TFEB-driven autophagy potentiates TGF-? induced migration in pancreatic cancer cells.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most aggressive cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 8%. The complicated tumor microenvironment, particularly TGF-?, provides possible convenience for the progression of PC cells. TGF-? regulates critical cellular processes, including autophagy. However, the mechanism and effects of TGF-?-mediated autophagy are still poorly understood. METHODS:Bioinformatics analysis, western blot, transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy were used to identify that TFEB is the key factors in TGF-?-induced autophagy. The biological effects of TFEB-driven autophagy were investigated in vitro using transwell and wound healing assays and in vivo using liver metastasis and LSL-KrasG12D/Pdx1-Cre mice models. Luciferase assays and motif analysis were used to assess regulation of RAB5A gene promoter activity by TGF-?-induced TFEB. TFEB levels were measured by real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemical staining in clinical pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tissues. RESULTS:We demonstrated that TGF-? induces TFEB expression via the canonical smad pathway in Smad4-positive PC cells and facilitates TFEB-mediated autophagic activation. TFEB-driven autophagy caused by TGF-? regulates RAB5A-dependent endocytosis of Itg?5 and promotes progression of PC cells. We further showed that enhanced TFEB expression and its direct target RAB5A both predict poor prognosis in PC patients. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings reveal TFEB-driven autophagy is required for TGF-? induced migration and metastasis of PC cells by promoting endocytosis of Itg?5?1 and focal adhesion disassembly through the TGF-?-TFEB-RAB5A axis. Our results highlight the potential utility of suppressing TFEB-driven autophagy to block PC metastasis.
SUBMITTER: He R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6683473 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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