Decreased tumor progression and invasion by a novel anti-cell motility target for human colorectal carcinoma cells

PLoS One. 2013 Jun 3;8(6):e66439. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066439. Print 2013.

Abstract

We have previously described a novel modulator of the actin cytoskeleton that also regulates Ras and mitogen-activated protein kinase activities in TGFβ-sensitive epithelial cells. Here we examined the functional role of this signaling regulatory protein (km23-1) in mediating the migration, invasion, and tumor growth of human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells. We show that small interfering RNA (siRNA) depletion of km23-1 in human CRC cells inhibited constitutive extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, as well as pro-invasive ERK effector functions that include phosphorylation of Elk-1, constitutive regulation of c-Fos-DNA binding, TGFβ1 promoter transactivation, and TGFβ1 secretion. In addition, knockdown of km23-1 reduced the paracrine effects of CRC cell-secreted factors in conditioned medium and in fibroblast co-cultures. Moreover, km23-1 depletion in human CRC cells reduced cell migration and invasion, as well as expression of the ERK-regulated, metastasis-associated scaffold protein Ezrin. Finally, km23-1 inhibition significantly suppressed tumor formation in vivo. Thus, our results implicate km23-1 as a novel anti-metastasis target for human colon carcinoma cells, capable of decreasing tumor growth and invasion via a mechanism involving suppression of various pro-migratory features of CRC. These include a reduction in ERK signaling, diminished TGFβ1 production, decreased expression of the plasma membrane-cytoskeletal linker Ezrin, as well as attenuation of the paracrine effects of colon carcinoma-secreted factors on fibroblast migration and mitogenesis. As such, km23-1 inhibitors may represent a viable therapeutic strategy for interfering with colon cancer progression and invasion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Collagen / chemistry
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cytoplasmic Dyneins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cytoplasmic Dyneins / genetics*
  • Cytoplasmic Dyneins / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Diffusion Chambers, Culture
  • Drug Combinations
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / genetics
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Laminin / chemistry
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Proteoglycans / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
  • Tumor Burden / genetics
  • ets-Domain Protein Elk-1 / genetics
  • ets-Domain Protein Elk-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DYNLRB1 protein, human
  • Drug Combinations
  • Laminin
  • Proteoglycans
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • ets-Domain Protein Elk-1
  • ezrin
  • matrigel
  • Collagen
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Cytoplasmic Dyneins