The Slit/Robo System Suppresses Hepatocyte Growth Factor-dependent Invasion and Morphogenesis

The Slit protein acts through the Roundabout receptor as a paracrine chemorepellent in axon guidance and as an inhibitor in leukocyte chemotaxis, but its role in epithelial cell motility and morphogenesis remains largely unexplored. We report that nontransformed epithelial cells and cancerous cells empower the Slit-2/Robo1 signaling system to limit outward migration in response to motogenic attractants and to remain positionally confined within their primitive location. Short hairpin RNA-mediated depletion of SLIT-2 or ectopic expression of a soluble decoy Robo enhance hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced migration, matrix invasion, and tubulogenesis, concomitantly with the up-regulation of Cdc-42 and the down-modulation of Rac-1 activities. Accordingly, autocrine overexpression or exogenous administration of Slit-2 prevent HGF-triggered motile responses, reduce Cdc-42 activation, and stimulate Rac-1. This antimigratory activity of Slit-2 derives from the inhibition of actin-based protrusive forces and from an increased adhesive strength of cadherin-mediated intercellular contacts. These results disclose a novel function for Slit and Robo in the inhibition of growth factor-mediated epithelial cell motility and morphogenesis, invoking a critical role for both molecules as natural antagonists of neoplastic invasive growth.     

Hepatocyte Growth Factor Signaling in Intrapancreatic Ductal Cells Drives Pancreatic Morphogenesis

In a forward genetic screen for regulators of pancreas development in zebrafish, we identified donut^s908, a mutant which exhibits failed outgrowth of the exocrine pancreas. The s908 mutation leads to a leucine to arginine substitution in the ectodomain of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) tyrosine kinase receptor, Met. This missense mutation impedes the proteolytic maturation of the receptor, its trafficking to the plasma membrane, and diminishes the phospho-activation of its kinase domain. Interestingly, during pancreatogenesis, met and its hgf ligands are expressed in pancreatic epithelia and mesenchyme, respectively. Although Met signaling elicits mitogenic and migratory responses in varied contexts, normal proliferation rates in donut mutant pancreata together with dysmorphic, mislocalized ductal cells suggest that met primarily functions motogenically in pancreatic tail formation. Treatment with PI3K and STAT3 inhibitors, but not with MAPK inhibitors, phenocopies the donut pancreatic defect, further indicating that Met signals through migratory pathways during pancreas development. Chimera analyses showed that Met-deficient cells were excluded from the duct, but not acinar, compartment in the pancreatic tail. Conversely, wild-type intrapancreatic duct and “tip cells” at the leading edge of the growing pancreas rescued the donut phenotype. Altogether, these results reveal a novel and essential role for HGF signaling in the intrapancreatic ducts during exocrine morphogenesis.     

Low Dose Geldanamycin Inhibits Hepatocyte Growth Factor- and Hypoxia-Stimulated Invasion of Cancer Cells

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor Met and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathways are commonly activated in aggressive tumors and promote progression. Since both Met and HIF-1α proteins are heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 clients, Hsp90 inhibitors might be expected to positively impact tumor progression. Here, we systematically evaluated the inhibitory effects of the prototypical Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GA) on cellular processes involved in invasion and angiogenesis in T24 bladder cancer cells stimulated with HGF and chemical hypoxia. First, we demonstrated the positive feedback loop between Met and HIF-1 pathways, which serves to sustain and amplifies their signaling in T24 cells. GA down-regulated Met by inhibiting new protein maturation, thereby dampening HGF signaling. HGF and chemical hypoxia with CoCl2 cooperatively promoted in vitro invasion and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, while CoCl2 but not HGF activated urokinase-type plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase 2, both of which promote invasion and angiogenesis. Low dose GA (100 nmol/L) inhibited these processes by suppressing both HGF and HIF-1 pathways. Notably, brief GA pretreatment inhibited in vitro invasion and VEGF secretion induced by HGF as effectively as did continuous treatment. Moreover, we found that GA inhibited activation of focal adhesion kinase, focal adhesion assembly, and actin reorganization induced by HGF and integrin engagement by extracellular matrix. Thus, GA widely suppresses extrinsic stimuli-induced signaling that contribute to tumor invasion and angiogenesis in this bladder carcinoma model, suggesting the utility of Hsp90 inhibitors in preventing tumor progression and metastasis.     

The Erythropoietin/Erythropoietin Receptor Signaling Pathway Promotes Growth and Invasion Abilities in Human Renal Carcinoma Cells

Co-expression of erythropoietin (Epo) and erythropoietin receptor (EpoR) has been found in various non-hematopoietic cancers including hereditary and sporadic renal cell carcinomas (RCC), but the Epo/EpoR autocrine and paracrine mechanisms in tumor progression have not yet been identified. In this study, we used RNA interference method to down-regulate EpoR to investigate the function of Epo/EpoR pathway in human RCC cells. Epo and EpoR co-expressed in primary renal cancer cells and 6 human RCC cell lines. EpoR signaling was constitutionally phosphorylated in primary renal cancer cells, 786-0 and Caki-1 cells, and recombinant human Epo (rhEpo) stimulation had no significant effects on further phosphorylation of EpoR pathway, proliferation, and invasiveness of the cells. Down-regulation of EpoR expression in 786-0 cells by lentivirus-introduced siRNA resulted in inhibition of growth and invasiveness in vitro and in vivo, and promotion of cell apoptosis. In addition, rhEpo stimulation slightly antagonized the anti-tumor effect of Sunitinib on 786-0 cells. Sunitinib could induce more apoptotic cells in 786-0 cells with knockdown EpoR expression. Our results suggested that Epo/EpoR pathway was involved in cell growth, invasion, survival, and sensitivity to the multi-kinases inhibitor Sunitinib in RCC cells.     

Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor Stimulates Ca2+-Activated Membrane K+ Current and Migration of MDCK II Cells

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) stimulates migration of various cells and has been linked via Met tyrosine kinase-signaling to transformation and the metastatic phenotype. Migration of transformed MDCK-F cells depends on activation of a charybdotoxin-sensitive, volume-activated membrane K+ current. Thus, we used patch-clamp electrophysiology and transwell migration assays to determine whether HGF/SF stimulation of MDCK II cell migration depends on the activation of membrane K+ currents. HGF/SF activated a membrane K+ current that increased over 24 hr, and which could be modulated by increasing intracellular calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i. Charybdotoxin (ChTX, 50 nM), iberiotoxin (IbTX, 100 nM), stichodactyla toxin (Stk, 100 nM) and clotrimazole (CLT, 1 mM) all inhibited this current. HGF/SF (100 scatter units/ml) significantly increased MDCK II cell migration over 8 hr compared to control cells. Addition of ChTX (50 nM), IbTX (100 nM), Stk (100 nM) or CLT (1 microM) inhibited the HGF/SF-stimulated MDCK II cell migration. We conclude that the activation of membrane Ca2+-activated K+current is necessary for HGF/SF stimulation of MDCK II cell.     

Regulation of Renal Epithelial Tight Junctions by the von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Gene Involves Occludin and Claudin 1 and Is Independent of E-Cadherin

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) are important in renal development, fibrosis, and cancer. Loss of function of the tumor suppressor VHL leads to many features of EMT, and it has been hypothesized that the pivotal mediator is down-regulation of the adherens junction (AJ) protein E-cadherin. Here we show that VHL loss-of-function also has striking effects on the expression of the tight junction (TJ) components occludin and claudin 1 in vitro in VHL-defective clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) cells and in vivo in VHL-defective sporadic CCRCCs (compared with normal kidney). Occludin is also down-regulated in premalignant foci in kidneys from patients with germline VHL mutations, consistent with a contribution to CCRCC initiation. Reexpression of E-cadherin was sufficient to restore AJ but not TJ assembly, indicating that the TJ defect is independent of E-cadherin down-regulation. Additional experiments show that activation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) contributes to both TJ and AJ abnormalities, thus the VHL/HIF pathway contributes to multiple aspects of the EMT phenotype that are not interdependent. Despite the independent nature of the defects, we show that treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate, which suppresses HIF activation, provides a method for reversing EMT in the context of VHL inactivation.     

Protective Function of von Hippel-Lindau Protein against Impaired Protein Processing in Renal Carcinoma Cells

The absence of functional von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene leads to the development of neoplasias characteristic of VHL disease, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Here, we compared the sensitivity of RCC cells lacking VHL gene function with that of RCC cells expressing the wild-type VHL gene (wtVHL) after exposure to various stresses. While the response to most treatments was not affected by the VHL gene status, glucose deprivation was found to be much more cytotoxic for RCC cells lacking VHL gene function than for wtVHL-expressing cells. The heightened sensitivity of VHL-deficient cells was not attributed to dissimilar energy requirements or to differences in glucose uptake, but more likely reflects a lesser ability of VHL-deficient cells to handle abnormally processed proteins arising from impaired glycosylation. In support of this hypothesis, other treatments which act through different mechanisms to interfere with protein processing (i.e., tunicamycin, brefeldin A, and azetidine) were also found to be much more toxic for VHL-deficient cells. Furthermore, ubiquitination of cellular proteins was elevated in VHL-deficient cells, particularly after glucose deprivation, supporting a role for the VHL gene in ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Accordingly, the rate of elimination of abnormal proteins was lower in cells lacking a functional VHL gene than in wtVHL-expressing cells. Thus, pVHL appears to participate in the elimination of misprocessed proteins, such as those arising in the cell due to the unavailability of glucose or to other stresses.     

hepaCAM和VEGF基因表达与肾透明细胞癌侵袭转移关系的探讨

研究肾癌细胞株786-0,RC-2及肾透明细胞癌组织中肝细胞黏附分子(hepatocyte cell adhesion molecule,hepaC-AM)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)mRNA表达及其与肾透明细胞癌侵袭转移的关系。应用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测786-0、RC-2、正常肾组织hepaCAM和VEGFmRNA表达,73例肾透明细胞癌组织及相应癌旁组织中hepaCAMmRNA表达,43例肾透明细胞癌组织及相应癌旁组织VEGFmRNA表达,并比较它们之间的差异性和相关性。与正常肾组织比较786-0,RC-2的hepaCAMmRNA显著降低(P0.05);VEGFmRNA显著升高(P0.05)。肾透明细胞癌组织hepaCAMmRNA显著低于癌旁组织(P0.05);VEGFmRNA显著高于癌旁组织(P0.05)。在肾透明细胞癌组织中临床Ⅰ+Ⅱ期和Ⅲ+Ⅳ期两组VEGFmRNA表达差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),hepaCAM与VEGFmRNA呈负相关(r=-0.329,P0.05)。提示hepaC-AM基因缺失可能参与肾透明细胞癌侵袭转移,其机制可能与调节VFGF表达改变有关,hepaCAM有望成为一种新的肾癌基因治疗的靶分子。     

携带人肝细胞生长因子重组质粒pUDK-HGF对大鼠肾纤维化的防治作用

目的:研究肝细胞生长因子(HGF)基因转导对庆大霉素诱导的大鼠肾纤维化损伤的防治效果。方法:以雄性Wistar大鼠腹腔注射硫酸庆大霉素注射液制备肾纤维化模型;实验分为正常对照组、肾纤维化模型组、HGF治疗组;造模后第30 d,HGF治疗组于左侧肾脏直接注射重组质粒pUDK-HGF注射液,模型组注射质粒pUDK,正常对照组只进行假手术;于造模后第60 d处死大鼠,评价HGF对血尿素氮、血肌酐、24 h尿蛋白、肾系数等肾功能指标的改善作用,并对肾纤维化进行组织学评价。结果:与正常对照组相比,模型组肾功能下降,肾系数(8.8±0.95 g/kg)、血尿素氮(9.4±2.61 mmol/L)、血肌酐(42±10.33μmol/L,P<0.05)及24 h尿蛋白定量(25.78±8.66 mg,P<0.05)升高;HGF治疗组对肾功能有所改善,可缓解肾纤维化的进展。此外,本实验表明,对已纤维化肾脏直接注射HGF基因,可促进肾间质血管再生,并进一步降低肾小管间质损伤积分。结论:将HGF基因靶向导入大鼠体内可有效防治肾纤维化。     

Cytoplasmic Accumulation of Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K Strongly Promotes Tumor Invasion in Renal Cell Carcinoma Cells

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) K is a part of the ribonucleoprotein complex which regulates diverse biological events. While overexpression of hnRNP K has been shown to be related to tumorigenesis in several cancers, both the expression patterns and biological mechanisms of hnRNP K in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells remain unclear. In this study, we showed that hnRNP K protein was strongly expressed in selected RCC cell lines (ACHN, A498, Caki-1, 786–0), and knock-down of hnRNP K expression by siRNA induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis. Based on immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of hnRNP K expression in human clear cell RCC specimens, we demonstrated that there was a significant positive correlation between hnRNP K staining score and tumor aggressiveness (e.g., Fuhrman grade, metastasis). Particularly, the rate of cytoplasmic localization of hnRNP K in primary RCC with distant metastasis was significantly higher than that in RCC without metastasis. Additionally, our results indicated that the cytoplasmic distribution of hnRNP K induced by TGF-β stimulus mainly contributed to TGF-β-triggered tumor cell invasion in RCC cells. Dominant cytoplasmic expression of ectopic hnRNP K markedly suppressed the inhibition of invasion by knock-down of endogenous hnRNP K. The expression level of matrix metalloproteinase protein-2 was decreased by endogenous hnRNP K knock-down, and restored by ectopic hnRNP K. Therefore, hnRNP K may be a key molecule involved in cell motility in RCC cells, and molecular mechanism associated with the subcellular localization of hnRNP K may be a novel target in the treatment of metastatic RCC.     

MicroRNA-34a通过多向调控促癌基因抑制肾癌细胞生长

目的:探讨microRNA-34a(miR-34a)在肾癌细胞中的生物学作用及调控机制.方法:应用miR-34amimics在体外转染769P,786-O和Caki-1细胞;运用qRT-PCR检测miR-34a在三个细胞株的相对表达情况,以及转染后癌基因mRNA的表达情况;观察miR-34a对细胞生长的影响.结果:769P,786-O和Caki-1细胞中miR-34a在786-O中表达最低,769P次之,Caki-1表达最高;利用miR-34a mimics升高769P,786-O和Caki-1细胞miR-34a,发现三个细胞株多个癌基因mRNA表达不同程度的降低(P＜0.05)及生长和集聚能力的降低.结论:miR-34a可能通过调控多个癌基因表达在肾癌中起抑癌作用.miR-34a mimics可抑制肾癌细胞的生长,因此miR-34a有可能作为肾癌基因治疗的新靶点.     

白藜芦醇苷通过抑制microRNA-21表达抑制肝癌细胞增殖和迁移

原发性肝癌是临床上最常见的恶性肿瘤之一,目前仍在寻找有效的治疗手段. 白藜芦醇苷可抑制肺癌细胞以及大肠癌细胞的增殖,但其在肝癌中的作用及具体作用机制并不清楚. 本文探讨白藜芦醇苷对大鼠肝癌是否具有预防作用,及其对肝癌细胞系增殖和侵袭的影响. 构建大鼠原发性肝癌模型,将其分为正常组、模型组及白藜芦醇苷预防组. 病理检测结果显示,与模型组相比,白藜芦醇苷预防组的肝癌发生率明显降低.检测肝组织中microRNA-21表达情况,结果显示,白藜芦醇苷预防组肝中microRNA-21表达明显降低,并且microRNA-21的靶基因PTEN表达上调.在肝癌细胞系SMMC7721和HepG2中加入白藜芦醇苷,细胞增殖及侵袭能力明显下降,同时伴随microRNA-21表达降低,PTEN表达升高. 这提示,白藜芦醇苷可能通过抑制microRNA-21的表达,抑制肝癌的发生,本文结果为预防原发性肝癌提供了新的理论依据,但其临床疗效还需要进一步验证.     

Anti-apoptotic Role of Caspase-cleaved GAB1 Adaptor Protein in Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor-MET Receptor Protein Signaling

The GRB2-associated binder 1 (GAB1) docking/scaffold protein is a key mediator of the MET-tyrosine kinase receptor activated by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). Activated MET promotes recruitment and tyrosine phosphorylation of GAB1, which in turn recruits multiple proteins and mediates MET signaling leading to cell survival, motility, and morphogenesis. We previously reported that, without its ligand, MET is a functional caspase target during apoptosis, allowing the generation of a p40-MET fragment that amplifies apoptosis. In this study we established that GAB1 is also a functional caspase target by evidencing a caspase-cleaved p35-GAB1 fragment that contains the MET binding domain. GAB1 is cleaved by caspases before MET, and the resulting p35-GAB1 fragment is phosphorylated by MET upon HGF/SF binding and can interact with a subset of GAB1 partners, PI3K, and GRB2 but not with SHP2. This p35-GAB1 fragment favors cell survival by maintaining HGF/SF-induced MET activation of AKT and by hindering p40-MET pro-apoptotic function. These data demonstrate an anti-apoptotic role of caspase-cleaved GAB1 in HGF/SF-MET signaling.     

TGF-β1 Inhibits Growth and Branching Morphogenesis In Embryonic Mouse Submandibular and Sublingual Glands in Vitro

Members of the TGF-β superfamily of polypeptides are key regulators in developmental processes. Several studies have shown that expression of TGF-β mRNA and protein are developmentally regulated and that both are prominently expressed in tissues undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal interactions such as branching morphogenesis. It has been shown that TGF-β1 protein is present in E 14 mouse submandibular glands at a time when branching is already establihsed. Here we demonstrate by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence that both TGF-β1 mRNA and protein are present in E 13 submandibular and sublingual glands at a time when branching is being initiated. Addition of TGF-β1 to E 13 rudiments resulted in reductions in organ size and inhibition of branching. Sensitivity to TGF-β1 depended on the developmental stage of the rudiments (early or late E 13) and the dose of growth factor used. TGF-β1 Also caused epithelial abnormalities, notably treated organs had elongated ducts. The effects were most pronounced in the sublingual gland. Taken together these results suggest a regulatory role for endogenous TGF-β1 in the growth and morphogenesis of mouse salivary glands.     

Selective Activation of Phospholipase Cγ1 and Distinct Protein Kinase C Subspecies in Intracellular Signaling by Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor in Primary Cultured Rat Neocortical Cells

Abstract: Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF) was recently reported to function as a neurotrophic factor in the CNS. To investigate the intracellular signal pathways after activation of the HGF receptor c-Met in primary cultured rat neocortical cells, in vitro kinase assays were performed. HGF stimulation enhances the phosphorylation of endogenous 80- and 45-kDa substrates. Studies with protein kinase inhibitors and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate showed that protein kinase C (PKC) is activated intracellularly. The 80-kDa protein was identified to be the major PKC substrate MARCKS. Although four PKC subspecies, PKCα, PKCε, PKCγ, and PKCλ, were expressed in the cells, only PKCα, PKCε, and PKCγ were selectively translocated in the plasma membrane after HGF stimulation. As expected from these three PKC subspecies, phosphorylation of phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) but not phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase was enhanced, although the stimulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor induced phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. In contrast to the neocortical cells, HGF did not enhance phosphorylation of PLCγ1 in primary astrocytes. We also found that activated PKC(s) served as a major mitogen-activated protein kinase activator in this pathway. These findings suggest that HGF exerts neurotrophic effects through selective phosphorylation of PLCγ1 and activation of distinct PKC subspecies in neocortical cells, most likely neurons.     

肝细胞生长因子基因转染对人淋巴瘤细胞凋亡的影响

探讨肝细胞生长因子（HGF）基因转染人淋巴瘤细胞系Raji细胞后,拮抗足叶乙甙（VP－16）诱导细胞凋亡的研究。将三种细胞：未转染Raji细胞、空载体pVITR02－mcs转染细胞和HGF基因转染细胞,分成正常对照组和经vP－16处理的药物组。采用Westernblot法验证HGF蛋白的表达：CCK－8法检测诱导Raji细胞凋亡的药物浓度;通过透射电镜、流式细胞术、吖啶橙（A0）染色、苏木精咿红（HE）染色等方法观察Raji细胞的凋亡情况,并进行相关分析。结果显示：Westernblot法验证了HGF蛋白质的表达;CCK．8法显示100μg／mL足叶乙甙可明显抑制Raii细胞增殖;透射电镜下可发现典型的凋亡细胞;流式检测结果表明：给药组与正常组相比,三组细胞的凋亡率明显升高（P〈0．01）,提示VP－16具有诱导细胞凋亡的作用：但给药组间：HGF基因转染组凋亡率明显低于未转染组（P＜0．05）和空载体pVITR02．mcs转染组（P〈0．05）,提示嬲F基因转染可明显抑制VP-16诱导的Raji细胞的凋亡,AO染色和HE染色结果也同样提示HGF具有拮抗VP－16诱导的细胞凋亡效应。