Epidermal growth factor receptor-related protein inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis of BxPC3 pancreatic cancer cells

Dysregulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling network has been frequently reported in pancreatic cancer. Inhibition of EGFR was associated with antitumor effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies of pancreatic cancer. We have previously reported the isolation and characterization of an EGFR-related protein (ERRP), which seems to be a negative regulator of EGFR. In the present investigation, we tested our hypothesis whether recombinant ERRP could be an effective inhibitor of growth of BxPC3 pancreatic cancer cells. Cell growth and apoptosis were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and apoptosis ELISA assay, respectively, in the presence and absence of recombinant ERRP in BxPC3 cells. To evaluate activation of EGFR and its downstream signaling events, levels of phospho-EGFR, phospho-AKT, and phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (phospho-ERK) were determined by Western blot analysis. NF-kappaB activity was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Our data show, for the first time, that ERRP inhibits the growth of BxPC3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The EGF or transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha-induced stimulation of cell growth and activation of EGFR was also inhibited by ERRP. These changes were accompanied by a concomitant attenuation of activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, AKT, and NF-kappaB. ERRP also induced apoptosis as evidenced by increased poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and reduction in procaspase3. From these results, we conclude that ERRP is a potent inhibitor of growth of BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cells, which could be due to attenuation of EGFR cellular signaling processes. We also suggest that ERRP could be a potential therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer.     

Sorcin silencing inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and suppresses breast cancer metastasis in vivo

Sorcin, a 22-kDa calcium-binding protein, renders cancer cells resistant to chemotherapeutic agents, thus playing an important role in multidrug resistance. As there is a clear association between drug resistance and an aggressive phenotype, we asked whether sorcin affects also the motility, invasion, and stem cell characteristics of cancer cells. We have used both RNA interference (transient and stable expression of hairpins) and a lentiviral expression vector to experimentally modulate sorcin expression in a variety of cells. We demonstrate that sorcin depletion in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells reduces the pool of CD44⁺/CD24^? and ALDH1^high cancer stem cells (CSCs) as well as mammosphere-forming capacity. We also observe that sorcin regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition and CSCs partly through E-cadherin and vascular endothelial growth factor expression. This leads to the acquisition of an epithelial-like phenotype, attenuating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and suppression of metastases in nude mice. The sorcin-depleted phenotype can also be reproduced in lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and lung fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells. In addition, overexpression of sorcin in MCF7 cells, which have low endogenous sorcin expression levels, increases their migration and invasion in vitro. This offers the rationale for the development of therapeutic strategies down-regulating sorcin expression for the treatment of cancer.     

Capecitabine inhibits epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells by mediating the RANK/RANKL pathway

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent malignancy globally. Capecitabine is an important form of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. The present study aims to investigate the underlying mechanism of action of the drug in CRC cells. In the present study, 50 pairs of CRC and adjacent normal tissues were collected, and CRC cell lines (SW480, SW620, HT29, LOVO and HCT116) and NCM460 colonic epithelial cells were also purchased and used. Western blotting was used to measure the expression levels of proteins involved in the receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including RANK, RANKL, osteoprotegerin (OPG), E-cadherin, vimentin and N-cadherin. Proliferation and migration were measured using MTT, Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU, Transwell and wound healing assays, respectively. In the present study, it was found that the RANK/RANKL pathway was activated in cancer tissues and cells. Additionally, it was observed that capecitabine treatment reduced the protein expression of RANK, RANKL and OPG in HT29 cells, suggesting that capecitabine has a repressive effect on the RANK/RANKL pathway. Furthermore, functional experiments revealed that the proliferative ability and the EMT process observed in HT29 cells were inhibited after they were treated with capecitabine or transfected with si-RANK. Rescue assays were then performed, which revealed that the promotion of RANK via transfection of cells with 50 nM pcDNA3.1-RANK reversed the inhibitory effects of capecitabine on HT29 cell proliferation and EMT. These findings suggest that the regulatory role of capecitabine is at least partially mediated through the RANK/RANKL pathway in colorectal cancer. The present study demonstrated that capecitabine-induced repression of CRC is exerted by inhibiting the RANK/RANKL pathway, where this new mechanism potentially provides a novel therapeutic target.     

H2AX磷酸化抑制肺癌细胞发生上皮-间质转化的作用机制

背景 与目的:上皮-间质转化(epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition,EMT)是肿瘤细胞发生转移的关键生物学过程,阻碍EMT将抑制肿瘤转移,因此阐明EMT的分子机制具有重要意义.抑癌蛋白H2AX调控肿瘤细胞凋亡相关基因表达,进而产生抗肿瘤作用.揭示H2AX与EMT的关系,探讨H2AX调...     

CTEN在乳腺癌细胞上皮间质转化中的作用与机制研究

目的:探讨CTEN在乳腺癌细胞上皮间质转化中的作用及其分子机制。方法:采用定量PCR及Western blotting检测人乳腺癌MCF-7和MDA-MB-231细胞中CTEN的表达水平;然后用Lipofectamine 2000将CTEN高表达质粒pcmv-CTEN转染至乳腺癌MCF-7细胞,为高表达组,将对照质粒pcmv转染至MCF-7细胞,为对照组,用定量PCR检测两组细胞中CTEN、Snail和EMT标记分子mRNA水平的变化,用Western blotting检测CTEN、Snail和EMT标记分子蛋白水平的变化;应用Lipofectamine 2000将CTEN干扰质粒siCTEN转染至MDA-MB-231细胞,为干扰组,将对照质粒siNC转染至MDA-MB-231细胞,为对照组,分别用定量PCR和Western blotting检测两组细胞中CTEN、Snail和EMT标记分子mRNA及蛋白水平的变化;应用Lipofectamine 2000将Snail干扰质粒siSnail转染至MCF-7细胞,为干扰组,将对照质粒siNC转染至MCF-7细胞,为对照组,分别用定量PCR和Western blotting检测两组细胞中Snail mRNA及蛋白水平的表达情况,然后再将CTEN高表达质粒pcmv-CTEN转染入两组细胞,定量PCR检测CTEN和EMT标记分子mRNA水平的变化,Western blotting检测CTEN和EMT标记分子蛋白水平的变化。结果:CTEN在MDA-MB-231中的表达量高于MCF-7细胞;与对照组相比,高表达CTEN组的MCF-7细胞形态呈纺锥形,Snail表达升高,上皮标记分子E-cadherin表达下降,间质标记分子N-cadherin及Vimentin表达升高,促进EMT的发生;与对照组相比,敲低CTEN组的MDA-MB-231细胞形态呈鹅卵石形,Snail表达下降,上皮标记分子E-cadherin表达上升,间质标记分子N-cadherin及Vimentin表达下降,促进MET的发生;在MCF-7细胞中干扰Snail后再过表达CTEN,其促进EMT的作用明显减弱。结论:CTEN能够诱导乳腺癌细胞发生上皮间质转化,且其可能通过转录因子Snail发挥作用。     

Alternol inhibits migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Such deaths are due, in large part, to its propensity to metastasize. We have examined the effect of alternol on human HCC cells and the underlying molecular mechanism. Therapeutic effects of alternol on cancer cell migration and invasion were analyzed with Boyden chamber and wound healing assays. Effects of alternol on the levels of various proteins involved in cancer cell migration and invasion were determined with gelatin zymography, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. As shown, treatment with alternol has resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell migration and invasion of HepG2 cells. The inhibition of HCC invasion by alternol was associated with the suppression of MMP-9 expression and reversal of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The above results indicated that alternol has the ability to inhibit the migration and invasion of human HCC cells by reversing the process of EMT, suggesting that alternol may be developed as an alternative drug for the treatment of HCC.     

Melatonin inhibits gallbladder cancer cell migration and invasion via ERK-mediated induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Melatonin is a naturally occurring molecule secreted by the pineal gland that exhibits antitumor properties and prevents the development of human cancer. However, little is known regarding the effects of melatonin on gallbladder cancer (GBC) cells. The present study aimed to investigate the role of melatonin on the prevention of GBC cell invasion. The GBC cell line, GBC-SD, was treated with different concentrations of melatonin for different time periods, and the data indicated that melatonin markedly inhibited the invasion of GBC cells. Following treatment of GBC cells with melatonin, the protein levels of the epithelial marker, E-cadherin, significantly increased, while the expression levels of the mesenchymal markers, N-cadherin, Snail and vimentin, notably decreased. In addition, melatonin inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Following treatment of the cells with the ERK activator, tert-Butylhydroquinone, the anti-invasive effects of melatonin were reversed by rescuing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in GBC cells. Taken together, these results suggest that melatonin inhibits GBC invasiveness by blocking the ERK signaling pathway. Thus, melatonin may be used as a potential novel cancer therapeutic drug for the treatment of GBC.     

Disabled-2 downregulation promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

Background:

Metastatic tumour cells are characterised by acquisition of migratory and invasive properties; properties shared by cells, which have undergone epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Disabled-2 (Dab2) is a putative tumour suppressor whose expression has been shown to be downregulated in various cancer types including breast cancer; however, its exact function in suppressing tumour initiation or progression is unclear.

Methods:

Disabled-2 isoform expression was determined by RT–PCR analysis in human normal and breast tumour samples. Using shRNA-mediated technology, Dab2 was stably downregulated in two cell model systems representing nontumourigenic human mammary epithelial cells. These cells were characterised for expression of EMT markers by RT–PCR and western blot analysis.

Results:

Decreased expression of the p96 and p67 isoforms of Dab2 is observed in human breast tumour samples in comparison to normal human breast tissue. Decreased Dab2 expression in normal mammary epithelial cells leads to the appearance of a constitutive EMT phenotype. Disabled-2 downregulation leads to increased Ras/MAPK signalling, which facilitates the establishment of an autocrine transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signalling loop, concomitant with increased expression of the TGFβ2 isoform.

Conclusion:

Loss of Dab2 expression, commonly observed in breast cancer, may facilitate TGFβ-stimulated EMT, and therefore increase the propensity for metastasis.     

MiR-145 regulates cancer stem-like properties and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in lung adenocarcinoma-initiating cells

MicroRNA-145 (MiR-145) is an important regulator of tumorigenesis. Our previous work indicated that miR-145 reduced the proliferation and invasion as well as the tumorosphere growth capacity in lung adenocarcinoma cells. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we reported that the expression level of miR-145 was downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma tissues and negatively correlated with the expression level of Oct4. MiR-145 inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer-initiating cells (LCICs), partially by regulating Oct4 expression. Furthermore, we found that miR-145 exerted repressive effect on cancer stem cell properties and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro, also partially by regulating Oct4. Finally, we confirmed the repressive effect of miR-145 on cancer stem cell properties and EMT in vivo. Taken together, these evidences suggest that miR-145 serves as a tumor suppressor which downregulates LCICs’ cancer stem cell properties and EMT process by targeting Oct4, leading to the inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis.     

奥曲肽逆转人胰腺癌细胞多药耐药机制的初步研究

目的:探讨生长抑素类似物奥曲肽对人胰腺癌细胞BxPC-3多药耐药现象的逆转作用及其机理,为临床应用奥曲肽提高胰腺癌化疗疗效提供实验依据.方法:应用不同浓度的奥曲肽(0-1.6 μg/ml)联合化疗药物顺铂、表阿霉素、氟尿嘧啶、吉西他滨共同处理稳定表达SSTR2的胰腺癌细胞BxPC-3-SSTR2,CCK-8比色法测定奥曲肽处理前后各化疗药物的IC50值,判断奥曲肽对胰腺癌多药耐药的逆转.Real-time PCR法检测SSTR2基因转染前后及奥曲肽处理前后的胰腺癌细胞中MDR1、MRP2、LRP基因表达.结果:奥曲肽可以显著降低顺铂、表阿霉素、氟尿嘧啶和吉西他滨的IC50值(P<0.05),并且这种作用呈剂最依赖性.胰腺癌细胞株BxPC-3在转染SSTR2基因后,细胞中MDR1、MRP2、LRP基因的表达分别下调57%、47%和56%(P<0.01);而转染后的胰腺癌细胞经过1.6 μg/ml奥曲肽作用48h后,其所表达的MDR1、MRP2、LRP基因出现进一步的下调,分别下降88%、73%和87%(P<0.01).结论:生长抑素类似物奥曲肽可逆转胰腺癌细胞的多药耐药,其机制可能与降低胰腺癌细胞中MDR1、MRP、LRP基因的表达,使胰腺癌细胞内细胞毒性药物浓度增加有关.