scholarly journals Lipocalin 2 induces the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in stressed endometrial epithelial cells: possible correlation with endometriosis development in a mouse model

Reproduction ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chi-Jr Liao ◽  
Pei-Tzu Li ◽  
Ying-Chu Lee ◽  
Sheng-Hsiang Li ◽  
Sin Tak Chu

Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) is an induced stressor that promotes the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). We previously demonstrated that the development of endometriosis in mice correlates with the secretion of LCN2 in the uterus. Here, we sought to clarify the relationship between LCN2 and EMT in endometrial epithelial cells and to determine whether LCN2 plays a role in endometriosis. Antibodies that functionally inhibit LCN2 slowed the growth of ectopic endometrial tissue in a mouse model of endometriosis, suggesting that LCN2 promotes the formation of endometriotic lesions. Using nutrient deprivation as a stressor, LCN2 expression was induced in cultured primary endometrial epithelial cells. As LCN2 levels increased, the cells transitioned from a round to a spindle-like morphology and dispersed. Immunochemical analyses revealed decreased levels of cytokeratin and increased levels of fibronectin in these endometrial cells, adhesive changes that correlate with induction of cell migration and invasion.Lcn2knockdown also indicated that LCN2 promotes EMT and migration of endometrial epithelial cells. Our results suggest that stressful cellular microenvironments cause uterine tissues to secrete LCN2 and that this results in EMT of endometrial epithelial cells, which may correlate with the development of ectopic endometriosis. These findings shed light on the role of LCN2 in the pathology of endometrial disorders.

eLife ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minmin Song ◽  
Guangfeng Zhao ◽  
Haixiang Sun ◽  
Simin Yao ◽  
Zhenhua Zhou ◽  
...  

Emerging evidence demonstrates the important role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in regulating pathological processes in various diseases including organ fibrosis. Endometrium fibrosis is the leading cause of uterine infertility, but the role of circRNAs in its pathogenesis is largely unknown. Here, we provide the evidence that upregulation of circPTPN12 in endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) of fibrotic endometrium functions as endogenous sponge of miR-21–5 p to inhibit miR-21–5 p expression and activity, which in turn results in upregulation of ΔNp63α to induce the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of EECs (EEC–EMT). In a mouse model of endometrium fibrosis, circPTPN12 appears to be a cofactor of driving EEC–EMT and administration of miR-21–5 p could reverse this process and improve endometrial fibrosis. Our findings revealed that the dysfunction of circPTPN12/miR-21–5 p/∆Np63α pathway contributed to the pathogenesis of endometrial fibrosis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiao-mei Zheng ◽  
Jing-jing Lu ◽  
Jing Zhao ◽  
Xuan Wei ◽  
Lu Wang ◽  
...  

Although periostin was confirmed to facilitate the pathogenesis of endometriosis by enhancing the migration, invasion, and adhesion of human endometrial stromal cells (ESCs), its effect on the endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) is still unknown. The current study aimed to determine whether periostin enhanced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of EECs. EECs were isolated from 12 women with endometriosis. The migration and invasion abilities of EECs were evaluated by transwell assays. Expressions of proteins were detected by western blot. After treatment with periostin, the migration and invasion abilities of EECs were enhanced. Additionally, E-cadherin and keratin were downregulated while N-cadherin and vimentin were upregulated in EECs. Simultaneously, levels of ILK, p-Akt, slug, and Zeb1 were all upregulated in EECs. After silencing the expression of ILK in EECs, levels of p-Akt, slug, Zeb1, N-cadherin, and vimentin were downregulated while E-cadherin and keratin were upregulated. Although periostin weakened the above effects in EECs after silencing the expression of ILK, it failed to induce the EMT of EECs. Thus, periostin enhanced invasion and migration abilities of EECs and facilitated the EMT of EECs through ILK-Akt signaling pathway. Playing a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, periostin may be a new clinical therapy target for endometriosis.


Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min An ◽  
Dong Li ◽  
Ming Yuan ◽  
Qiuju Li ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
...  

Endometrial cells and microenvironment are two important factors in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. Our previous study demonstrated that macrophages can induce eutopic epithelial cells of adenomyosis to suffer from epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). The aim of this study is to detect whether macrophages interacting with epithelial cells equally induce the EMT process in normal and eutopic endometria of healthy and adenomyotic patients; and whether macrophages parallelly polarize to M2. We investigated the expression levels of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), neural cadherin (N-cadherin), cytokeratin7 (CK7), vimentin, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFB1), SMAD3 and pSMAD3 using immunohistochemistry and western blot, and then estimated the genetic levels of CD163, IL10 and MMP12 using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in macrophages. Eutopic and normal endometrial tissues were obtained from 20 patients with adenomyosis and 11 control patients without adenomyosis, respectively. The immunohistochemical analysis shows distinct EMT in eutopic endometria in secretory phase; the expression levels of TGFB1, SMAD3 and pSMAD3 that indicate signal pathway of EMT were also higher in secretory phase. Macrophages can induce EMT process in primary endometrial epithelial cells derived from normal and eutopic endometria. After co-culturing, THP-1-derived macrophages polarized to M2. Compared with the eutopic endometrium group, further polarization to M2 was observed in the normal endometrium group. These results indicate that adenomyosis may be promoted by the pathologic EMT of epithelial cells, which is induced by macrophages that incapably polarize to M2.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhan Shi ◽  
Xiumei Zhao ◽  
Ying Su ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Hongyan Ge ◽  
...  

Abstract The abnormal proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of lens epithelial cells (LECs) are the main reasons of vision loss caused by posterior capsular opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was found to be associated with the pathogenesis of cataract, but its biological role in PCO is poorly understood. In the present study, IGF-1 overexpression facilitated the proliferation, migration and EMT, whereas knockdown of IGF-1 markedly suppressed the proliferation, migration and TGF-β2-induced EMT of LECs. Additionally, To evaluate valuable microRNAs (miRNAs) which target IGF-1 to modulate LECs-EMT, we predicted miR-3666 might regulate IGF-1 by binding its 3’UTR according bioinformatics database. Furthermore, we verified that miR-3666 directly targeted to IGF-1 by luciferase reporter assay. By using miR-3666 mimics, cells proliferation, migration, and invasion were suppressed, while were enhanced by reduction of miR-3666. Knockout of IGF1 reverses the effect of miR-3666 inhibitor on the malignant behavior of LECs. These results indicate the role for miR-3666/IGF-1 in LECs-EMT that offer new strategies for the therapy and prevention of PCO.


2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 208-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Xiao ◽  
Zhigang Jie

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. It is likely to occur in lymph nodes and is prone to distant metastasis in its early stages, which portends a poor prognosis. Previous studies have shown that miRNA-21 was abnormally highly expressed and associated with early metastasis in GC, but the mechanism by which it regulates the invasion and metastasis of GC has not been elucidated. Methods: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important pathologic basis of tumor invasion and metastasis, and in this study, the relationship between miRNA-21 and EMT in GC invasion and metastasis was investigated using RT-qPCR, Western blot, and wound scratch and transwell assays. Results: We found that miRNA-21 expression in GC cell lines was higher than in a gastric mucosal epithelial cell line. After transfection with an miRNA-21 mimic, the upregulation of EMT was found to promote migration and invasion of MGC-803 cells. However, the downregulation of EMT was found to accompany the inhibition of invasion and migration of GC cells after downregulation of miRNA-21 expression due to the transfection of an miRNA-21 inhibitor. Conclusions: These findings suggest that miRNA-21 might promote the invasion and metastasis of GC by upregulating EMT.


Author(s):  
Jing Huang ◽  
Zhixi Chen ◽  
Zhihao Lai ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Dongyi Yu ◽  
...  

Aim: To investigate whether kaempferol exhibits a protective effect on high glucose-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by mediating the  PVT1/ miR-214 and PAK4/β-catenin pathways in SRA01/04 cells. Methods & methods: qRT-PCR and western blot assays were used for gene and protein determination, and migration and invasion assays were conducted. A coimmunoprecipitation assay was used for determining protein interactions. Results: High glucose effectively upregulated PVT1 expression, downregulated miR-214 expression and promoted cell migration and invasion. Kaempferol attenuated high glucose-induced EMT by increasing PVT1 expression and decreasing miR-214 expression. PAK4 was identified as a direct target of miR-214. PAK4 overexpression could rescue the effects of PVT1 deficiency on SRA01/04 cells. Conclusion: Kaempferol ameliorated the regulatory effects of PVT1/ miR-214 on high glucose-induced EMT through PAK4/β-catenin in SRA01/04 cells.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 930-938
Author(s):  
Dawei Zhang ◽  
Lin Xiong ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Yuan Chen ◽  
Xiaojun Tang ◽  
...  

Objective: In order to investigate the effects of LMP1-Fab antibody on Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cancer stem cells (CSCs). Methods/ Results: Methods were performed to study the effects of LMP1-Fab antibody on NPC CSCs in vivo and in vitro, for example, transwell chamber assay, wound healing assay, western blot assay, quantitative real-time PCR assay animal experiments, animal fluorescence imaging, H&E staining, immunohistochemistry. We identified that LMP1 activated the migration and invasion of NPC. Whereas the LMP1-Fab antibody inhibited cell invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration of NPC CSCs in LMP1+ HNE2 cells. Furthermore, LMP1-Fab antibody significantly increased the expression of E-cadherin, and reduced the expressions of vimentin,N -cadherin and Slug in LMP1+ HNE2 CSCs cells. Mechanistically, LMP1-Fab antibody inhibited lung and liver metastasis by regulating the wnt/ -catenin pathway in the nude mice. Conclusion: These results suggested that the novel antibody-targeting LMP1 is likely to be a potential strategy for the treatment of NPC.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 928-938 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huisheng Ge ◽  
Nanlin Yin ◽  
Ting-Li Han ◽  
Dongni Huang ◽  
Xuehai Chen ◽  
...  

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific disorder representing a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Invasive and migratory phenotypes are acquired by trophoblasts through the process of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Studies have shown that trophoblast EMT events are dysregulated in PE and play an important role in its development. Dysregulation of interleukin (IL)-27 and IL-27R (T-cell cytokine receptor (TCCR)/WSX -1) is relevant to PE. In this study, our results demonstrated that IL-27 did not significantly affect the proliferation and apoptosis of HTR -8/SVneo trophoblast cells, while it did significantly inhibit trophoblast invasion and migration. The expression of EMT-related proteins in HTR-8/SVneo cells and extravillous explants was detected after treatment with IL-27. Expression of epithelial markers was increased, and mesenchymal marker expression was reduced. Furthermore, we found that IL-27 could induce significant phosphorylation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) in a time-dependent manner in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Selective inhibitors of STAT1 (STAT1 siRNA) and STAT3 (STAT3 siRNA) were used to determine whether both STAT1 and STAT3 are required for IL-27-mediated inhibition of EMT. STAT1 inhibition in IL-27-treated cells attenuated the IL-27 effect, while the inhibition of STAT3 activation had no effect on the development of the epithelial phenotype. These results demonstrate that IL-27 may inhibit trophoblast cell migration and invasion by affecting the EMT process through an STAT1-dominant pathway in PE.


Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung ◽  
Yang ◽  
Kim ◽  
Lee ◽  
Kim ◽  
...  

Previously, we demonstrated that growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6)/Axl or Mer signaling inhibited the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung epithelial cells. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has also been shown to inhibit TGF-β1-induced changes in EMT markers. Here, we examined whether Gas6 signaling can induce the production of HGF and c-Met in lung alveolar epithelial cells to mediate the inhibition of EMT and to inhibit the migration and invasion of epithelial cells. The inhibition of the RhoA/Rho kinase pathway, using either a RhoA-targeted small interfering RNA (siRNA) or the Rho kinase pharmacologic inhibitor Y27362, prevented the inhibition of TGF-β1-induced EMT in LA-4 cells and primary alveolar type II (AT II) epithelial cells. The c-Met antagonist PHA-665752 also blocked the anti-EMT effects associated with Gas6. Moreover, treatment with Y27362 or PHA-665752 prevented the Gas6-mediated inhibition of TGF-β1-induced migration and invasion. Our data provided evidence that the RhoA-dependent production of HGF and c-Met mediated the Gas6-induced inhibition of EMT, migration and invasion in lung alveolar epithelial cells. Thus, Gas6/Axl and Mer/RhoA signaling may be necessary for the maintenance of homeostasis in the alveolar epithelium, via HGF and c-Met.


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