scholarly journals Extracellular Oncosomes Rich in Moonlighting Metalloproteinase (MMP3) Are Transmissive, Pro-Tumorigenic, and Induces Cellular Communication Network Factor 2 (CCN2/CTGF): CRISPR against Cancer

Author(s):  
Yuka Okusha ◽  
Takanori Eguchi ◽  
Manh Tien Tran ◽  
Chiharu Sogawa ◽  
Kaya Yoshida ◽  
...  

Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) plays multiple roles in pro-tumorigenic proteolysis and in intracellular transcription. These include inducing connective tissue growth factor [CTGF, also known as cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2)] and prompting a new definition of MMP3 as a moonlighting metalloproteinase. Members of the MMP family have been found within tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) such as oncosomes or exosomes. We here investigated the roles of MMP3-rich oncosomes in tumor progression, molecular transmission, and gene regulation. MMP3 and CCN2/CTGF were significantly co-expressed in tumor samples derived from patients suffering from colorectal adenocarcinoma. We found that oncosomes derived from a rapidly metastatic colon cancer cells (LuM1) were enriched in MMP3 and a C-terminal half fragment of CCN2/CTGF. MMP3-rich oncosomes were highly transmissive into recipient cells and were pro-tumorigenic in an allograft mouse model. Oncosome-derived MMP3 was transmissive into recipient cell nuclei, trans-activated CCN2/CTGF promoter, and induced CCN2/CTGF production at 1 to 6 hours after the addition of oncosomes to culture media. In addition, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of MMP3 showed significant anti-tumor effects, including inhibition of migration and invasion of LuM1 cells in vitro, inhibition of tumor growth in vivo, and reduction of CCN2/CTGF and its promoter activity in vitro. These data newly demonstrate that the oncosome-derived moonlighting metalloproteinase promotes metastasis and is pro-tumorigenic at distant sites as well as a transmissive trans-activator for the cellular communication network gene.

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuka Okusha ◽  
Takanori Eguchi ◽  
Manh T. Tran ◽  
Chiharu Sogawa ◽  
Kaya Yoshida ◽  
...  

Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) plays multiple roles in extracellular proteolysis as well as intracellular transcription, prompting a new definition of moonlighting metalloproteinase (MMP), according to a definition of protein moonlighting (or gene sharing), a phenomenon by which a protein can perform more than one function. Indeed, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, aka cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2)) is transcriptionally induced as well as cleaved by MMP3. Moreover, several members of the MMP family have been found within tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). We here investigated the roles of MMP3-rich EVs in tumor progression, molecular transmission, and gene regulation. EVs derived from a rapidly metastatic cancer cell line (LuM1) were enriched in MMP3 and a C-terminal half fragment of CCN2/CTGF. MMP3-rich, LuM1-derived EVs were disseminated to multiple organs through body fluid and were pro-tumorigenic in an allograft mouse model, which prompted us to define LuM1-EVs as oncosomes in the present study. Oncosome-derived MMP3 was transferred into recipient cell nuclei and thereby trans-activated the CCN2/CTGF promoter, and induced CCN2/CTGF production in vitro. TRENDIC and other cis-elements in the CCN2/CTGF promoter were essential for the oncosomal responsivity. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of MMP3 showed significant anti-tumor effects such as the inhibition of migration and invasion of tumor cells, and a reduction in CCN2/CTGF promoter activity and fragmentations in vitro. A high expression level of MMP3 or CCN2/CTGF mRNA was prognostic and unfavorable in particular types of cancers including head and neck, lung, pancreatic, cervical, stomach, and urothelial cancers. These data newly demonstrate that oncogenic EVs-derived MMP is a transmissive trans-activator for the cellular communication network gene and promotes tumorigenesis at distant sites.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunyang Li ◽  
Shuangqing Yang ◽  
Huaqing Ma ◽  
Mengjia Ruan ◽  
Luyan Fang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is a type of the most common gynecology tumor in women of the whole world. Accumulating data have shown that icariin (ICA), a natural compound, has anti-cancer activity in different cancers, including cervical cancer. The study aimed to reveal the antitumor effects and the possible underlying mechanism of ICA in U14 tumor-bearing mice and SiHa cells. Methods The antitumor effects of ICA were investigated in vivo and in vitro. The expression of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways were evaluated. Results We found that ICA significantly suppressed tumor tissue growth and SiHa cells viability in a dose-dependent manner. Also, ICA enhanced the anti-tumor humoral immunity in vivo. Moreover, ICA significantly improved the composition of the microbiota in mice models. Additionally, the results clarified that ICA significantly inhibited the migration, invasion capacity, and expression levels of TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-10 in SiHa cells. Meanwhile, ICA was revealed to promote the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by down-regulating Ki67, survivin, Bcl-2, c-Myc, and up-regulating P16, P53, Bax levels in vivo and in vitro. For the part of mechanism exploration, we showed that ICA inhibits the inflammation, proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as promotes apoptosis and immunity in cervical cancer through impairment of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Conclusions Taken together, ICA could be a potential supplementary agent for cervical cancer treatment.


Author(s):  
R. Rodrigues-Díez Raul ◽  
Antonio Tejera-Muñoz ◽  
Vanesa Esteban ◽  
B. Steffensen Lasse ◽  
Raquel Rodrigues-Díez ◽  
...  

Background: CCN2 (cellular communication network factor 2) is a matricellular protein involved in cell communication and microenvironmental signaling responses. CCN2 is known to be overexpressed in several cardiovascular diseases, but its role is not completely understood. Methods: Here, CCN2 involvement in aortic wall homeostasis and response to vascular injury was investigated in inducible Ccn2 -deficient mice, with induction of vascular damage by infusion of Ang II (angiotensin II; 15 days), which is known to upregulate CCN2 expression in the aorta. Results: Ang II infusion in CCN2-silenced mice lead to 60% mortality within 10 days due to rapid development and rupture of aortic aneurysms, as evidenced by magnetic resonance imaging, echography, and histological examination. Ccn2 deletion decreased systolic blood pressure and caused aortic structural and functional changes, including elastin layer disruption, smooth muscle cell alterations, augmented distensibility, and increased metalloproteinase activity, which were aggravated by Ang II administration. Gene ontology analysis of RNA sequencing data identified aldosterone biosynthesis as one of the most enriched terms in CCN2-deficient aortas. Consistently, treatment with the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone before and during Ang II infusion reduced aneurysm formation and mortality, underscoring the importance of the aldosterone pathway in Ang II–induced aorta pathology. Conclusions: CCN2 is critically involved in the functional and structural homeostasis of the aorta and in maintenance of its integrity under Ang II–induced stress, at least, in part, by disruption of the aldosterone pathway. Thus, this study opens new avenues to future studies in disorders associated to vascular pathologies.


Author(s):  
Satoshi Kubota ◽  
Harumi Kawaki ◽  
Bernard Perbal ◽  
Kazumi Kawata ◽  
Takako Hattori ◽  
...  

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