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Blockage of transdifferentiation from fibroblast to myofibroblast in experimental ovarian cancer models.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Tumour stromal myofibroblasts can promote tumour invasion. As these cells are genetically more stable than cancer cells, there has been enormous interest in developing targeted molecular therapies against them. Chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been linked with promoting stromal cell transdifferentiation in various cancers, but little is known of their roles in ovarian cancer. In this study, we examined the functional roles that both CLIC4 and ROS play in the process of ovarian cancer cell-stimulated or TGF-beta1 induced fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation. We also examine whether it is possible to reverse such a process, with the aim of developing novel therapies against ovarian cancer by targeting activated transdifferentiated myofibroblasts. RESULTS: We demonstrate that TGF-beta1 induced or CM(SKOV3) activate transdifferentiated myofibroblasts (fibroblasts). These fibroblasts mimic "reactive" stromal myofibroblasts and demonstrate significant up-regulation of CLIC4 expression and increased level of ROS production. Blocking the production of ROS with an antioxidant consequently reduces the expression of CLIC4, and is accompanied by disappearance of alpha-smooth-muscle actin (alpha-SMA), a myofibroblast marker, suggesting ROS acts as a signalling molecule that promotes and enhances CLIC4 activities in the myofibroblast transdifferentiaton process. Down-regulation of CLIC4 with a generic agent or specific siRNA both significantly reduces the expression of factors related to the phenotypes and functions of myofibroblasts, such as alpha-SMA, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thus reversing the myofibroblast phenotype back to fibroblasts. These results convincingly show that ROS and CLIC4 are responsible for TGF-beta1 induced fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiaton and down-regulation of both is sufficient to block transdifferentiated myofibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Molecular targeting of ROS and CLIC4 has the potential to develop novel therapies for ovarian cancer.

SUBMITTER: Yao Q

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2765417 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Blockage of transdifferentiation from fibroblast to myofibroblast in experimental ovarian cancer models.

Yao Qin Q Qu Xun X Yang Qifeng Q Good David A DA Dai Shuzhen S Kong Beihua B Wei Ming Q MQ

Molecular cancer 20090927

<h4>Background</h4>Tumour stromal myofibroblasts can promote tumour invasion. As these cells are genetically more stable than cancer cells, there has been enormous interest in developing targeted molecular therapies against them. Chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been linked with promoting stromal cell transdifferentiation in various cancers, but little is known of their roles in ovarian cancer. In this study, we examined the functional roles that bo ...[more]

PMID: 19781102

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Project description:Pericryptal myofibroblasts in the colon and rectum play an important role in regulating the normal colorectal stem cell niche and facilitating tumour progression. Myofibroblasts have previously mostly been distinguished from normal fibroblasts only by the expression of Î± smooth muscle actin (Î±SMA). We now identify AOC3, a surface monoamine oxidase, as a new marker of myofibroblasts by showing that it is the target protein of the myofibroblast reacting monoclonal antibody (mAb), PR2D3. The normal and tumour tissue distribution and the cell line reactivity of AOC3 match that expected for myofibroblasts. We have shown that the surface expression of AOC3 is sensitive to digestion by trypsin and collagenase and that anti-AOC3 antibodies can be used for FACS sorting of myofibroblasts obtained by non-enzymatic procedures. Whole genome microarray mRNA expression profiles of myofibroblasts and skin fibroblasts revealed four additional genes that are significantly expressed differentially between these two cell types; NKX2-3 and LRRC17 are expressed in myofibroblasts and SHOX2 and TBX5 in skin fibroblasts. Transforming Growth Factor Î² (TGFÎ²) substantially down-regulated AOC3 expression in myofibroblasts but not in skin fibroblasts, in which it dramatically increased the expression of Î±SMA. A knockdown of NKX2-3 in myofibroblasts caused a decrease of myofibroblast-related gene expression and an increased expression of the fibroblast associated gene, SHOX2, suggesting that NKX2-3 is a key mediator for maintaining myofibroblast characteristics. Our results show that colorectal myofibroblasts, as defined by the expression of AOC3, NKX2-3 and other markers, are a distinctly different cell type from TGFÎ² activated fibroblasts. colorectal myofibroblast specific markers and expression profiles were sought by comparing four primary myofibroblast cultures to a panel of four dermal and foreskin fibroblast cell lines Four primary myofibroblast cultures established from adult human colon compared to four skin fibroblast cell lines to identify intestinal myofibroblast specific markers

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Blockage of transdifferentiation from fibroblast to myofibroblast in experimental ovarian cancer models.

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Blockage of transdifferentiation from fibroblast to myofibroblast in experimental ovarian cancer models.

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