scholarly journals NRF2-dependent epigenetic regulation can promote the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Jia ◽  
Mohit Kumar Jolly ◽  
Herbert Levine
Keyword(s):  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Stability Factor ◽  
Mesenchymal Phenotype ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Hybrid State ◽  
Regulation Model

AbstractThe epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process critical for wound healing, cancer metastasis and embryonic development. Recent efforts have identified the role of hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal states, having both epithelial and mesehncymal traits, in enabling cancer metastasis and resistance to various therapies. Also, previous work has suggested that NRF2 can act as phenotypic stability factor to help stablize such hybrid states. Here, we incorporate a phenomenological epigenetic feedback effect into our previous computational model for EMT signaling. We show that this type of feedback can stabilize the hybrid state as compared to the fully mesenchymal phenotype if NRF2 can influence SNAIL at an epigenetic level, as this link makes transitions out of hybrid state more difficult. However, epigenetic regulation on other NRF2-related links do not significantly change the EMT dynamics. Finally, we considered possible cell division effects in our epigenetic regulation model, and our results indicate that the degree of epigenetic inheritance does not appear to be a critical factor for the hybrid E/M state stabilizing behavior of NRF2.

scholarly journals Nrf2 regulates collective cancer migration by modulating the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel A Vilchez Mercedes ◽  
Federico Bocci ◽  
Ninghao Zhu ◽  
Herbert Levine ◽  
José N Onuchic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Stability Factor ◽  
Phenotypic Stability ◽  
Interior Region ◽  
Mesenchymal Phenotype ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cancer Migration ◽  
Aggressive Cancer

AbstractHybrid epithelial/mesenchymal cells (E/M) are key players in aggressive cancer metastasis. A challenge is to understand how these cells, which are mostly non-existent in healthy tissue, become stable phenotypes participating collective cancer migration. The transcription factor Nrf2, which is associated with tumor progression and resistance to therapy, appears to be central to this process. Here, using a combined experimental-computational approach, we show that Nrf2 functions as a phenotypic stability factor for hybrid E/M cells by inhibiting a complete epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during collective cancer migration. We demonstrate that Nrf2 and EMT signaling are spatially coordinated near the migrating front. Computational analysis of Nrf2-EMT-Notch network and experimental modulation of Nrf2 by pharmacological treatment and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing reveal that Nrf2 stabilizes a hybrid E/M phenotype maximally observed in the interior region immediately behind the leading edge. We further demonstrate that the Nrf2-EMT-Notch network enhances Dll4 and Jagged1 expression near the leading edge, which correlates with the formation of protruding tips and leader cells. Together, Nrf2 acts as a phenotypic stability factor in restricting complete EMT and coordinating collective cancer migration.

scholarly journals Immunosuppressive traits of the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarthak Sahoo ◽  
Sonali Priyadarshini Nayak ◽  
Kishore Hari ◽  
Susmita Mandal ◽  
Akash Kishore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
M Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Phenotype ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Secondary Tumour

Cancer metastasis remains a primary cause of cancer related mortality. Recent in vitro and in vivo data has indicated the high metastatic fitness of hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) states, i.e. their enhanced abilities to initiate tumours at secondary tumour site. Mechanistic details about how such hybrid E/M cells survive the metastatic cascade remain unclear. Here, we investigate immune-evasive strategies of hybrid E/M states, an issue that to date has been largely unexplored. We construct a minimalistic regulatory network that captures known associations between regulators of EMT (the epithelial mesenchymal transition) and levels of PD-L1, an established suppressor of immune response, and simulated the network's emergent dynamics. Our model recapitulates observations that cells undergoing EMT have increased PD-L1 levels, while reverting EMT can decrease these levels, indicative of a causal link between EMT drivers and PD-L1. Further, we show that hybrid E/M cells can have high levels of PD-L1, similar to those seen in cells with a full EMT phenotype, thus obviating the need for cancer cells to undergo a full EMT to evade the immune system. Finally, we identify various signalling pathways and cellular processes that can independently or in concert affect PD-L1 levels and EMT status. For instance, hybrid E/M cells can gain both immune-evasion and stemness through largely independent paths. Our results underscore another underlying reason for the high metastatic ability of hybrid E/M cells.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Regulation of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in the Cancer Metastatic Cascade: Implications for Cancer Therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiu-Luo Liu ◽  
Maochao Luo ◽  
Canhua Huang ◽  
Hai-Ning Chen ◽  
Zong-Guang Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Metastatic Cascade ◽  
Subsequent Transformation ◽  
Metastatic Cells

Metastasis is the end stage of cancer progression and the direct cause of most cancer-related deaths. The spreading of cancer cells from the primary site to distant organs is a multistep process known as the metastatic cascade, including local invasion, intravasation, survival in the circulation, extravasation, and colonization. Each of these steps is driven by the acquisition of genetic and/or epigenetic alterations within cancer cells, leading to subsequent transformation of metastatic cells. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cellular process mediating the conversion of cell from epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype, and its reverse transformation, termed mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET), together endow metastatic cells with traits needed to generate overt metastases in different scenarios. The dynamic shift between these two phenotypes and their transitional state, termed partial EMT, emphasizes the plasticity of EMT. Recent advances attributed this plasticity to epigenetic regulation, which has implications for the therapeutic targeting of cancer metastasis. In this review, we will discuss the association between epigenetic events and the multifaceted nature of EMT, which may provide insights into the steps of the cancer metastatic cascade.

scholarly journals Numb prevents a complete epithelial–mesenchymal transition by modulating Notch signalling

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (136) ◽  
pp. 20170512 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Bocci ◽  
Mohit K. Jolly ◽  
Satyendra C. Tripathi ◽  
Mitzi Aguilar ◽  
Samir M. Hanash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cluster Formation ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Stability Factor ◽  
Collective Cell Migration ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Cancer Aggressiveness ◽  
Tumour Initiation

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays key roles during embryonic development, wound healing and cancer metastasis. Cells in a partial EMT or hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype exhibit collective cell migration, forming clusters of circulating tumour cells—the primary drivers of metastasis. Activation of cell–cell signalling pathways such as Notch fosters a partial or complete EMT, yet the mechanisms enabling cluster formation remain poorly understood. Using an integrated computational–experimental approach, we examine the role of Numb—an inhibitor of Notch intercellular signalling—in mediating EMT and clusters formation. We show via an mathematical model that Numb inhibits a full EMT by stabilizing a hybrid E/M phenotype. Consistent with this observation, knockdown of Numb in stable hybrid E/M cells H1975 results in a full EMT, thereby showing that Numb acts as a brake for a full EMT and thus behaves as a ‘phenotypic stability factor' by modulating Notch-driven EMT. By generalizing the mathematical model to a multi-cell level, Numb is predicted to alter the balance of hybrid E/M versus mesenchymal cells in clusters, potentially resulting in a higher tumour-initiation ability. Finally, Numb correlates with a worse survival in multiple independent lung and ovarian cancer datasets, hence confirming its relationship with increased cancer aggressiveness.

scholarly journals Systems biology approach suggests new miRNAs as phenotypic stability factors in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (171) ◽  
pp. 20200693
Author(s):  
Daner A. Silveira ◽  
Shantanu Gupta ◽  
José Carlos M. Mombach
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Dose Dependence ◽  
Stability Factor ◽  
Phenotypic Stability ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Hybrid State ◽  
Breast Cells ◽  
Mcf10a Cells ◽  
Phenotypic Transition ◽  
Autocrine Mechanism

The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular programme on which epithelial cells undergo a phenotypic transition to mesenchymal ones acquiring metastatic properties such as mobility and invasion. TGF-β signalling can promote the EMT process. However, the dynamics of the concentration response of TGF-β-induced EMT is not well explained. In this work, we propose a logical model of TGF-β dose dependence of EMT in MCF10A breast cells. The model outcomes agree with experimentally observed phenotypes for the wild-type and perturbed/mutated cases. As important findings of the model, it predicts the coexistence of more than one hybrid state and that the circuit between TWIST1 and miR-129 is involved in their stabilization. Thus, miR-129 should be considered as a phenotypic stability factor. The circuit TWIST1/miR-129 associates with ZEB1-mediated circuits involving miRNAs 200, 1199, 340, and the protein GRHL2 to stabilize the hybrid state. Additionally, we found a possible new autocrine mechanism composed of the circuit involving TGF-β, miR-200, and SNAIL1 that contributes to the stabilization of the mesenchymal state. Therefore, our work can extend our comprehension of TGF-β-induced EMT in MCF10A cells to potentially improve the strategies for breast cancer treatment.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Regulation and Post-Translational Modifications of SNAI1 in Cancer Metastasis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (20) ◽  
pp. 11062
Author(s):  
Bo Dong ◽  
Yadi Wu
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Tumor Metastasis ◽  
Metabolic Regulation ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies

SNAI1, a zinc finger transcription factor, not only acts as the master regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) but also functions as a driver of cancer progression, including cell invasion, survival, immune regulation, stem cell properties, and metabolic regulation. The regulation of SNAI1 occurs at the transcriptional, translational, and predominant post-translational levels including phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination. Here, we discuss the regulation and role of SNAI1 in cancer metastasis, with a particular emphasis on epigenetic regulation and post-translational modifications. Understanding how signaling networks integrate with SNAI1 in cancer progression will shed new light on the mechanism of tumor metastasis and help develop novel therapeutic strategies against cancer metastasis.

scholarly journals A possible role for epigenetic feedback regulation in the dynamics of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Jia ◽  
Abhijeet Deshmukh ◽  
Sendurai A. Mani ◽  
Mohit Kumar Jolly ◽  
Herbert Levine
Keyword(s):  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Feedback Regulation ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Preliminary Experimental Data

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) often plays a critical role in cancer metastasis and chemoresistance, and decoding its dynamics is crucial to design effective therapeutics. EMT is regulated at multiple levels transcriptional, translational, protein stability, and epigenetics; the mechanisms by which epigenetic regulation can alter the dynamics of EMT remain elusive. Here, to identify the possible effects of epigenetic regulation in EMT, we incorporate a feedback term in our previously proposed model of EMT regulation of the miR 200/ZEB/miR 34/SNAIL circuit. This epigenetic feedback that stabilizes long-term transcriptional activity can alter the relative stability and distribution of states in a given cell population, particularly when incorporated in the inhibitory effect on miR 200 from ZEB. This feedback can stabilize the mesenchymal state, thus making transitions out of that state difficult. Conversely, epigenetic regulation of the self activation of ZEB has only minor effects. Our model predicts that this effect could be seen in experiments, when epithelial cells are treated with an external EMT inducing signal for a sufficiently long period of time and then allowed to recover. Our preliminary experimental data indeed shows that a prolonged TGF beta; exposure gives rise to increasing difficult reversion back to the epithelial state. Thus, this integrated theoretical experimental approach yields insights into how an epigenetic feedback may alter the dynamics of EMT.

scholarly journals Oxidized Phospholipids in Tumor Microenvironment Stimulate Tumor Metastasis via Regulation of Autophagy

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 558
Author(s):  
Jin Kyung Seok ◽  
Eun-Hee Hong ◽  
Gabsik Yang ◽  
Hye Eun Lee ◽  
Sin-Eun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Autophagic Flux ◽  
Oxidized Phospholipids ◽  
Mcf7 Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tumor Tissues

Oxidized phospholipids are well known to play physiological and pathological roles in regulating cellular homeostasis and disease progression. However, their role in cancer metastasis has not been entirely understood. In this study, effects of oxidized phosphatidylcholines such as 1-palmitoyl-2-(5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POVPC) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and autophagy were determined in cancer cells by immunoblotting and confocal analysis. Metastasis was analyzed by a scratch wound assay and a transwell migration/invasion assay. The concentrations of POVPC and 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaroyl-sn-glycero-phosphocholine (PGPC) in tumor tissues obtained from patients were measured by LC-MS/MS analysis. POVPC induced EMT, resulting in increase of migration and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and human breast cancer cells (MCF7). POVPC induced autophagic flux through AMPK-mTOR pathway. Pharmacological inhibition or siRNA knockdown of autophagy decreased migration and invasion of POVPC-treated HepG2 and MCF7 cells. POVPC and PGPC levels were greatly increased at stage II of patient-derived intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma tissues. PGPC levels were higher in malignant breast tumor tissues than in adjacent nontumor tissues. The results show that oxidized phosphatidylcholines increase metastatic potential of cancer cells by promoting EMT, mediated through autophagy. These suggest the positive regulatory role of oxidized phospholipids accumulated in tumor microenvironment in the regulation of tumorigenesis and metastasis.

Galectin-3: A factotum in carcinogenesis bestowing an archery for prevention

Tumor Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-96
Author(s):  
T. Jeethy Ram ◽  
Asha Lekshmi ◽  
Thara Somanathan ◽  
K. Sujathan
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Therapy Resistance ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Innovative Strategy ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Galectin 3

Cancer metastasis and therapy resistance are the foremost hurdles in oncology at the moment. This review aims to pinpoint the functional aspects of a unique multifaceted glycosylated molecule in both intracellular and extracellular compartments of a cell namely galectin-3 along with its metastatic potential in different types of cancer. All materials reviewed here were collected through the search engines PubMed, Scopus, and Google scholar. Among the 15 galectins identified, the chimeric gal-3 plays an indispensable role in the differentiation, transformation, and multi-step process of tumor metastasis. It has been implicated in the molecular mechanisms that allow the cancer cells to survive in the intravascular milieu and promote tumor cell extravasation, ultimately leading to metastasis. Gal-3 has also been found to have a pivotal role in immune surveillance and pro-angiogenesis and several studies have pointed out the importance of gal-3 in establishing a resistant phenotype, particularly through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process. Additionally, some recent findings suggest the use of gal-3 inhibitors in overcoming therapeutic resistance. All these reports suggest that the deregulation of these specific lectins at the cellular level could inhibit cancer progression and metastasis. A more systematic study of glycosylation in clinical samples along with the development of selective gal-3 antagonists inhibiting the activity of these molecules at the cellular level offers an innovative strategy for primary cancer prevention.

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