in DNA methylation at early stages of the gastric precancerous process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara G Schneider
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
| | - M Blanca Piazuelo
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Liviu A Sicinschi
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
- Holmes Regional Medical Center; Melbourne, FL USA
| | - Robertino Mera
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Dun-Fa Peng
- Department of Surgery; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Juan Carlos Roa
- Department of Pathology; School of Medicine; Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile; Santiago, Chile
| | - Judith Romero-Gallo
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Alberto G Delgado
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Thibaut de Sablet
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Luis E Bravo
- Department of Pathology; School of Medicine; Universidad del Valle; Cali, Colombia
| | - Keith T Wilson
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
- Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System and Office of Medical Research; Department of Veterans Affairs; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
- Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Healthcare System and Office of Medical Research; Department of Veterans Affairs; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Richard M Peek Jr
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
| | - Pelayo Correa
- Division of Gastroenterology; Department of Medicine; Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN USA
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Abstract
LGR4 is an R-spondin receptor with strong positive effect on Wnt signaling. It plays a critical role in development as its ablation in the mouse led to total embryonic/neonatal lethality with profound defects in multiple organs. Haplotype insufficiency of LGR4 in human was associated with several diseases, including increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, reduced birth weights, electrolyte imbalance, and decreased levels of testosterone, which are similar to the phenotypes of LGR4-hypomorphic mice. Tissue distribution of LGR4 was extensively analyzed in the mouse using gene-trap reporter enzyme alleles. However, its expression pattern in human tissues remained largely unknown. We have developed LGR4-specific monoclonal antibodies and used them to examine the expression of LGR4 in selected adult human and mouse tissues by immunohistochemical analysis. Intense LGR4-like immunoreactivity was observed in the epidermis and hair follicle of the skin, pancreatic islet cells, and epithelial cells in both the male and female reproductive organs. Of particular interest is that LGR4 is highly expressed in germ cells and pancreatic islet cells, which have important implications given the role of R-spondin-LGR4 signaling in the survival of adult stem cells. In addition, the majority of colon tumors showed elevated levels of LGR4 receptor. Overall, the expression pattern of LGR4 in human tissues mapped by this IHC analysis is similar to that in the mouse as revealed from gene trap alleles. Importantly, the pattern lends strong support to the important role of LGR4 in the development and maintenance of skin, kidney, reproductive systems, and other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yi
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine and Texas Therapeutics Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Wei Xiong
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine and Texas Therapeutics Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Xing Gong
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine and Texas Therapeutics Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Seth Bellister
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lee M. Ellis
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Qingyun Liu
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine and Texas Therapeutics Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Hoekstra EJ, von Oerthel L, van der Heide LP, Kouwenhoven WM, Veenvliet JV, Wever I, Jin YR, Yoon JK, van der Linden AJA, Holstege FCP, Groot Koerkamp MJ, Smidt MP. Lmx1a encodes a rostral set of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic neurons marked by the Wnt/B-catenin signaling activator R-spondin 2. PLoS One 2013; 8:e74049. [PMID: 24066094 PMCID: PMC3774790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in molecular programming of mesodiencephalic dopaminergic (mdDA) neurons have led to the identification of many transcription factors playing a role in mdDA specification. LIM homeodomain transcription factor Lmx1a is essential for chick mdDA development, and for the efficient differentiation of ES-cells towards a dopaminergic phenotype. In this study, we aimed towards a more detailed understanding of the subtle phenotype in Lmx1a-deficient (dreher) mice, by means of gene expression profiling. Transcriptome analysis was performed, to elucidate the exact molecular programming underlying the neuronal deficits after loss of Lmx1a. Subsequent expression analysis on brain sections, confirmed that Nurr1 is regulated by Lmx1a, and additional downstream targets were identified, like Pou4f1, Pbx1, Pitx2, C130021l20Rik, Calb2 and Rspo2. In line with a specific, rostral-lateral (prosomer 2/3) loss of expression of most of these genes during development, Nurr1 and C130021l20Rik were affected in the SNc of the mature mdDA system. Interestingly, this deficit was marked by the complete loss of the Wnt/b-catenin signaling activator Rspo2 in this domain. Subsequent analysis of Rspo2-/- embryos revealed affected mdDA neurons, partially phenocopying the Lmx1a mutant. To conclude, our study revealed that Lmx1a is essential for a rostral-lateral subset of the mdDA neuronal field, where it might serve a critical function in modulating proliferation and differentiation of mdDA progenitors through the regulation of the Wnt activator Rspo2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa J. Hoekstra
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars von Oerthel
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars P. van der Heide
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jesse V. Veenvliet
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iris Wever
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Yong-Ri Jin
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine, United States of America
| | - Jeong K. Yoon
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Maine, United States of America
| | - Annemarie J. A. van der Linden
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank C. P. Holstege
- Molecular Cancer Research, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marten P. Smidt
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Alexander CM, Goel S, Fakhraldeen SA, Kim S. Wnt signaling in mammary glands: plastic cell fates and combinatorial signaling. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2012; 4:cshperspect.a008037. [PMID: 22661590 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a008037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The mouse mammary gland is an outstanding developmental model that exemplifies the activities of many of the effector pathways known to organize mammalian morphogenesis; furthermore, there are well-characterized methods for the specific genetic manipulation of various mammary epithelial cell components. Among these signaling pathways, Wnt signaling has been shown to generate plasticity of fate determination, expanding the genetic programs available to cells in the mammary lineage. It is responsible first for the appearance of the mammary fate in embryonic ectoderm and then for maintaining bi-potential basal stem cells in adult mammary ductal trees. Recent technical developments have led to the separate analysis of various mammary epithelial cell subpopulations, spurring the investigation of Wnt-dependent interactions. Although Wnt signaling was shown to be oncogenic for mouse mammary epithelium even before being identified as the principle oncogenic driver for gut epithelium, conclusive data implicating this pathway as a tumor driver for breast cancer lag behind, and we examine potential reasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Alexander
- McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1599, USA.
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Jin YR, Yoon JK. The R-spondin family of proteins: emerging regulators of WNT signaling. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2012; 44:2278-87. [PMID: 22982762 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2012.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2012] [Revised: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 09/07/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the R-spondin (RSPO) family of proteins has emerged as important regulators of WNT signaling. Considering the wide spectrum of WNT signaling functions in normal biological processes and disease conditions, there has been a significantly growing interest in understanding the functional roles of RSPOs in multiple biological processes and determining the molecular mechanisms by which RSPOs regulate the WNT signaling pathway. Recent advances in the RSPO research field revealed some of the in vivo functions of RSPOs and provided new information regarding the mechanistic roles of RSPO activity in regulation of WNT signaling. Herein, we review recent progress in RSPO research with an emphasis on signaling mechanisms and biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Ri Jin
- Program in Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Maine Medial Center Research Institute, 81 Research Drive, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA
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Gauger KJ, Shimono A, Crisi GM, Schneider SS. Loss of SFRP1 promotes ductal branching in the murine mammary gland. BMC Dev Biol 2012; 12:25. [PMID: 22928951 PMCID: PMC3482146 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-12-25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2012] [Accepted: 08/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Secreted frizzled-related proteins (SFRPs) are a family of proteins that block the Wnt signaling pathway and loss of SFRP1 expression is found in breast cancer along with a multitude of other human cancers. Activated Wnt signaling leads to inappropriate mammary gland development and mammary tumorigenesis in mice. When SFRP1 is knocked down in immortalized non-malignant mammary epithelial cells, the cells exhibit a malignant phenotype which resembles the characteristics observed in metastatic breast cancer stem-like cells. However, the effects of SFRP1 loss on mammary gland development in vivo are yet to be elucidated. The work described here was initiated to investigate the role of SFRP1 in mammary gland development and whether SFRP1-/- mice exhibit changes in mammary gland morphology and cell signaling pathways shown to be associated with SFRP1 loss in vitro. RESULTS 10 week old nulliparous SFRP1-/- mammary glands exhibited branching with clear lobulo-alveolar development, which normally only occurs in hormonally stimulated mid-pregnant wt mammary glands. Explant cultures of SFRP1-/- mammary glands display increased levels of a well known Wnt signaling target gene, Axin2. Histomorphologic evaluation of virgin glands revealed that by 10 weeks of age, the duct profile is markedly altered in SFRP1-/- mice showing a significantly higher density of ducts with distinct alveoli present throughout the mammary gland, and with focal ductal epithelial hyperplasia. These findings persist as the mice age and are evident at 23 weeks of age. Changes in gene expression, including c-Myc, TGFβ-2, Wnt4, RANKL, and Rspo2 early in mammary gland development are consistent with the excessive hyper branching phenotype. Finally, we found that loss of SFRP1 significantly increases the number of mammary epithelial cells capable of mammosphere formation. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that SFRP1 gene is critical for maintaining proper mammary gland development, and that reduced levels of SFRP1 results in hyperplastic lesions and its loss may be a critical event in cancer initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J Gauger
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA 01199, USA.
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Baljinnyam B, Klauzinska M, Saffo S, Callahan R, Rubin JS. Recombinant R-spondin2 and Wnt3a up- and down-regulate novel target genes in C57MG mouse mammary epithelial cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e29455. [PMID: 22238613 PMCID: PMC3251591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
R-spondins (Rspos) comprise a family of four secreted proteins that have important roles in cell proliferation, cell fate determination and organogenesis. Rspos typically exert their effects by potentiating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. To systematically investigate the impact of Rspo/Wnt on gene expression, we performed a microarray analysis using C57MG mouse mammary epithelial cells treated with recombinant Rspo2 and/or Wnt3a. We observed the up- and down-regulation of several previously unidentified target genes, including ones that encode proteins involved in immune responses, effectors of other growth factor signaling pathways and transcription factors. Dozens of these changes were validated by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Time course experiments showed that Rspo2 typically had little or no effect on Wnt-dependent gene expression at 3 or 6 h, but enhanced expression at 24 h, consistent with biochemical data indicating that Rspo2 acts primarily to sustain rather than acutely increase Wnt pathway activation. Up-regulation of gene expression was inhibited by pre-treatment with Dickkopf1, a Wnt/β-catenin pathway antagonist, and by siRNA knockdown of β-catenin expression. While Dickkopf1 blocked Rspo2/Wnt3a-dependent down-regulation, a number of down-regulated genes were not affected by β-catenin knockdown, suggesting that in these instances down-regulation was mediated by a β-catenin-independent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolormaa Baljinnyam
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Malgorzata Klauzinska
- Oncogenetics Section, Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Saad Saffo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert Callahan
- Oncogenetics Section, Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey S. Rubin
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Breast cancer continues to be a serious health problem particularly in developed countries. Of particular concern is triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) which does not respond well to standard hormone therapy and is associated with poor overall patient prognosis. Recent studies indicate that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is particularly activated in TNBC, such that the Wnt receptor frizzled-7 (FZD7) and the Wnt co-receptor LRP6 were found to be up regulated in TNBC. In addition, it has been demonstrated that transcriptional knockdown of LRP6 or FZD7 in TNBC cells suppressed tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, salinomycin, a selective breast cancer stem cell killer, was recently demonstrated to be an inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by inducing LRP6 degradation. Therefore, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and particularly the Wnt receptors on the cell surface may serve as novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taj D. King
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA
| | - Mark J. Suto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA
| | - Yonghe Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drug Discovery Division, Southern Research Institute, 2000 Ninth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA
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