scholarly journals Tumor -Associated MUC1 Regulates TGF-β Signaling and Function in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Author(s):  
Priyanka Grover ◽  
Sritama Nath ◽  
Mukulika Bose ◽  
Alexa J. Sanders ◽  
Cory Brouwer ◽  
...  

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal human cancers. Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) is a cytokine that switches from a tumor-suppressor to a tumor promoter throughout tumor development, by a yet unknown mechanism. Tumor associated MUC1 (tMUC1) is aberrantly glycosylated and overexpressed in >80% of PDAs and is associated with poor prognosis. The cytoplasmic tail of MUC1 (MUC1-CT) interacts with other oncogenic proteins promoting tumor progression and metastasis. We hypothesize that tMUC1 levels regulate TGF-β functions in PDA in vitro and in vivo. We report that high-tMUC1 expression positively correlates to TGF-βRII and negatively to TGF-βRI receptors. In response to TGF-β1, high tMUC1 expressing PDA cells undergo c-Src phosphorylation, and activation of the Erk/MAPK pathway; while low tMUC1 expressing cells activate the Smad2/3 pathway, enhancing cell death. Correspondingly, mice bearing tMUC1-high tumors responded to TGF-β1 neutralizing antibody in vivo showing significantly retarded tumor growth. Analysis of clinical data from TCGA revealed significant alterations in gene-gene correlations in the TGF-β pathway in tMUC1 high versus tMUC1 low samples. This study deepens our understanding of tMUC1-regulated TGF-β’s paradoxical function in PDA and establishes tMUC1 as a potential biomarker to predict response to TGF-β-targeted therapies.

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Zhang ◽  
Xiaonan Hou ◽  
Bradley Evans ◽  
Jamison VanBlaricom ◽  
Saravut Weroha ◽  
...  

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling has pleiotropic functions regulating cancer initiation, development, and metastasis, and also plays important roles in the interaction between stromal and cancer cells, making the pathway a potential therapeutic target. LY2157299 monohydrate (LY), an inhibitor of TGF-β receptor I (TGFBRI), was examined for its ability to inhibit ovarian cancer (OC) growth both in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) cell lines and xenograft models. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western blot were performed to study the effect of LY treatment on expression of cancer- and fibroblast-derived genes. Results showed that exposure to TGF-β1 induced phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3 in all tested OC cell lines, but this induction was suppressed by pretreatment with LY. LY alone inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HGSOC cells in vitro. TGF-β1-induced fibroblast activation was blocked by LY. LY also delayed tumor growth and suppressed ascites formation in vivo. In addition, independent of tumor inhibition, LY reduces ascites formation in vivo. Using OVCAR8 xenograft specimens we confirmed the inhibitory effect of LY on TGF-β signaling and tumor stromal expression of collagen type XI chain 1 (COL11A1) and versican (VCAN). These observations suggest a role for anti-TGF-β signaling-directed therapy in ovarian cancer.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrin J Ciecielski ◽  
Antonio Mulero-Sanchez ◽  
Alexandra Berninger ◽  
Laura Ruiz Canas ◽  
Astrid Bosma ◽  
...  

Mutant KRAS is present in over 90% of pancreatic as well as 30-40% of lung and colorectal cancers and is one of the most common oncogenic drivers. Despite decades of research and the recent emergence of isoform-specific KRASG12C-inhibitors, most mutant KRAS isoforms, including the ones frequently associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), cannot be targeted directly. Moreover, targeting single RAS downstream effectors induces adaptive mechanisms leading to tumor recurrence or resistance. We report here on the combined inhibition of SHP2, a non-receptor tyrosine phosphatase upstream of KRAS, and ERK, a serine/threonine kinase and a key molecule downstream of KRAS in PDAC. This combination shows synergistic anticancer activity in vitro, superior disruption of the MAPK pathway, and significantly increased apoptosis induction compared to single-agent treatments. In vivo, we demonstrate good tolerability and efficacy of the combination. Concurrent inhibition of SHP2 and ERK induces significant tumor regression in multiple PDAC mouse models. Finally, we show evidence that 18F-FDG PET scans can be used to detect and predict early drug responses in animal models. Based on these compelling results, we will investigate this drug combination in a clinical trial (SHERPA, SHP2 and ERK inhibition in pancreatic cancer, NCT04916236), enrolling patients with KRAS-mutant PDAC.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 1928-1938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mian Cheng ◽  
Gang Wu ◽  
Yue Song ◽  
Lin Wang ◽  
Ling Tu ◽  
...  

Backgroud: Myocardial fibrosis results in myocardial remodelling and dysfunction. Celastrol, a traditional oriental medicine, has been suggested to have cardioprotective effects. However, its underlying mechanism is unknown. This study investigated the ability of celastrol to prevent cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction and explored the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Animal and cell models of cardiac fibrosis were used in this study. Myocardial fibrosis was induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice. Cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis were evaluated based on histological and biochemical measurements. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography. The levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), extracellular signal regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signalling were measured using Western blotting, while the expression of miR-21was analyzed by real-time qRT-PCR in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies, cultured cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were treated with TGF-β1 and transfected with microRNA-21(miR21). Results: Celastrol treatment reduced the increased collagen deposition and down-regulated α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptides (BNP), beta-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC), miR-21 and p-ERK/ERK. Cardiac dysfunction was significantly attenuated by celastrol treatment in the TAC mice model. Celastrol treatment reduced myocardial fibroblast viability and collagen content and down-regulated α-SMA in cultured CFs in vitro. Celastrol also inhibited the miR-21/ERK signalling pathway. Celastrol attenuated miR-21 up-regulation by TGF-β1 and decreased elevated p-ERK/ERK levels in CFs transfected with miR-21. Conclusion: MiR-21/ERK signalling could be a potential therapeutic pathway for the prevention of myocardial fibrosis. Celastrol ameliorates myocardial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction, these probably related to miR-21/ERK signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 1445-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonhard X. Heinz ◽  
Barbara Platzer ◽  
Peter M. Reisner ◽  
Almut Jörgl ◽  
Sabine Taschner ◽  
...  

Langerhans cells (LCs) are highly abundant dendritic cells (DCs) in epidermal and mucosal tissues. The transcription factors PU.1 and Id2 have been implicated as positive regulators of LC development from hematopoietic progenitor cells. LC differentiation from progenitors is absolutely dependent on transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) in vitro as well as in vivo; however, downstream mechanisms are poorly defined. We found that both PU.1 and Id2 are induced by TGF-β1 in human CD34+ monocyte/LC (M/LC) progenitor cells, and that neither ectopic PU.1 or Id2 alone, nor both together, could replace TGF-β1 in its instructive function on LC commitment. However, both factors critically contributed to LC differentiation by acting at 2 distinct intersection points. Ectopic PU.1 strongly enhanced TGF-β1-dependent LC development. Additionally, Notch-induced generation of interstitial-type DCs was associated with PU.1 up-regulation. Thus, PU.1 is generally increased during myeloid DC development. Ectopic Id2 inhibits the acquisition of early monocytic characteristics by cells generated in the absence of TGF-β1 and also inhibits monocyte induction by alternative stimuli. Since TGF-β1 represses a default monocyte pathway of common progenitor cells, PU.1 and Id2 seem to modulate lineage options of M/LC precursors, downstream of TGF-β1.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 819
Author(s):  
Garam Choi ◽  
Hyeongjin Na ◽  
Da-Sol Kuen ◽  
Byung-Seok Kim ◽  
Yeonseok Chung

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) is an immunosuppresive cytokine that plays an essential role in immune homeostasis. It is well known that regulatory T (Treg) cells express TGF-β1; however, the role of autocrine TGF-β1 in the development, function, and stability of Treg cells remains poorly understood. We found that Treg cell-derived TGF-β1 was not required for the development of thymic Treg cells in mice, but played a role in the expression of latency-associated peptide and optimal suppression of naïve T cell proliferation in vitro. Moreover, the frequency of Treg cells was significantly reduced in the mesenteric lymph nodes of the Treg cell-specific TGF-β1-deficient mice, which was associated with increased frequency of IFN-γ-producers among Treg cells. TGF-β1-deficient Treg cells were more prone to express IFN-γ than TGF-β1-sufficient Treg cells in a dendritic cell-mediated stimulation in vitro as well as in an adoptive transfer study in vivo. Mechanistically, TGF-β1-deficient Treg cells expressed higher levels of Il12rb2 and were more sensitive to IL-12-induced conversion into IFN-γ-producing Treg cells or IFN-γ-producing exTreg cells than TGF-β1-sufficient Treg cells. Our findings demonstrate that autocrine TGF-β1 plays a critical role in the optimal suppressive activity and stability of Treg cells by downregulating IL-12R on Treg cells.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Er Nie ◽  
Xin Jin ◽  
Faan Miao ◽  
Tianfu Yu ◽  
Tongle Zhi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Our previous studies have indicated that miR-198 reduces cellular methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) levels to enhance temozolomide sensitivity. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) switches off miR-198 expression by repressing K-homology splicing regulatory protein (KSRP) expression in epidermal keratinocytes. However, the underlying role of TGF-β1 in temozolomide resistance has remained unknown. Methods The distribution of KSRP was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Microarray analysis was used to compare the levels of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) between TGF-β1–treated and untreated cells. RNA immunoprecipitation was performed to verify the relationship between RNAs and KSRP. Flow cytometry and orthotopic and subcutaneous xenograft tumor models were used to determine the function of TGF-β1 in temozolomide resistance. Results Overexpression of TGF-β1 contributed to temozolomide resistance in MGMT promoter hypomethylated glioblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo. TGF-β1 treatment reduced cellular MGMT levels through suppressing the expression of miR-198. However, TGF-β1 upregulation did not affect KSRP expression in glioma cells. We identified and characterized 2 lncRNAs (H19 and HOXD-AS2) that were upregulated by TGF-β1 through Smad signaling. H19 and HOXD-AS2 exhibited competitive binding to KSRP and prevented KSRP from binding to primary miR-198, thus decreasing miR-198 expression. HOXD-AS2 or H19 upregulation strongly promoted temozolomide resistance and MGMT expression. Moreover, KSRP depletion abrogated the effects of TGF-β1 and lncRNAs on miR-198 and MGMT. Finally, we found that patients with low levels of TGF-β1 or lncRNA expression benefited from temozolomide therapy. Conclusions Our results reveal an underlying mechanism by which TGF-β1 confers temozolomide resistance. Furthermore, our findings suggest that a novel combination of temozolomide with a TGF-β inhibitor may serve as an effective therapy for glioblastomas.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1924
Author(s):  
Evangelia Konstantinou ◽  
Zoi Zagoriti ◽  
Anastasia Pyriochou ◽  
Konstantinos Poulas

Wound healing constitutes an essential process for all organisms and involves a sequence of three phases. The disruption or elongation of any of these phases can lead to a chronic or non-healing wound. Electrical stimulation accelerates wound healing by mimicking the current that is generated in the skin after any injury. Here, we sought to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in the healing process following in vitro microcurrent stimulation—a type of electrotherapy. Our results concluded that microcurrents promote cell proliferation and migration in an ERK 1/2- or p38-dependent way. Furthermore, microcurrents induce the secretion of transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-β1) in fibroblasts and osteoblast-like cells. Interestingly, transcriptomic analysis uncovered that microcurrents enhance the transcriptional activation of genes implicated in Hedgehog, TGF-β1 and MAPK signaling pathways. Overall, our results demonstrate that microcurrents may enhance wound closure through a combination of signal transductions, via MAPK’s phosphorylation, and the transcriptional activation of specific genes involved in the healing process. These mechanisms should be further examined in vivo, in order to verify the beneficial effects of microcurrents in wound or fracture healing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1985
Author(s):  
Xiaohe Li ◽  
Ling Ma ◽  
Kai Huang ◽  
Yuli Wei ◽  
Shida Long ◽  
...  

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal and age-related pulmonary disease. Nintedanib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and one of the only two listed drugs against IPF. Regorafenib is a novel, orally active, multi-kinase inhibitor that has similar targets to nintedanib and is applied to treat colorectal cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors in patients. In this study, we first identified that regorafenib could alleviate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice. The in vivo experiments indicated that regorafenib suppresses collagen accumulation and myofibroblast activation. Further in vitro mechanism studies showed that regorafenib inhibits the activation and migration of myofibroblasts and extracellular matrix production, mainly through suppressing the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad and non-Smad signaling pathways. In vitro studies have also indicated that regorafenib could augment autophagy in myofibroblasts by suppressing TGF-β1/mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling, and could promote apoptosis in myofibroblasts. In conclusion, regorafenib attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.


1991 ◽  
Vol 173 (5) ◽  
pp. 1121-1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Fava ◽  
N J Olsen ◽  
A E Postlethwaite ◽  
K N Broadley ◽  
J M Davidson ◽  
...  

We have studied the consequences of introducing human recombinant transforming growth factor beta 1 (hrTGF-beta 1) into synovial tissue of the rat, to begin to better understand the significance of the fact that biologically active TGF-beta is found in human arthritic synovial effusions. Within 4-6 h after the intra-articular injection of 1 microgram of hrTGF-beta 1 into rat knee joints, extensive recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was observed. Cytochemistry and high resolution histological techniques were used to quantitate the influx of PMNs, which peaked 6 h post-injection. In a Boyden chamber assay, hrTGF-beta 1 at 1-10 fg/ml elicited a chemotactic response from PMNs greater in magnitude than that evoked by FMLP, establishing that TGF-beta 1 is an effective chemotactic agent for PMNs in vitro as well as in vivo. That PMNs may represent an important source of TGF-beta in inflammatory infiltrates was strongly suggested by a demonstration that stored TGF-beta 1 was secreted during phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated degranulation in vitro. Acid/ethanol extracts of human PMNs assayed by ELISA contained an average of 355 ng of TGF/beta 1 per 10(9) cells potentially available for secretion during degranulation of PMNs. [3H]Thymidine incorporation in vivo and autoradiography of tissue sections revealed that widespread cell proliferation was triggered by TGF-beta 1 injection. Synovial lining cells and cells located deep within the subsynovial connective tissue were identified as sources of at least some of the new cells that contribute to TGF-beta 1-induced hyperplasia. Our results demonstrate that TGF-beta is capable of exerting pathogenic effects on synovial tissue and that PMNs may represent a significant source of the TGF-beta present in synovial effusions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pouriska Kivanany ◽  
Kyle Grose ◽  
Nihan Yonet-Tanyeri ◽  
Sujal Manohar ◽  
Yukta Sunkara ◽  
...  

Background: Corneal stromal cells (keratocytes) are responsible for developing and maintaining normal corneal structure and transparency, and for repairing the tissue after injury. Corneal keratocytes reside between highly aligned collagen lamellae in vivo. In addition to growth factors and other soluble biochemical factors, feedback from the extracellular matrix (ECM) itself has been shown to modulate corneal keratocyte behavior. Methods: In this study, we fabricate aligned collagen substrates using a microfluidics approach and assess their impact on corneal keratocyte morphology, cytoskeletal organization, and patterning after stimulation with platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) or transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ). We also use time-lapse imaging to visualize the dynamic interactions between cells and fibrillar collagen during wound repopulation following an in vitro freeze injury. Results: Significant co-alignment between keratocytes and aligned collagen fibrils was detected, and the degree of cell/ECM co-alignment further increased in the presence of PDGF or TGFβ. Freeze injury produced an area of cell death without disrupting the collagen. High magnification, time-lapse differential interference contrast (DIC) imaging allowed cell movement and subcellular interactions with the underlying collagen fibrils to be directly visualized. Conclusions: With continued development, this experimental model could be an important tool for accessing how the integration of multiple biophysical and biochemical signals regulate corneal keratocyte differentiation.


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