RAC1 activity and intracellular ROS modulate the migratory potential of MCF-7 cells through a NADPH oxidase and NFkappaB-dependent mechanism

In the present study, we demonstrated that changes in Rac1 activity associated with the production of intracellular ROS modulate the migratory properties in MCF-7 and T47D human mammary cell lines. We also described that the NFkappaB pathway exerts a downstream control on the expression of the ROS-dependent cellular migratory potential. These results emphasize the importance of redox balance in the acquisition of malignancy and support previous data sustaining that an oxidative environment predisposes cells to activate signal-transduction pathways actively involved in cellular oncogenesis. Our data also provides evidence that NADPH oxidase could constitute the main source of intracellular ROS in response to changes in Rac1 activity. We suggest that Rac1 plays a role in cellular migration not only limited to its known function in reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, but also as part of the intracellular machinery that controls the redox balance.     

Rac1活化在大肠癌细胞SW480迁移侵袭中的作用

目的研究Racl的活化在大肠癌迁移侵袭中的作用。方法对大肠癌SW480细胞株,分别导入活化的Rac1 L61重组体和对照用质粒;采用配体结合免疫共沉淀法通过Western blot检测细胞中活化Rac1的含量,进一步用。Transwell小室研究具有不同活性Rac1的SW480细胞其迁移及侵袭能力。结果SW480细胞的转染效率高达80%以上,配体结合免疫共沉淀结果显示,转染Rac1 L61重组体后Rac1的活性显著高于对照组;应用Transwell小室对SW480细胞迁移及侵袭能力研究时,发现Rac1活性高的实验组迁移及侵袭的细胞数显著高于对照组(迁移细胞数43±9:22±5, P<0.01;侵袭细胞数73±13:38±1,P<0.01)。结论Rac1的活化在大肠癌迁移侵袭中起重要的作用。     

Extracellular matrix,Rac1 signaling,and estrogen-induced proliferation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Estrogen receptor positive (ER+), estrogen (E) responsive MCF-7 breast cancer cells cultured on the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein laminin (LM), exhibit significantly reduced E-induced proliferation compared with cells cultured on collagen I (Col I) that is not due to a loss of ER. Based on reported differences in integrin-activated pathways on Col I vs. LM, we investigated the potential role of Rac1/c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and downstream regulation of cyclin D1 by E on Col I vs.LM. E-induced proliferation was increased on LM in MCF-7 cells expressing constitutively active Rac1 (CA Rac1) and decreased in dominant negative Rac1-(DN Rac1) expressing cells on Col I. siRNA knockdown established the specificity and requirement for Rac1 activation for E-induced regulation of cyclin D1. More robust c-Jun activation occurred on Col I than on LM and E-induced proliferation was abolished after treatment with a JNK inhibitor. These results provide evidence that Rac1/JNK/c-Jun activation promotes E-induced proliferation on Col I and reduced Rac1/JNK/c-Jun activation on LM contributes significantly to reduced E-induced proliferation in MCF-7 cells on LM. These results identify a novel role for extracellular matrix (ECM)-integrin regulation of Rac1-JNK pathway in E-regulated proliferation in ER+ breast cancer cells. These findings suggest that tumor stromal environment, i.e., ECM composition, may contribute to loss of E regulation in ER+ breast cancers. Defining molecular markers for early identification of ER+ tumors that are ER+ but antiestrogen resistant would allow the design and use of alternative therapies to inhibit tumor growth and improve survival.     

Rac1b siRNA对胃癌AGS细胞中血管生成相关分子表达的影响

目的:研究小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)抑制Rac1b表达后对胃癌AGS细胞血管生成相关分子表达的影响.方法:体外合成针对Rac1b基因的siRNA序列(Rac1b siRNA),脂质体法转染AGS细胞,RT-PCR和Western blotting观察Rac1b siRNA对AGS细胞Rac1b mRNA和蛋白水平表达的影响,ELISA和Western blotting检测缺氧条件下转染Rac1b siRNA后AGS细胞培养上清中VEGF表达水平以及细胞中血管生成相关分子P53、VHL和HIF-1α表达水平的变化.结果:测序证实体外合成的Rac1b siRNA序列正确.Rac1b siRNA转染AGS细胞后,可在mRNA和蛋白水平特异性抑制Rac1b的表达,对其同源分子Rac1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平无影响.Rac1b siRNA可显著抑制AGS细胞培养上清中VEGF的分泌,这种抑制作用在缺氧情况下更为明显.同时,Rae1b siRNA在缺氧情况下可抑制AGS细胞内HIF-1α蛋白的表达、上调p53和VHL蛋白的表达.结论:Rae1b siRNA可抑制胃癌AGS细胞中Rac1b在mRNA和蛋白水平的表达,可能通过调节血管生成相关分子HIF-1α、P53及VHL的表达抑制缺氧情况下AGS细胞VEGF的分泌.     

Inactivation of Rac1 reduces Trastuzumab resistance in PTEN deficient and insulin-like growth factor I receptor overexpressing human breast cancer SKBR3 cells

Drug resistance remains to be a big challenge in applying anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab for treating breast cancer with HER2 overexpression. Amplification of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR) and deletion of tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) are implicated in Trastuzumab resistance, however, the underlying mechanisms have not been clearly defined. Activation of Rac1, a member of Rho GTPase family, is capable of causing cytoskeleton reorganization, regulating gene expression and promoting cell proliferation. To investigate the mechanism of Trastuzumab resistance, PTEN knockdown and IGF-IR overexpressing stable cell lines were generated in HER2 overexpression human breast cancer SKBR3 cells. Rac1 was highly activated in PTEN deficient and IGF-IR overexpressing Trastuzumab-resistant cells in a HER2-independent manner. Inactivation of Rac1 by using a Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 or siRNA knocking down the expression of Tiam1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rac, significantly reduced Trastuzumab resistance in SKBR3 cells. Inhibition of Rac1 had no effect on the levels of phosphor-HER2 and phosphor-Akt, but significantly decreased the levels of cyclin D1 in Trastuzumab-resistant cells. Inhibition of Akt with an Akt inhibitor also significantly reduced Trastuzumab resistance. However, simultaneous inhibition of both Rac1 and Akt resulted in a significantly more decrease of Trastuzumab resistance than inactivation of Rac1 or Akt alone. These results suggest that Rac1 activation is critically involved in Trastuzumab resistance caused by PTEN deletion or IGF-IR overexpression. Simultaneous inhibition of Rac1 and Akt may represent a promising strategy in reducing Trastuzumab resistance in HER2 overexpression breast cancer.     

Dominant-negative Rac increases both inherent and ionizing radiation-induced cell migration in C6 rat glioma cells

Rho-like GTPases, including Cdc42, Rac1 and RhoA, regulate distinct actin cytoskeleton changes required for cell adhesion, migration and invasion. In the present study, we examined the role of Rac signaling in inherent migration, as well as radiation-induced migration, of rat glioma cells. Stable overexpression of dominant-negative Rac1N17 in a C6 rat glioma cell line (C6-RacN17) promoted cell migration, and ionizing radiation further increased this migration. Migration was accompanied by decreased expression of the focal adhesion molecules FAK and paxillin. Focal contacts and actin stress fibers were also reduced in C6-RacN17 cells. Downstream effectors of Rac include JNK and p38 MAP kinases. Irradiation transiently activated p38, JNK and ERK1/2 MAP kinases in C6-RacN17 cells, while p38 and JNK were constitutively activated in C6 control cells. Blocking JNK activity with JNK inhibitor SP600125 inhibited migration, suggesting that the JNK pathway may regulate radiation-induced, as well as inherent, migration of C6-RacN17 cells. Additionally, the radiation-induced migration increase was also inhibited by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAP kinase. However, PD98059, a MEK kinase 1 inhibitor, failed to influence migration. This is the first evidence that suppression of Rac signaling may be involved in invasion or metastasis of glioma cells before and/or after radiotherapy. These data further suggest that radiotherapy for malignant glioma needs to be used with caution because of the potential for therapy-induced cell migration or invasion and that pharmacological inhibition of cell migration and invasion through targeting the Rac signaling pathway may represent a new approach for improving the therapeutic efficacy of radiotherapy for malignant glioma.     

Cullin‐3/KCTD10 E3 complex is essential for Rac1 activation through RhoB degradation in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐positive breast cancer cells

Rho GTPase Rac1 is a central regulator of F‐actin organization and signal transduction to control plasma membrane dynamics and cell proliferation. Dysregulated Rac1 activity is often observed in various cancers including breast cancer and is suggested to be critical for malignancy. Here, we showed that the ubiquitin E3 ligase complex Cullin‐3 (CUL3)/KCTD10 is essential for epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐induced/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐dependent Rac1 activation in HER2‐positive breast cancer cells. EGF‐induced dorsal membrane ruffle formation and cell proliferation that depends on both Rac1 and HER2 were suppressed in CUL3‐ or KCTD10‐depleted cells. Mechanistically, CUL3/KCTD10 ubiquitinated RhoB for degradation, another Rho GTPase that inhibits Rac1 activation at the plasma membrane by suppressing endosome‐to‐plasma membrane traffic of Rac1. In HER2‐positive breast cancers, high expression of Rac1 mRNA significantly correlated with poor prognosis of the patients. This study shows that this novel molecular axis (CUL3/KCTD10/RhoB) positively regulates the activity of Rac1 in HER2‐positive breast cancers, and our findings may lead to new treatment options for HER2‐ and Rac1‐positive breast cancers.     

Rac1‐mediated sustained β4 integrin level develops reattachment ability of breast cancer cells after anchorage loss

Previously, we reported that non‐apoptotic cell death was induced in non‐malignant mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) upon loss of anchorage during 48 h incubation in suspension. In this study, we examined HMECs in suspension at an earlier time point and found that most of them lost attachment ability to substrata when replated, although >80% were alive. This suggested that HMECs lost reattachment ability (RA) prior to cell death upon detachment. Concomitant with the loss of RA, a decrease in the levels of β1 and β4 integrin was observed. In sharp contrast, breast cancer cells retained integrin levels, reattached to substrata, and formed colonies after exposure to anchorage loss as efficiently as those maintained under adherent conditions. Such RA of cancer cells is essential for the metastatic process, especially for establishing adhesion contact with ECM in the secondary organ after systemic circulation. Further analysis suggested that sustained levels of β4 integrin, which was mediated by Rac1, was critical for RA after anchorage loss and lung metastasis of breast cancer cells. In the cancer cells, persistent Rac1 activity enhanced escape of β4 integrin from lysosomal degradation depending on actin‐related protein 2/3 and TBC1D2, a GTPase‐activating protein of Rab7 GTPase. Notably, simultaneous high expression of ITGB4 and RAC1 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. Therefore, β4 integrin and Rac1 are attractive therapeutic targets to eliminate RA in cancer cells, thereby preventing the initial step of colonization at the secondary organ during metastasis.     

Role of Rac1 and Cdc42 in hypoxia induced p53 and von Hippel-Lindau suppression and HIF1alpha activation

Low oxygen tension can influence tumor progression by enhancing angiogenesis, a process that may involve Rho GTPases whose activities have been implicated in tumorigenesis and metastasis. In the present study, we show that hypoxia can increase the mRNA levels and intracellular activities of Rac1 and Cdc42 in a time-dependent manner. The hypoxia-stimulated activities of Rac1 and Cdc42 could be blocked by the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 and the protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitor genistein but were not affected by the p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 or the MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059, suggesting that the hypoxia-mediated signals were through PI3K and PTK. Correlating with the increased activities of Rac1 and Cdc42, the expression of the pro-angiogenesis factors HIF-1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was upregulated by hypoxia, whereas the expression of the tumor suppressors von Hippel-Lindau and p53 was down-regulated. Dominant negative N17Rac1 and N17Cdc42 could upregulate the expression of p53 and pVHL but downregulate that of HIF-1alpha and VEGF under hypoxia. Furthermore, the preconditioned medium from N17Rac1 or N17Cdc42-expressing gastric cancer cells was able to inhibit the proliferation of HUVECs. Our results indicate that PI3K and PTK-mediated activations of Rac1 and Cdc42 are involved in the hypoxia-induced production of angiogenesis-promoting factors and tumor suppressors, and suggest that the Rho family GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 may contribute to the hypoxia-mediated angiogenesis.     

RNA干扰 Rac1基因表达对结直肠癌LoVo细胞骨架和细胞周期的影响

目的:观察Rac1蛋白在结直肠癌细胞中的表达,并分析其与结直肠癌LoVo细胞骨架、细胞周期和细胞凋亡的相关性.方法:Western blotting测定5种结直肠癌细胞株(LoVo,SW480,SW620,SW1116,HT29)中Rac1蛋白的表达;Rac1-shRNA质粒转染LoVo细胞后,激光共聚焦显微镜观察LoVo细胞骨架的变化,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期和细胞凋亡的变化.结果:5种结直肠癌细胞株中均有Rac1蛋白的高表达.Rac1基因沉默后,LoVo细胞中交联状态的F-actin网明显减少且紊乱,G0/G1期细胞比例较对照组显著增加[(74.63 ±4.40)％ vs(56.46 ±3.09)％,P＜0.05],而S期细胞比例较对照组显著减少[(12.87±1.77)％vs(29.66±1.92)％,P＜0.05];Rac1-shRNA转染组LoVo细胞凋亡率较对照组显著增加[(25.31±2.05)％vs(9.38±1.16)％,P＜0.05].结论:RNA沉默Rac1基因的表达影响了LoVo细胞骨架的形成和细胞周期,为以Rac1为靶点治疗结直肠癌提供了实验依据.     

组成活化型Rac1GTP酶通过上调促血小板血成素受体的表达促进白血病细胞的静息

目的:研究Rac1 GTP酶的活化对白血病细胞静息的影响,并探索其机制.方法:构建Rac1组成活化型慢病毒载体,以此感染急性髓系白血病KG-1a细胞,比较感染了组成活化型Rac1的KG-1a (Rac 1-V12-KG-1a)细胞和感染空载体的KG-1a(pCDH-KG-1a)细胞在G0期的比例差异.以Rac1特异性抑制剂NSC23766处理感染后KG-1a细胞,4d后检测两组细胞G0期比例的变化.实时定量PCR检测两组细胞中与细胞周期和细胞静息相关分子的表达.流式细胞术检测小鼠Rac 1GTP酶高度活化的AMLI-ETO9a白血病细胞模型中促血小板生成素受体(myeloproliferative leukemia MPL)-和MPL+细胞群在G0期的比例.结果:感染了组成活化型Rac1的Rac 1-V 12-KG-1a细胞的G0期细胞比例显著高于感染空载体的pCDH-KG-1a细胞的比例[(15.30±0.60)％ vs(11.50±0.17)％,P＜0.05];抑制剂处理KG-1a细胞后,随着抑制剂浓度的增加G0期细胞比例显著下降(P＜0.05).实时定量PCR检测结果显示,周期抑制因子P21、P27、P57的mRNA表达水平在Rac1-V12-KG-1a细胞表达均有不同程度的上调,静息相关调节分子N-Cadherin和MPL mRNA表达水平均显著升高(P＜0.05);流式检测结果显示,MPL+白血病细胞群的比例在G0期显著高于MPL组[(40.3±3.5)％vs (19.05±7.65)％,P＜0.05].结论:白血病细胞中Rac1 GTP酶的活化通过上调MPL等细胞外在调节因子的表达增加休眠期细胞的比例,从而促进白血病细胞维持静息状态.     

罗哌卡因抑制Rac1/JNK1/FAK通路的活化抑制黑色素瘤M21细胞生长、侵袭和迁移

目的:本文旨在探究罗哌卡因(ropivacaine,RPC)对黑色素瘤M21细胞生长,运动和上皮间质形态转换的影响。方法:采用0、0.25、0.5、1 mmol/L剂量罗哌卡因处理M21细胞,将细胞随机分为四组:RPC 0 mmol/L组、RPC 0.25 mmol/L组、RPC 0.5 mmol/L组和RPC 1 mmol/L组进行后续试验。EDU染色检测细胞生长;流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡率;Transwell检测侵袭细胞数;划痕试验检测细胞迁移;显微镜观察上皮间充质转化形态学变化;蛋白免疫印迹检测E-cadherin、Vimentin、N-cadherin、Rac1、JNK1、p-JNK1、FAK、p-FAK蛋白表达水平。结果:结果表明,与RPC 0 mmol/L组相比较,RPC 0.5、1 mmol/L组EDU阳性细胞数显著降低（P＜0.05）,细胞凋亡率显著升高（P＜0.05）,侵袭细胞数显著降低（P＜0.05）,划痕愈合率显著降低（P＜0.05）,上皮间充质转化受到抑制,E-cadherin蛋白表达水平显著升高（P＜0.05）,Vimentin、N-cadherin、Rac1蛋白表达水平显著降低（P＜0.05）,p-JNK1/JNK1、p-FAK/FAK比值显著降低（P＜0.05）。结论:罗哌卡因抑制Rac1/JNK1/FAK通路的活化调节黑色素瘤M21细胞生长,运动和上皮间质形态转换。