Role of p38γ MAPK in regulation of EMT and cancer stem cells

p38γ is a member of p38 MAPK family which contains four isoforms p38α, p38β, p38γ, and p38δ. p38γ MAPK has unique function and is less investigated. Recent studies revealed that p38γ MAPK may be involved in tumorigenesis and cancer aggressiveness. However, the underlying cellular/molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that epithelial cancer cells transform to facilitate the loss of epithelial features and gain of mesenchymal phenotype. EMT promotes cancer cell progression and metastasis, and is involved in the regulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) which have self-renewal capacity and are resistant to chemotherapy and target therapy. We showed that p38γ MAPK significantly increased EMT in breast cancer cells; over-expression of p38γ MAPK enhanced EMT while its down-regulation inhibited EMT. Meanwhile, p38γ MAPK augmented CSC population while knock down of p38γ MAPK decreased CSC ratio in breast cancer cells. MicroRNA-200b (miR-200b) was down-stream of p38γ MAPK and inhibited by p38γ MAPK; miR-200b mimics blocked p38γ MAPK-induced EMT while miR-200b inhibitors promoted EMT. p38γ MAPK regulated miR-200b through inhibiting GATA3. p38γ MAPK induced GATA3 ubiquitination, leading to its proteasome-dependent degradation. Suz12, a Polycomb group protein, was down-stream of miR-200b and involved in miR-200b regulation of EMT. Thus, our study established an important role of p38γ MAPK in EMT and identified a novel signaling pathway for p38γ MAPK–mediated tumor promotion.     

miR-612 suppresses the stemness of liver cancer via Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Previous research showed that microRNA-612 (miR-612) has inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). AKT2 was confirmed to be a direct target of miR-612, through which the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis of HCC were inhibited. Our present findings reveal that miR-612 is able to suppress the stemness of HCC by reducing the number and size of tumorspheres as well as clone formation in soft agar, and to relieve drug resistance to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. In addition, miR-612 hampered the capacity of tumorigenesis in NOD/SCID mice and redistributed the tumor invasive frontier of miR-612-modulating cells. Finally, our findings suggest that Wnt/β-catenin signaling is required in the regulation of EMT-associated stem cell-like traits by miR-612.     

MicroRNA expression profiling of endocrine sensitive and resistant breast cancer cell lines

BackgroundMicroRNAs (miRs) regulate gene expression through translation inhibition of target mRNAs. One of the most promising approaches for cancer therapy is through mimicking or antagonizing the action of miRs. In this report, we analyzed the miRnome profile of several human breast cancer cell lines to determine the influence of estrogen receptor (ER) silencing previously shown to result in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and enhanced tumor invasion.MethodsMicroRNA extracted from MDA-MB-231 (de novo ER-) and ER-silenced (acquired ER-) pII and IM-26 or ER-expressing (YS1.2) siRNA transfected derivatives of MCF7 cells was deep sequenced on Illumina NextSeq500. Respective miRnomes were compared with edgeR package in R and Venny2.1 and target prediction performed with miRTarBase. Mimics and inhibitors of selected differentially expressed miRs associated with EMT mediators (miR-200c-3p targeting ZEB1, miR-449a targeting δ-catenin and miR-29a-3p) were transfected into pII cells and mRNA targets, as well as E-cadherin and keratin 19 (epithelial and mesenchymal markers respectively) were measured using taqman PCR.ResultsEach cell line expressed about 20% of the total known human miRnome; There was a high degree of similarity between the 3 tested ER-lines. Out of these expressed miRs, 50–60% were significantly differentially expressed between ER- and ER + lines. Transfection of miR-200c-3p mimic into pII cells down regulated ZEB1 and vimentin, and increased E-cadherin and keratin 19 with accompanying morphological changes, and reduced cell motility, reflecting a reversal back into an epithelial phenotype. On the other hand, transfecting pII with miR-449a inhibitor reduced cell invasion but did not induce EMT. Transfecting pII cell line with the mimic or inhibitor of miR-29a-3p showed no change in EMT markers or cell invasion suggesting that the EMT induced by loss of ER function can be reversed by blocking some but not just any random EMT-associated genes.ConclusionsThese data suggest that differences in miR expression can be exploited not only as mediators (using mimics) and targets (using miR antagonists) for general cancer therapies aimed at regulating either individual or multiple mRNAs, but also to re-sensitize endocrine resistant breast cancers by turning them back into a type that will be susceptible to endocrine agents.     

Over-expression of FoxM1 leads to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell phenotype in pancreatic cancer cells

FoxM1 is known to play important role in the development and progression of many malignancies including pancreatic cancer. Studies have shown that the acquisition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype and induction of cancer stem cell (CSC) or cancer stem-like cell phenotypes are highly inter-related, and contributes to drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and metastasis. The molecular mechanism(s) by which FoxM1 contributes to the acquisition of EMT phenotype and induction of CSC self-renewal capacity is poorly understood. Therefore, we established FoxM1 over-expressing pancreatic cancer (AsPC-1) cells, which showed increased cell growth, clonogenicity, and cell migration. Moreover, over-expression of FoxM1 led to the acquisition of EMT phenotype by activation of mesenchymal cell markers, ZEB1, ZEB2, Snail2, E-cadherin, and vimentin, which is consistent with increased sphere-forming (pancreatospheres) capacity and expression of CSC surface markers (CD44 and EpCAM). We also found that over-expression of FoxM1 led to decreased expression of miRNAs (let-7a, let-7b, let-7c, miR-200b, and miR-200c); however, re-expression of miR-200b inhibited the expression of ZEB1, ZEB2, vimentin as well as FoxM1, and induced the expression of E-cadherin, leading to the reversal of EMT phenotype. Finally, we found that genistein, a natural chemo-preventive agent, inhibited cell growth, clonogenicity, cell migration and invasion, EMT phenotype, and formation of pancreatospheres consistent with reduced expression of CD44 and EpCAM. These results suggest, for the first time, that FoxM1 over-expression is responsible for the acquisition of EMT and CSC phenotype, which is in part mediated through the regulation of miR-200b and these processes, could be easily attenuated by genistein.     

SWI/SNF Chromatin-Remodeling Factor Smarcd3/Baf60c Controls Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Inducing Wnt5a Signaling

We previously identified a gene signature predicted to regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in both epithelial tissue stem cells and breast cancer cells. A phenotypic RNA interference (RNAi) screen identified the genes within this 140-gene signature that promoted the conversion of mesenchymal epithelial cell adhesion molecule-negative (EpCAM⁻) breast cancer cells to an epithelial EpCAM^+/high phenotype. The screen identified 10 of the 140 genes whose individual knockdown was sufficient to promote EpCAM and E-cadherin expression. Among these 10 genes, RNAi silencing of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling factor Smarcd3/Baf60c in EpCAM⁻ breast cancer cells gave the most robust transition from the mesenchymal to epithelial phenotype. Conversely, expression of Smarcd3/Baf60c in immortalized human mammary epithelial cells induced an EMT. The mesenchymal-like phenotype promoted by Smarcd3/Baf60c expression resulted in gene expression changes in human mammary epithelial cells similar to that of claudin-low triple-negative breast cancer cells. These mammary epithelial cells expressing Smarcd3/Baf60c had upregulated Wnt5a expression. Inhibition of Wnt5a by either RNAi knockdown or blocking antibody reversed Smarcd3/Baf60c-induced EMT. Thus, Smarcd3/Baf60c epigenetically regulates EMT by activating WNT signaling pathways.     

MicroRNA-10a promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stemness maintenance of pancreatic cancer stem cells via upregulating the Hippo signaling pathway through WWC2 inhibition

MicroRNAs (miRNAs)-mediated cancer stem cells (CSCs) have drawn wide attention. This study aimed to probe the role of miR-10a in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness maintenance of pancreatic CSCs (PCSCs). Differentially expressed miRs and genes in pancreatic cancer (PC) were predicted via an online database, and the miR-10a and WW and C2 domain containing 2 (WWC2) expression were identified via a comparative study in PC and pancreatitis tissues. PCNCs were isolated and identified, and then the functional roles of miR-10a and WWC2 in proliferation, invasion, migration, self-renewal, colony formation abilities, EMT, and stemness maintenance of PCNCs were determined. The effects of miR-10a on tumor growth in vivo were studied by performing a xenograft tumor in nude mice. Consequently, miR-10a was highly expressed while WWC2 was lowly expressed in PC tissues. miR-10a could target WWC2 expression. miR-10a inhibition reduced EMT and stemness maintenance of PCSCs via enhancing WWC2 expression. The in vitro results were reproduced in in vivo studies. miR-10a promoted EMT and stemness maintenance of PCSCs via activating the Hippo signaling pathway. Our study provided evidence that miR-10a inhibition reduced EMT and stemness maintenance of PCSCs via upregulating WWC2 expression and inhibiting the Hippo signaling pathway.     

Tracking the intermediate stages of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in epithelial stem cells and cancer

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an essential developmental program that becomes reactivated in adult tissues to promote the progression of cancer. EMT has been largely studied by examining the beginning epithelial state or the ending mesenchymal state without studying the intermediate stages. Recent studies using trophoblast stem (TS) cells paused in EMT have defined the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms responsible for modulating the intermediate “metastable” stages of EMT. Targeted inactivation of MAP3K4, knockdown of CBP or overexpression of SNAI1 in TS cells induced similar metastable phenotypes. These TS cells exhibited epigenetic changes in the histone acetylation landscape that cause loss of epithelial maintenance while preserving self-renewal and multipotency. A similar phenotype was found in claudin-low breast cancer cells with properties of EMT and stemness. This intersection between EMT and stemness in TS cells and claudin-low metastatic breast cancer demonstrates the usefulness of developmental EMT systems to understand EMT in cancer.Key words: EMT, metastable EMT, TS cells, claudin-low breast cancer, EMT and stemness, epigenetics, MAP3K4, CBP, histone acetylation     

MAP3K4/CBP-regulated H2B acetylation controls epithelial-mesenchymal transition in trophoblast stem cells

Epithelial stem cells self-renew while maintaining multipotency, but the dependence of stem cell properties on maintenance of the epithelial phenotype is unclear. We previously showed that trophoblast stem (TS) cells lacking the protein kinase MAP3K4 maintain properties of both stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we show that MAP3K4 controls the activity of the histone acetyltransferase CBP, and that acetylation of histones H2A and H2B by CBP is required to maintain the epithelial phenotype. Combined loss of MAP3K4/CBP activity represses expression of epithelial genes and causes TS cells to undergo EMT while maintaining their self-renewal and multipotency properties. The expression profile of MAP3K4-deficient TS cells defines an H2B acetylation-regulated gene signature that closely overlaps with that of human breast cancer cells. Taken together, our data define an epigenetic switch that maintains the epithelial phenotype in TS cells and reveals previously unrecognized genes potentially contributing to breast cancer.     

Re-expression of miR-21 contributes to migration and invasion by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition consistent with cancer stem cell characteristics in MCF-7 cells

MiR-21 is known to play an important role in the development and progression, including migration and invasion, of many malignancies including breast cancer. Accumulating evidence suggest that the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype and acquisition of cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics are highly interrelated, and contribute to tumorigenesis, tumor progression, metastasis, and relapse. The molecular mechanisms underlying EMT and CSC characteristics during miR-21 contributes to cell migration and invasion of breast cancer are poorly understood. Therefore, we established miR-21 re-expressing breast cancer MCF-7 (MCF-7/miR-21) cells, which showed increasing cell growth, migration and invasion, self-renewal and clonogenicity. Our data showed that re-expression of miR-21 induced the acquisition of EMT phenotype by activation of mesenchymal cell markers (N-cadherin, Vimentin, α-SMA) and inhibition of epithelial cell marker (E-cadherin) in MCF-7/miR-21 cells, which consistent with increased cell subpopulation expressing CSC surface markers (ALDH1(+) and CD44(+)/CD24(-/low)) and the capacity of sphereforming (mammospheres). Our results demonstrated that re-expression of miR-21 is responsible for migration and invasion by activating the EMT process and enhancing the characteristics of CSCs in MCF-7 cells.