Sarcomatoid carcinoma represents a complete phenotype with various pathways of epithelial mesenchymal transition

2013 ◽  
Vol 66 (7) ◽  
pp. 601-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Ohk Sung ◽  
Hannah Choi ◽  
Keun-Woo Lee ◽  
Seok-Hyung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Sarcomatoid Carcinoma ◽  
Phenotypic Markers ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Related Phenotype ◽  
Phenotype Markers

AimsSarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) is considered to be a result of the sarcomatoid change of epithelial carcinoma. However, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in SC has been insufficiently studied.MethodsWe evaluated the expression patterns of EMT-related phenotypic markers with transcription factors in 27 SCs originating from various organs, and we investigated the phenotypic characteristics of SCs classified as complete, incomplete or wild-type. We further analysed correlations between EMT-related phenotype markers and transcription factors.ResultsEpithelial markers (E-cadherin, claudin-3 and claudin-4) were consistently down-regulated, whereas mesenchymal markers (S100A4, α-smooth muscle actin (SMA), vimentin, PDGFRα and β-catenin) were variously expressed except for vimentin. EMT-related transcription factors (SIP1, Snail1, Slug, Twist1, ZEP1 and Oct-4) also showed various expression patterns. The expression patterns of phenotypic markers showed that most SCs (22/27, 81.5%, 95% CI 65.8 to 97.1%) had complete EMT phenotypes, whereas the remaining 5 (18.5%, 95% CI 2.8 to 24.1%) were of incomplete type. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that SCs were clustered into several subgroups by EMT-related protein expression pattern. Twist1 positivity was significantly concordant with α-SMA positivity (κ value: 0.908; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.00, p<0.001, adjusted p<0.001). The EMT phenotypes of SC were simple, with complete phenotype being the predominant form, and the morphological changes of the SCs were also relevant in terms of EMT.ConclusionsSC seems to be an irreversible, permanent change in the EMT phenomenon, with complete EMT phenotypes and various EMT-related pathways being involved in SC.

scholarly journals TGF-β and the Smad Signaling Pathway Support Transcriptomic Reprogramming during Epithelial-Mesenchymal Cell Transition

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 1987-2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Valcourt ◽  
Marcin Kowanetz ◽  
Hideki Niimi ◽  
Carl-Henrik Heldin ◽  
Aristidis Moustakas
Keyword(s):  
Target Genes ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Type I ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Smad Signaling

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to normal tissue patterning and carcinoma invasiveness. We show that transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/activin members, but not bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) members, can induce EMT in normal human and mouse epithelial cells. EMT correlates with the ability of these ligands to induce growth arrest. Ectopic expression of all type I receptors of the TGF-β superfamily establishes that TGF-β but not BMP pathways can elicit EMT. Ectopic Smad2 or Smad3 together with Smad4 enhanced, whereas dominant-negative forms of Smad2, Smad3, or Smad4, and wild-type inhibitory Smad7, blocked TGF-β–induced EMT. Transcriptomic analysis of EMT kinetics identified novel TGF-β target genes with ligand-specific responses. Using a TGF-β type I receptor that cannot activate Smads nor induce EMT, we found that Smad signaling is critical for regulation of all tested gene targets during EMT. One such gene, Id2, whose expression is repressed by TGF-β1 but induced by BMP-7 is critical for regulation of at least one important myoepithelial marker, α-smooth muscle actin, during EMT. Thus, based on ligand-specific responsiveness and evolutionary conservation of the gene expression patterns, we begin deciphering a genetic network downstream of TGF-β and predict functional links to the control of cell proliferation and EMT.

scholarly journals EMT-Inducing Transcription Factors, Drivers of Melanoma Phenotype Switching, and Resistance to Treatment

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqi Tang ◽  
Simon Durand ◽  
Stéphane Dalle ◽  
Julie Caramel
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Neural Crest ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Therapeutic Targeting ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Neural Crest Stem Cell ◽  
Resistance To Treatment ◽  
Phenotype Switching

Transcription factors, extensively described for their role in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT-TFs) in epithelial cells, also display essential functions in the melanocyte lineage. Recent evidence has shown specific expression patterns and functions of these EMT-TFs in neural crest-derived melanoma compared to carcinoma. Herein, we present an update of the specific roles of EMT-TFs in melanocyte differentiation and melanoma progression. As major regulators of phenotype switching between differentiated/proliferative and neural crest stem cell-like/invasive states, these factors appear as major drivers of intra-tumor heterogeneity and resistance to treatment in melanoma, which opens new avenues in terms of therapeutic targeting.

FGF-1 reverts epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by TGF-β1 through MAPK/ERK kinase pathway

2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (2) ◽  
pp. L222-L231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Ramos ◽  
Carina Becerril ◽  
Martha Montaño ◽  
Carolina García-De-Alba ◽  
Remedios Ramírez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Alveolar Epithelial ◽  
Opposite Process ◽  
Kinase Pathway ◽  
Tgf Β1 ◽  
Erk Kinase

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and lethal lung disease characterized by the expansion of the fibroblast/myofibroblast population and aberrant remodeling. However, the origin of mesenchymal cells in this disorder is still under debate. Recent evidence indicates that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced primarily by TGF-β1 plays an important role; however, studies regarding the opposite process, mesenchymal-epithelial transition, are scanty. We have previously shown that fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) inhibits several profibrogenic effects of TGF-β1. In this study, we examined the effects of FGF-1 on TGF-β1-induced EMT. A549 and RLE-6TN (human and rat) alveolar epithelial-like cell lines were stimulated with TGF-β1 for 72 h, and then, in the presence of TGF-β1, were cultured with FGF-1 plus heparin for an additional 48 h. After TGF-β1 treatment, epithelial cells acquired a spindle-like mesenchymal phenotype with a substantial reduction of E-cadherin and cytokeratins and concurrent induction of α-smooth muscle actin measured by real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunocytochemistry. FGF-1 plus heparin reversed these morphological changes and returned the epithelial and mesenchymal markers to control levels. Signaling pathways analyzed by selective pharmacological inhibitors showed that TGF-β1 induces EMT through Smad pathway, while reversion by FGF-1 occurs through MAPK/ERK kinase pathway, resulting in ERK-1 phosphorylation and Smad2 dephosphorylation. These findings indicate that TGF-β1-induced EMT is reversed by FGF-1 and suggest therapeutic approaches to target this process in IPF.

scholarly journals SMAD4 mutations do not preclude epithelial–mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer

Oncogene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Frey ◽  
Antoine Devisme ◽  
Katja Rose ◽  
Monika Schrempp ◽  
Vivien Freihen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Beta ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Human Tumor ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Gene Regulatory

AbstractTransforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily signaling is a prime inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) that foster cancer cell invasion and metastasis, a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Yet, TGFβ signaling is frequently inactivated in human tumor entities including colorectal cancer (CRC) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) with a high proportion of mutations incapacitating SMAD4, which codes for a transcription factor (TF) central to canonical TGFβ and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. Beyond its role in initiating EMT, SMAD4 was reported to crucially contribute to subsequent gene regulatory events during EMT execution. It is therefore widely assumed that SMAD4-mutant (SMAD4mut) cancer cells are unable to undergo EMT. Here, we scrutinized this notion and probed for potential SMAD4-independent EMT execution using SMAD4mut CRC cell lines. We show that SMAD4mut cells exhibit morphological changes, become invasive, and regulate EMT marker genes upon induction of the EMT-TF SNAIL1. Furthermore, SNAIL1-induced EMT in SMAD4mut cells was found to be entirely independent of TGFβ/BMP receptor activity. Global assessment of the SNAIL1-dependent transcriptome confirmed the manifestation of an EMT gene regulatory program in SMAD4mut cells highly related to established EMT signatures. Finally, analyses of human tumor transcriptomes showed that SMAD4 mutations are not underrepresented in mesenchymal tumor samples and that expression patterns of EMT-associated genes are similar in SMAD4mut and SMAD4 wild-type (SMAD4wt) cases. Altogether, our findings suggest that alternative TFs take over the gene regulatory functions of SMAD4 downstream of EMT-TFs, arguing for considerable plasticity of gene regulatory networks operating in EMT execution. Further, they establish that EMT is not categorically precluded in SMAD4mut tumors, which is relevant for their diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation.

scholarly journals Role of Decorin in Posterior Capsule Opacification and Eye Lens Development

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 863
Author(s):  
Shinsuke Shibata ◽  
Naoko Shibata ◽  
Satoshi Ohtsuka ◽  
Yasuo Yoshitomi ◽  
Etsuko Kiyokawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Smooth Muscle Actin ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Posterior Capsule Opacification ◽  
Posterior Capsule ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Mouse Lens

Decorin (DCN) is involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs) has been proposed as a major cause for the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery. We investigated the plausible target gene(s) that suppress PCO. The expression of Dcn was significantly upregulated in rat PCO tissues compared to that observed in the control using a microarray-based approach. LECs treated with fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 displayed an enhanced level of DCN expression, while LECs treated with transforming growth factor (TGF)β-2 showed a decrease in DCN expression. The expression of tropomyosin 1 (Tpm1), a marker of lens EMT increased after the addition of TGFβ-2 in human LEC; however, upregulation of Tpm1 mRNA or protein expression was reduced in human LECs overexpressing human DCN (hDCN). No phenotypic changes were observed in the lenses of 8- and 48-week-old transgenic mice for lens-specific hDCN (hDCN-Tg). Injury-induced EMT of the mouse lens, and the expression patterns of α smooth muscle actin, were attenuated in hDCN-Tg mice lenses. Overexpression of DCN inhibited the TGFβ-2-induced upregulation of Tpm1 and EMT observed during wound healing of the lens, but it did not affect mouse lens morphology until 48 weeks of age. Our findings demonstrate that DCN plays a significant role in regulating EMT formation of LECs and PCO, and suggest that for therapeutic intervention, maintenance of physiological expression of DCN is essential to attenuate EMT progression and PCO formation.

scholarly journals Distinct Ring1b complexes defined by DEAD-box helicases and EMT transcription factors synergistically enhance E-cadherin silencing in breast cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yawei Wang ◽  
Yingying Sun ◽  
Chao Shang ◽  
Lili Chen ◽  
Hongyu Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanism ◽  
Regulation Mechanism ◽  
Rna Helicases ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Dead Box ◽  
E Cadherin

AbstractRing1b is a core subunit of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) and is essential in several high-risk cancers. However, the epigenetic mechanism of Ring1b underlying breast cancer malignancy is poorly understood. In this study, we showed increased expression of Ring1b promoted metastasis by weakening cell–cell adhesions of breast cancer cells. We confirmed that Ring1b could downregulate E-cadherin and contributed to an epigenetic rewiring via PRC1-dependent function by forming distinct complexes with DEAD-box RNA helicases (DDXs) or epithelial-mesenchymal transition transcription factors (EMT TFs) on site-specific loci of E-cadherin promoter. DDXs-Ring1b complexes moderately inhibited E-cadherin, which resulted in an early hybrid EMT state of epithelial cells, and EMT TFs-Ring1b complexes cooperated with DDXs-Ring1b complexes to further repress E-cadherin in mesenchymal-like cancer cells. Clinically, high expression of Ring1b with DDXs or EMT TFs predicted low levels of E-cadherin, metastatic behavior, and poor prognosis. These findings provide an epigenetic regulation mechanism of Ring1b complexes in E-cadherin expression. Ring1b complexes may be potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in invasion breast cancer.

scholarly journals Cbl-transforming Variants Trigger a Cascade of Molecular Alterations That Lead to Epithelial Mesenchymal Conversion

2000 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 3397-3410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya M. Fournier ◽  
Louie Lamorte ◽  
Christiane R. Maroun ◽  
Mark Lupher ◽  
Hamid Band ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth Factor ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Cell Spreading ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Src Homology ◽  
Hepatocyte Growth

Dispersal of epithelial cells is an important aspect of tumorigenesis, and invasion. Factors such as hepatocyte growth factor induce the breakdown of cell junctions and promote cell spreading and the dispersal of colonies of epithelial cells, providing a model system to investigate the biochemical signals that regulate these events. Multiple signaling proteins are phosphorylated in epithelial cells during hepatocyte growth factor–induced cell dispersal, including c-Cbl, a protooncogene docking protein with ubiquitin ligase activity. We have examined the role of c-Cbl and a transforming variant (70z-Cbl) in epithelial cell dispersal. We show that the expression of 70z-Cbl in Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells resulted in the breakdown of cell–cell contacts and alterations in cell morphology characteristic of epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Structure–function studies revealed that the amino-terminal portion of c-Cbl, which corresponds to the Cbl phosphotyrosine-binding/Src homology domain 2 , is sufficient to promote the morphological changes in cell shape. Moreover, a point mutation at Gly-306 abrogates the ability of the Cbl Src homology domain 2 to induce these morphological changes. Our results identify a role for Cbl in the regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition, including loss of adherens junctions, cell spreading, and the initiation of cell dispersal.

scholarly journals Pathogenesis and characteristics of large ameloblastoma of the jaw: a report of two rare cases

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 030006052110148
Author(s):  
Xue Qiao ◽  
Xing Niu ◽  
Jiayi Liu ◽  
Lijie Chen ◽  
Yan Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Related Gene ◽  
Epithelial Tumor ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Hras Gene

Ameloblastoma is a common odontogenic epithelial tumor that exhibits various biological behaviors, ranging from simple cystic expansion to aggressive solid masses characterized by local invasiveness, a high risk of recurrence, and even malignant transformation. We report on two cases of unusually large solid ameloblastomas. We detected epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related gene expression and HRAS gene single nucleotide polymorphisms, providing possible molecular evidence of mesenchymal morphological changes in ameloblastoma. The detailed analysis of the pathogenesis of these two cases of ameloblastoma may deepen our understanding of this rare disease and offer promising targets for future targeted therapy.

scholarly journals Benzotriazole Enhances Cell Invasive Potency in Endometrial Carcinoma Through CTBP1-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 2357-2367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiquan Wang ◽  
Chencheng Dai ◽  
Cheng Zhou ◽  
Wenqu Li ◽  
Yujia Qian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endometrial Carcinoma ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Carcinoma Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Invasion And Migration ◽  
Female Reproductive Health ◽  
Gene Microarray Analysis ◽  
And Migration

Background/Aims: Benzotriazole (BTR) and its derivatives, such as intermediates and UV stabilizers, are important man-made organic chemicals found in everyday life that have been recently identified as environmental toxins and a threat to female reproductive health. Previous studies have shown that BTR could act as a carcinogen by mimicking estrogen. Environmental estrogen mimics could promote the initiation and development of female cancers, such as endometrial carcinoma, a type of estrogenic-sensitive malignancy. However, there is little information on the relationship between BTR and endometrial carcinoma. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the biological function of BTR in endometrial carcinoma and explored the underlying mechanism. Methods: The CCK-8 assay was performed to detect cell viability; transwell-filter assay was used to assess cell invasion; gene microarray analysis was employed to determine gene expression patterns in response to BTR treatment; western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were carried out to detect the expression levels of BTR-related genes. Results: Our data showed that BTR could induce the invasion and migration of endometrial carcinoma cells (Ishikawa and HEC-1-B). In addition, BTR increased the expression level of CTBP1, which could enhance the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells. Moreover, CTBP1 silencing reversed the effect of BTR on EMT progression in endometrial carcinoma cells. Conclusion: This study indicates that BTR could act as a carcinogen to promote the development of endometrial carcinoma mainly through CTBP1-mediated EMT, which deserves more attention.

scholarly journals Modeling a gene regulatory network of EMT hybrid states for mouse embryonic skin cells

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Ramirez ◽  
Vivek Kohar ◽  
Ataur Katebi ◽  
Mingyang Lu
Keyword(s):  
Gene Regulatory Network ◽  
Regulatory Network ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Hybrid State ◽  
Regulatory Interactions ◽  
Skin Cells ◽  
Embryonic Skin ◽  
Gene Regulatory

AbstractEpithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in embryonic development and tumorigenesis. Although EMT has been extensively studied with both computational and experimental methods, the gene regulatory mechanisms governing the transition are not yet well understood. Recent investigations have begun to better characterize the complex phenotypic plasticity underlying EMT using a computational systems biology approach. Here, we analyzed recently published single-cell RNA sequencing data from E9.5 to E11.5 mouse embryonic skin cells and identified the gene expression patterns of both epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, as well as a clear hybrid state. By integrating the scRNA-seq data and gene regulatory interactions from the literature, we constructed a gene regulatory network model governing the decision-making of EMT in the context of the developing mouse embryo. We simulated the network using a recently developed mathematical modeling method, named RACIPE, and observed three distinct phenotypic states whose gene expression patterns can be associated with the epithelial, hybrid, and mesenchymal states in the scRNA-seq data. Additionally, the model is in agreement with published results on the composition of EMT phenotypes and regulatory networks. We identified Wnt signaling as a major pathway in inducing the EMT and its role in driving cellular state transitions during embryonic development. Our findings demonstrate a new method of identifying and incorporating tissue-specific regulatory interactions into gene regulatory network modeling.Author SummaryEpithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process wherein cells become disconnected from their surroundings and acquire the ability to migrate through the body. EMT has been observed in biological contexts including development, wound healing, and cancer, yet the regulatory mechanisms underlying it are not well understood. Of particular interest is a purported hybrid state, in which cells can retain some adhesion to their surroundings but also show mesenchymal traits. Here, we examine the prevalence and composition of the hybrid state in the context of the embryonic mouse, integrating gene regulatory interactions from published experimental results as well as from the specific single cell RNA sequencing dataset of interest. Using mathematical modeling, we simulated a regulatory network based on these sources and aligned the simulated phenotypes with those in the data. We identified a hybrid EMT phenotype and revealed the inducing effect of Wnt signaling on EMT in this context. Our regulatory network construction process can be applied beyond EMT to illuminate the behavior of any biological phenomenon occurring in a specific context, allowing better identification of therapeutic targets and further research directions.

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