Complement Component 3 (C3) Is a Mediator of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 1421-1421
Author(s):  
Min Soon Cho ◽  
Qianghua Hu ◽  
Rajesha Rupaimoole ◽  
Anil Sood ◽  
Vahid Afshar-Kharghan

Abstract We have shown that complement component 3 (C3) is expressed in malignant ovarian epithelial cells and enhances cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. C3 is secreted by cancer cells into the tumor microenvironment and promotes tumor growth through an autocrine loop. To understand the mechanism of upregulation of C3 expression in malignant epithelial cells, we studied the transcriptional regulation of C3, and found that TWIST1, a major regulator of EMT, binds to the C3 promoter and regulates C3 transcription. Knockdown of the TWIST1 gene reduced C3 mRNA, and TWIST1 overexpression increased C3 mRNA. TWIST1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during normal development and in metastasis of malignant tumors. An important marker of EMT is a reduction in the surface expression of E-cadherin on cells facilitating migration and invasion of these cells. TWIST1 is a transcriptional repressor of E-cadherin; and because TWIST1 increases C3 expression, we investigated whether C3 is also a negative regulator of E-cadherin expression. We overexpressed C3 in ovarian cancer cells by stable transduction of lentivirus carrying C3 cDNA. Overexpression of C3 was associated with 32% reduction in the expression of E-cadherin resulting in enhanced migration ability of cells by 2.3 folds and invasiveness by 1.75 folds, as compared to control cells transduced with control lentivirus. To investigate whether TWIST1-induced reduction in E-cadherin is C3-mediated or not, we studied the effect of TWIST1 overexpression simultaneous with C3 knockdown in ovarian cancer cells. Overexpression of TWIST1 alone resulted in 70% reduction in E-cadherin mRNA and this was completely reversed after simultaneous C3 knockdown in these cells. To investigate the correlation between C3 and TWIST1 in vivo, we studied the co-expression of these two proteins in mouse embryos (physiologic EMT) and in malignant tumors (pathologic EMT). Given the role of EMT in embryogenesis we immunostained mouse embryos at different stages of development, using antibodies against TWIST1 or C3. Transverse section of 9.5-day post-coitum (9.5dpc) mouse embryos showed co-expression of TWIST1 and C3 in otocyst (ot) and hindbrain (hb) of neural crest. In the whole-mounted 11.5dpc mouse embryos, C3 and TWIST1 were co-expressed in limb buds. Given the role of EMT in malignancy, tumors induced in mice after intraperitoneal injection of murine ovarian cancer cells were resected and immunostained for C3 and TWIST1 proteins. TWIST1 and C3 co-localized at tumor edges, where EMT and tumor cells migration occur. Taken together, these data provide evidence that TWIST1 regulates C3 expression, and C3 promotes EMT through E-cadherin. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-S. Kim ◽  
K.-C. Choi

The ovary is the important organ to produce oocytes. Any disorder will affect embryo production. Ovarian cancer is one of gynecologic cancers in women which can affect ovarian functions. Oestradiol (E2) may be involved in ovarian cell growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) for diverse functions. EMT is an important process in embryo development and tumour migration or progression. Bis-phenol A (BPA) and nonyl-phenol (NP) have an estrogenic property, which can be suspected as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC). In this study, it has been examined whether BPA and NP can cause EMT process and migration in BG-1 ovarian cancer cells. To confirm the effect of these EDCs, BG-1 ovarian cancer cells were cultured and treated with DMSO (0.1%), E2 (10–7 M), BPA (10–6 M) and NP (10–6 M) for 0, 6, and 24 h. The mRNAs were extracted to perform reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR and the changes in the mRNA expressions were analysed by ANOVA test. Following treatments with BPA and NP, alterations of EMT markers; that is, vimentin and E-cadherin, were examined at mRNA levels by RT-PCR. The levels of vimentin were up-regulated by E2, BPA, or NP in a time-dependent manner. In addition, transcriptional factors of EMT response, i.e. snail and slug, were enhanced by these treatments more than 2 times. BG-1 cells were exposed to these EDCs for 0, 24, and 48 h. Vimentin and snail proteins were induced by E2, BPA, or NP, while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased by them. To reveal that this EMT response is affected by oestrogen receptor (ER), the cells were treated with these EDCs in the presence of an ER antagonist, ICI 182 780 (10–6 M). Treatment with ICI 182 780 reversed EDC-induced alteration of these EMT markers, E-cadherin, vimentin, and snail. Since EMT response can cause metastasis, a scratch assay was performed to show migration caused by BPA or NP. BPA or E2 enhanced migratory capability of these BG-1 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that BPA and NP, potential EDC, may have an ability to influence ovarian cancer metastasis via regulating snail and slug genes in ER-positive ovarian cancers. In a future study, their effects in inducing EMT and migration will be tested in a xenograft mouse model.This work was supported by a grant from the Next-Generation BioGreen 21 Program (no. PJ009599), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.


2022 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 205873842110586
Author(s):  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Min Zhou ◽  
Kun Li

Introduction MicroRNAs (miRs) exhibit the potential to act as therapeutic targets for the management of human cancers including ovarian cancer. The role of microRNA-30 (miR-30) via modulation of RAB32 expression has not been studied in ovarian cancer. Consistently, the present study was designed to characterize the molecular role of miR-30/RAB32 axis in human ovarian cancer. Methods Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Expression analysis was carried out by qRT-PCR. Dual luciferase assay was used to confirm the interaction between miR-30 and RAB32. Scratch-heal and transwell chamber assays were used to monitor the cell migration and invasion. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were used to determine the protein expression. Results The results revealed significant ( p < 0.05) downregulation of miR-30 in human ovarian cancer cell lines. Overexpression of miR-30 in ovarian SK-OV-3 and A2780 cancer cells significantly ( p < 0.05) inhibited their proliferation. Besides, ovarian cancer cells overexpressing miR-30 showed significantly ( p < 0.05) lower migration and invasion. The miR-30 upregulation also altered the expression pattern of marker proteins of epithelial–mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancer cells. In silico analysis predicted RAB32 as the molecular target of miR-30 at post-transcriptional level. The silencing of RAB32 mimicked the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-30 overexpression in ovarian cancer cells. Nonetheless, overexpression of RAB32 could prevent the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-30 on SK-OV-3 and A2780 cancer cells. Conclusion Taken together, the results suggest the tumor-suppressive role of miR-30 and point towards the therapeutic utility of miR-30/RAB32 molecular axis in the management of ovarian cancer


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur-Quan Tran ◽  
Stephanie A. Sullivan ◽  
Leo Li-Ying Chan ◽  
Yajie Yin ◽  
Wenchuan Sun ◽  
...  

SPR965 is an inhibitor of PI3K and mTOR C1/C2 and has demonstrated anti-tumorigenic activity in a variety of solid tumors. We sought to determine the effects of SPR965 on cell proliferation and tumor growth in human serous ovarian cancer cell lines and a transgenic mouse model of high grade serous ovarian cancer (KpB model) and identify the underlying mechanisms by which SPR965 inhibits cell and tumor growth. SPR965 showed marked anti-proliferative activity by causing cell cycle arrest and inducing cellular stress in ovarian cancer cells. Treatment with SPR965 significantly inhibited tumor growth in KpB mice, accompanied by downregulation of Ki67 and VEGF and upregulation of Bip expression in ovarian tumors. SPR965 also inhibited adhesion and invasion through induction of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process. As expected, downregulation of phosphorylation of AKT and S6 was observed in SPR965-treated ovarian cancer cells and tumors. Our results suggest that SPR965 has significant anti-tumorigenic effects in serous ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo. Thus, SPR965 should be evaluated as a promising targeted agent in future clinical trials of ovarian cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4992
Author(s):  
Sadia Mehdi ◽  
Elizabeth Macdonald ◽  
Kristianne Galpin ◽  
David A. Landry ◽  
Galaxia Rodriguez ◽  
...  

The implications of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanisms in the initiation and progression of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that suppression of the antigen receptor LY75 directs mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) in EOC cell lines with the mesenchymal phenotype, associated with the loss of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. In the present study, we used the LY75-mediated modulation of EMT in EOC cells as a model in order to investigate in vivo the specific role of EOC cells, with an epithelial (E), mesenchymal (M) or mixed epithelial plus mesenchymal (E+M) phenotype, in EOC initiation, dissemination and treatment response, following intra-bursal (IB) injections of SKOV3-M (control), SKOV3-E (Ly75KD) and a mixed population of SKOV3-E+M cells, into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. We found that the IB-injected SKOV3-E cells displayed considerably higher metastatic potential and resistance to treatment as compared to the SKOV3-M cells, due to the acquisition of a Ly75KD-mediated hybrid phenotype and stemness characteristics. We also confirmed in vivo that the LY75 depletion directs suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in EOC cells, suggestive of a protective role of this pathway in EOC etiology. Moreover, our data raise concerns regarding the use of LY75-targeted vaccines for dendritic-cell EOC immunotherapy, due to the possible occurrence of undesirable side effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Gao ◽  
Yao Gao ◽  
Shixin Lin ◽  
Xia Zou ◽  
Yukai Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective This study aimed to explore the effects of activating GABAB1 receptor by baclofen on proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ovarian cancer cells. Results One hundred μmol/L, 200 μmol/L and 300 μmol/L were selected as low, medium and high baclofen concentrations respectively. Cells were divided into four groups: Control, 100 μmol/L, 200 μmol/L and 300 μmol/L. Compared with the control group, the viability, colony formation, migration and invasion of SKOV3 cells were inhibited, and the apoptosis of SKOV3 cells were enhanced significantly at 200 μmol/L and 300 μmol/L baclofen. Moreover, they changed significantly with the increase of baclofen concentration. Compared with the control group, the expression of E-cadherin and GABAB1 increased and the N-cadherin expression decreased significantly in 200 μmol/L and 300 μmol/L groups. Higher concentration of baclofen induced higher expression of E-cadherin and lower expression of N-cadherin. Conclusion Baclofen inhibited the proliferation, cloning, migration, invasion and EMT of ovarian cancer cells by activating GABAB1 receptor. These results might contribute a lot to clarify the role and possible mechanism of GABAB1 receptor in ovarian cancer.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Cai ◽  
Lanqing Gong ◽  
Guodong Li ◽  
Jing Guo ◽  
Xiaoqing Yi ◽  
...  

AbstractThe poor prognosis of ovarian cancer is mainly due to metastasis, and the specific mechanism underlying ovarian cancer metastasis is not clear. Ascites-derived exosomes (ADEs) play an important role in the progression of ovarian cancer, but the mechanism is unknown. Here, we found that ADEs promoted ovarian cancer metastasis not only in vitro but also in vivo. This promotive function was based on epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of ovarian cancer cells. Bioinformatics analysis of RNA sequencing microarray data indicated that miR-6780b-5p may be the key microRNA (miRNA) in ADEs that facilitates cancer metastasis. Moreover, the expression of exosomal miR-6780b-5p correlated with tumor metastasis in ovarian cancer patients. miR-6780b-5p overexpression promoted and miR-6780b-5p downregulation suppressed EMT of ovarian cancer cells. These results suggest that ADEs transfer miR-6780b-5p to ovarian cancer cells, promoting EMT and finally facilitating ovarian cancer metastasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shourong Wang ◽  
Zixiang Wang ◽  
Jieyin Li ◽  
Junchao Qin ◽  
Jianping Song ◽  
...  

AbstractAberrant expression of splicing factors was found to promote tumorigenesis and the development of human malignant tumors. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms and functional relevance remain elusive. We here show that USP39, a component of the spliceosome, is frequently overexpressed in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and that an elevated level of USP39 is associated with a poor prognosis. USP39 promotes proliferation/invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Importantly, USP39 was transcriptionally activated by the oncogene protein c-MYC in ovarian cancer cells. We further demonstrated that USP39 colocalizes with spliceosome components in nuclear speckles. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that USP39 deletion led to globally impaired splicing that is characterized by skipped exons and overrepresentation of introns and intergenic regions. Furthermore, RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing showed that USP39 preferentially binds to exon-intron regions near 5′ and 3′ splicing sites. In particular, USP39 facilitates efficient splicing of HMGA2 and thereby increases the malignancy of ovarian cancer cells. Taken together, our results indicate that USP39 functions as an oncogenic splicing factor in ovarian cancer and represents a potential target for ovarian cancer therapy.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1469
Author(s):  
Hanmin Wang ◽  
Evgeny Chirshev ◽  
Nozomi Hojo ◽  
Tise Suzuki ◽  
Antonella Bertucci ◽  
...  

We aimed to determine the mechanism of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-induced stemness in cancer cells. Cancer relapse and metastasis are caused by rare stem-like cells within tumors. Studies of stem cell reprogramming have linked let-7 repression and acquisition of stemness with the EMT factor, SNAI1. The mechanisms for the loss of let-7 in cancer cells are incompletely understood. In four carcinoma cell lines from breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer and in ovarian cancer patient-derived cells, we analyzed stem cell phenotype and tumor growth via mRNA, miRNA, and protein expression, spheroid formation, and growth in patient-derived xenografts. We show that treatment with EMT-promoting growth factors or SNAI1 overexpression increased stemness and reduced let-7 expression, while SNAI1 knockdown reduced stemness and restored let-7 expression. Rescue experiments demonstrate that the pro-stemness effects of SNAI1 are mediated via let-7. In vivo, nanoparticle-delivered siRNA successfully knocked down SNAI1 in orthotopic patient-derived xenografts, accompanied by reduced stemness and increased let-7 expression, and reduced tumor burden. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated that SNAI1 binds the promoters of various let-7 family members, and luciferase assays revealed that SNAI1 represses let-7 transcription. In conclusion, the SNAI1/let-7 axis is an important component of stemness pathways in cancer cells, and this study provides a rationale for future work examining this axis as a potential target for cancer stem cell-specific therapies.


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