The decrease of mineralcorticoid receptor drives angiogenic pathways in colorectal cancer

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59410. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059410. Epub 2013 Mar 28.

Abstract

Angiogenesis plays a crucial role in tumor growth and progression. Low expression of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in several malignant tumors correlates with disease recurrence and overall survival. Previous studies have shown that MR expression is decreased in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we hypothesize that decreased MR expression can contribute to angiogenesis and poor patient survival in colorectal malignancies. In a cohort of CRC patients, we analyzed tumor MR expression, its correlation with tumor microvascular density and its impact on survival. Subsequently, we interrogated the role of MR in angiogenesis in an in vitro model, based on the colon cancer cell line HCT116, ingenierized to re-express a physiologically controlled MR. In CRC, decreased MR expression was associated with increased microvascular density and poor patient survival. In pchMR transfected HCT116, aldosterone or natural serum steroids largely inhibited mRNA expression levels of both VEGFA and its receptor 2/KDR. In CRC, MR activation may significantly decrease angiogenesis by directly inhibiting dysregulated VEGFA and hypoxia-induced VEGFA mRNA expression. In addition, MR activation attenuates the expression of the VEGF receptor 2/KDR, possibly dampening the activation of a VEGFA/KDR dependent signaling pathway important for the survival of tumor cells under hypoxic conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / blood supply*
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Aldosterone / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Hypoxia / drug effects
  • Cell Hypoxia / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / genetics*
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transfection
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / metabolism
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / genetics*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Mineralocorticoid
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Aldosterone
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2

Grants and funding

The present study was supported by Adele and Francesco Lonati Foundation, Brescia, Italy. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.