Abnormal expression and clinicopathologic significance of p120-catenin in lung cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of p120ctn in human lung squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and its clinicopathologic significance. The expression of p120ctn in tumors and adjacent normal lung tissues from 143 patients was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Expression of p120ctn occurs mainly in the cell membrane of normal bronchial mucosa. Abnormal expression of p120ctn, including cytoplasmic and reduced membranous expression, was found in 114 of 143 specimens (79.7%) and was significantly associated with poor differentiation, high TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05 for each) but not with histologic subtype. The Kaplan-Meier survival test revealed that abnormal expression of p120ctn was related to poor survival (P<0.001). A Cox regression analysis revealed that abnormal p120ctn expression was an independent factor in predicting patient survival (P=0.024). Compared with that in normal lung tissues, membranous protein level was lower in tumors (P=0.003). Abnormal expression of p120ctn is associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis in lung squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Reduced expression or even the absence of p120ctn isoform 1 and 3 in tumor cell membranes may be responsible for the abnormal expression of p120ctn that has been found in lung cancer.     

P120-catenin isoforms 1A and 3A differently affect invasion and proliferation of lung cancer cells

Different isoforms of p120-catenin (p120ctn), a member of the Armadillo gene family, are variably expressed in different tissues as a result of alternative splicing and the use of multiple translation initiation codons. When expressed in cancer cells, these isoforms may confer different properties with respect to cell adhesion and invasion. We have previously reported that the p120ctn isoforms 1 and 3 were the most highly expressed isoforms in normal lung tissues, and their expression level was reduced in lung tumor cells. To precisely define their biological roles, we transfected p120ctn isoforms 1A and 3A into the lung cancer cell lines A549 and NCI-H460. Enhanced expression of p120ctn isoform 1A not only upregulated E-cadherin and β-catenin, but also downregulated the Rac1 activity, and as a result, inhibited the ability of cells to invade. In contrast, overexpression of p120ctn isoform 3A led to the inactivation of Cdc42 and the activation of RhoA, and had a smaller influence on invasion. However, we found that isoform 3A had a greater ability than isoform 1A in both inhibiting the cell cycle and reducing tumor cell proliferation. The present study revealed that p120ctn isoforms 1A and 3A differently regulated the adhesive, proliferative, and invasive properties of lung cancer cells through distinct mechanisms.     

Differential effects of substrate-analogue inhibitors on nitric oxide synthase dimerization

Cigarette smoking has been linked to almost all major types of cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that smoking initiates transformed cell growth and migration by disrupting cell-cell interactions in the polarized mucosal epithelium. Together with other adherens junction proteins, p120-catenin (p120ctn) maintains cell-cell adhesion through its direct interaction with E-cadherin (E-cad). Mislocalization and/or loss of p120ctn have been reported in all lung cancer subtypes and are related to poor prognosis. Here, we showed that p120ctn modulates smoke-induced cell migration via the EGFR/Src-P pathway. Chemical blockade of EGFR/Src signaling inhibited smoke-induced activation of cofilin (an actin severing protein) and promoted cell migration in the presence of p120ctn but had little effect on blocking migration in the absence of p120ctn. These data suggested that smoke-induced cell migration was mediated via an EGFR/Src-dependent signaling pathway in cells that expressed p120ctn, but upon loss of p120ctn, migration continued to occur via an alternative, EGFR/Src-independent pathway. Thus, gradual loss of membrane p120ctn with lung cancer progression may contribute to reduced effectiveness of conventional chemotherapies, such as those directed against EGFR.     

稳定表达p120ctn的人肺腺癌A549细胞株的构建

目的:构建稳定表达p120ctn的A549细胞株,以研究p120ctn蛋白在肺癌发生和转移过程中的作用。方法:通过分子克隆,将pc DNA3.1多克隆位点插入Flag标签的编码序列,得到pc DNA.Flag表达载体。然后PCR扩增p120ctn的编码序列,插入Flag标签下游,构建pc DNA.Flag-p120ctn质粒,筛选阳性克隆并进行酶切及测序鉴定。利用脂质体Lipofectamine 2000将pc DNA.Flag-p120ctn质粒转染到肺癌细胞A549中,通过G418筛选得到稳定转染细胞株,免疫印迹法检测p120ctn的表达。结果:本文构建了融合有Flag标签的p120ctn真核表达载体并转染到A549中,免疫印迹结果表明p120ctn蛋白在A549细胞中高效的表达。结论:本文成功构建了稳定高表达p120ctn的A549细胞模型,为深入研究p120ctn在肺癌的发生和转移过程中的作用奠定了基础。     

p120ctn、Kaiso及matrilysin在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及其意义

目的探讨p120catenin(p120ctn)、Kaiso和matrilysin在非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC)发生发展中的作用。方法采用免疫组织化学法检测98例NSCLC(52例肺鳞状细胞癌和46例肺腺癌)以及16例支气管扩张症组织中p120ctn、Kaiso和matrilysin的表达情况,分析NSCLC中p120ctn、Kaiso和matrilysin与临床病理特征的关系及三者表达的相关性。结果在NSCLC组织和支气管扩张症组织中,p120ctn蛋白异常表达率分别为74.5%、6.3%,两组之间表达率比较有统计学差异(P<0.001);在肺癌细胞、杯状细胞、纤毛细胞、基底细胞中Kaiso蛋白异位表达率分别为63.3%、6.3%、6.3%、37.5%,肺癌细胞与杯状细胞、纤毛细胞表达率比较有统计学差异(P<0.001)。p120ctn蛋白异常表达、matrilysin蛋白细胞质表达均与NSCLC组织学类型密切相关(P<0.05),Kaiso蛋白异位表达与NSCLC分化程度密切相关(P<0.05)。在NSCLC组织中,Kaiso细胞核表达与matrilysin细胞质表达存在显著负相关(r=-0.23,P=0.02)。结论 p120ctn可能通过与Kaiso在胞质内异位表达,解除了Kaiso对靶基因的抑制作用,促进matrilysin的细胞质表达,而参与肺癌的发生发展。     

Early enterocytic differentiation of HT-29 cells: biochemical changes and strength increases of adherens junctions

We have characterized the modulation of cell-cell adhesion and the structure of adherens junctions in the human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cell line that differentiates into enterocytes after glucose substitution for galactose in the medium. We demonstrate that differentiated cells (HT-29 Gal) rapidly established E-cadherin-mediated interactions in aggregation assays. This effect is not due to an increase in E-cadherin expression during this early stage of cell differentiation, but rather results from the maturation of preexisting adherens junctions. These junctions are characterized by the redistribution of E-cadherin to the basolateral membrane and its co-localization with the actin cytoskeleton. Subcellular fractionation studies indicate that actin-associated E-cadherins bind beta-catenin and p120ctn. Furthermore, the p120ctn/E-cadherin association is upregulated. These data reveal a cooperative interaction between p120ctn and E-cadherin that corresponds to mature functional adherens junctions able to initiate tight cell-cell adhesion required for epithelium architecture and further affirm the gatekeeper role of p120ctn.     

The cadherin-catenin complex is expressed alternately with the adenomatous polyposis coli protein during rat incisor amelogenesis.

E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, is expressed in highly specific spatiotemporal patterns throughout metazoan development, notably at sites of embryonic induction. E-cadherin also plays a critical role in regulating cell motility/adhesion, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. We have used the continuously erupting rat incisor as a system for examining the expression of E-cadherin and the associated catenins [alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin (plakoglobin) and p120(ctn)] during amelogenesis. Using immunhistochemical techniques, we observed expression of alpha-catenin and gamma-catenin in ameloblasts throughout amelogenesis. In contrast, expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and p120(ctn) was strong in presecretory, transitional, and reduced stage ameloblasts (Stages I, III, and V) but was dramatically lower in secretory and maturation stage ameloblasts (Stages II and IV). This expression alternates with the expression pattern we previously reported for the adenomatous polyposis coli protein (APC), a tumor suppressor that competes with E-cadherin for binding to beta-catenin. We suggest that alternate expression of APC and the cadherin-catenin complex is critical for the alterations in cell-cell adhesion and other differentiated cellular characteristics, such as cytoskeletal alterations, that are required for the formation of enamel by ameloblasts.     

P42 Ebp1 functions as a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer

Although the short isoform of ErbB3-binding protein 1 (Ebp1), p42 has been considered to be a potent tumor suppressor in a number of human cancers, whether p42 suppresses tumorigenesis of lung cancer cells has never been clarified. In the current study we investigated the tumor suppressor role of p42 in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Our data suggest that the expression level of p42 is inversely correlated with the cancerous properties of NSCLC cells and that ectopic expression of p42 is sufficient to inhibit cell proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, and invasion as well as tumor growth in vivo. Interestingly, p42 suppresses Akt activation and overexpression of a constitutively active form of Akt restores the tumorigenic activity of A549 cells that is ablated by exogenous p42 expression. Thus, we propose that p42 Ebp1 functions as a potent tumor suppressor of NSCLC through interruption of Akt signaling. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(3): 159-165]     

LncRNA CASC2 inhibits proliferation and migration of adenocarcinoma cells via miR-4735-3p and mTOR

Lung adenocarcinoma is a major form of non–small-cell lung cancer that frequently strikes nonsmokers. The disease is often diagnosed at a late stage and the 5-year survival rate is very low. Although previous studies found many somatic alterations associated with lung adenocarcinoma, the molecular basis of the development and progression of the disease is not well understood. We found that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2), a putative tumor suppressor, was downregulated in both patient adenocarcinoma tissues and cultured lung cancer cells. Its tumor suppression function seemed to be dependent on its binding to miR-4735-5p. Changing the levels of CASC2 and miR-4735-3p in the cultured adenocarcinoma cells could affect the malignant phenotypes as well as growth of tumors derived from the cells injected into nude mice. Furthermore, the lncRNA and miR-4735-3p interplay likely the suppressed tumor growth through the downstream mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. The results have revealed molecular details that may be critical for the development of lung adenocarcinoma, opening opportunities for the development of novel, and therapeutic tools.     

Caveolin-1 silencing arrests the proliferation of metastatic lung cancer cells through the inhibition of STAT3 signaling

Cav-1 is an essential structural constituent of caveolae implicated in mitogenic signaling, oncogenesis, angiogenesis, neurodegenerative diseases and senescence. Its role as a tumor suppressor gene or as a tumor promoter seems to strictly depend on cell type and tumor stage/grade. The high expression of Cav-1 in some tumors in vivo, amongst which lung adenocarcinoma, is associated with increased tumor aggressiveness, metastatic potential and suppression of apoptosis. In the present study we investigated the role of Cav-1 in metastatic lung cancer proliferation. Cell lines were from metastatic lesions of lung adenocarcinoma (RAL) and of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC-R1), in which we found Cav-1 expressed at high levels. Results show that siRNA-mediated down-regulation of Cav-1 caused stable arrest of proliferation in both cell lines. A marked reduction of cyclin D1 and of CDK4 expression was evident in the cells transfected with Cav-1 siRNA and consequently of phospho-Rb on ser(795) and ser(780). Furthermore, a significant decrease of the expression of phosphorylated AKT and of its down-stream effectors phosphorylated ERK and STAT3 was evident. Together, these findings indicate that Cav-1 silencing induces an arrest of human metastatic lung proliferation in vitro by a new inhibitory pathway in lung cancer and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pro-survival and tumor-promoting functions of Cav-1.     

miR-497-5p inhibits tumor cell growth and invasion by targeting SOX5 in non–small-cell lung cancer

MicroRNAs plays an important role in the ccurrence and development of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). miR-497-5p has been reported to function as a tumor suppressor in various cancers. However, the role of miR-497-5p in NSCLC remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the biological role and potential molecular mechanism of miR-497-5p in NSCLC. Our results showed that the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of miR-497-5p was notably downregulated in human NSCLC tissues and cell lines. miR-497-5p overexpression remarkably inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation and increased cell apoptosis in A549 and H460 cells, whereas inhibition of miR-497-5p had an opposite effect. The ability of cell migration and invasion was inhibited by miR-497-5p overexpression but was increased by miR-497-5p inhibition. Moreover, our findings indicated that SOX5 was a direct target of miR-497-5p. The protein and mRNA expression levels of SOX5 in A549 cells were remarkably inhibited by miR-497-5p overexpression but was upregulated by miR-497-5p inhibition. Furthermore, SOX5 overexpression notably reversed the effect of miR-497-5p mimic on NSCLC cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell migration, and invasion. Taken together, these results indicated that miR-497-5p overexpression inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis through inhibiting SOX5 gene expression. It was conceivable that miR-497-5p might serve as a potential molecular target for NSCLC treatment.     

Profilin‐1 overexpression inhibits proliferation of MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells partly through p27kip1 upregulation

Profilin‐1 (Pfn1), a ubiquitously expressed actin‐binding protein, has gained interest in epithelial‐derived cancer because of its downregulation in expression in various adenocarcinoma. Pfn1 overexpression impairs tumorigenic ability of human breast cancer xenografts thus suggesting that Pfn1 could be a tumor‐suppressor protein. The objective of the present study was to determine how Pfn1 overexpression affects cell‐cycle progression of breast cancer cells. We show that Pfn1 overexpression in MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cells causes cell‐cycle arrest in G1 phase and dramatically reduced proliferation in culture. Pfn1 overexpression results in increased protein stability of p27^kip1 (p27—a major cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor) and marked elevation in the overall cellular level of p27. Proliferation defect of Pfn1 overexpressers can be partly rescued by silencing p27 expression thus suggesting a critical role of p27 in Pfn1‐induced growth inhibition of MDA‐MB‐231 cells. Finally, Pfn1 overexpression was found to sensitize MDA‐MB‐231 cells to apoptosis in response to cytotoxic stimulus thus suggesting for the first time that survival of breast cancer cells can also be negatively influenced by Pfn1 upregulation. These findings may provide novel insights underlying Pfn1's tumor‐suppressive action. J. Cell. Physiol. 223:623–629, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

miR-183-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer through PIK3CA inhibition

Background

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Previous studies revealed that miR-183-5p is frequently involved in various human cancers. However, the exact role of miR-183-5p in regulating the pathogenesis of lung cancer remains unclear.

Simulated microgravity alters the metastatic potential of a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line

Simulated microgravity (SM) has been implicated in affecting diverse cellular pathways. Although there is emerging evidence that SM can alter cellular functions, its effect in cancer metastasis has not been addressed. Here, we demonstrate that SM inhibits migration, gelatinolytic activity, and cell proliferation of an A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line in vitro. Expression of antigen MKI67 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) was reduced in A549 cells stimulated by clinorotation when compared with the 1×g control condition, while overexpression of each gene improves ability of proliferation and migration, respectively, under SM conditions. These findings suggest that SM reduced the metastatic potential of human lung adenocarcinoma cells by altering the expression of MKI67 and MMP2, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which may provide some clues to study cancer metastasis in the future.     

ID1, inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding, is an effector of the p53-dependent DNA damage response pathway

ID1, inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding, plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. It has been shown that ID1 is de-regulated in multiple cancers and up-regulation of ID1 is correlated with high grades and poor prognosis of human cancers. In contrast, the p53 tumor suppressor was found to be mutated or inactivated in most human cancers and loss of p53 results in early onset of multiple cancers. Although the biological functions of the ID1 oncogene and the p53 tumor suppressor have been intensively investigated, little is known about the upstream regulators of ID1 and the cross-talk between ID1 and p53. Here, we showed that ID1 is down-regulated in cells treated with various DNA damage agents in a p53-dependent manner. Interestingly, we found that DEC1, which was recently identified as a p53 target and mediates p53-dependent cell cycle arrest and senescence, is capable of inhibiting ID1 expression. Conversely, we found that knockdown of DEC1 attenuates DNA damage-induced ID1 repression. In addition, we identified several potential DEC1 responsive elements in the proximal promoter region of the ID1 gene. Moreover, we showed that overexpression of ID1 or ID1', an isoform of ID1, promotes cell proliferation potentially through inhibition of p21 expression. Finally, we found that the extent of DNA damage-induced premature senescence was substantially decreased by overexpression of ID1 or ID1'. Taken together, our study suggests that p53 trans-repressional activity can be mediated by its own target DEC1 and ID1 is an effector of the p53-dependent DNA damage response pathway.