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TP63 regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in an experimental prostate cell model

ABSTRACT: p63 is a transcription factor central for epithelial homeostasis and development. In our model of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a human prostate cell culture model, p63 was one of the most down-regulated transcription factors during EMT. We therefore investigated the role of p63 in EMT by a gain and loss of function approach. Over-expression of the predominant epithelial isoform DNp63a in mesenchymal EPT1B8 cells led to gain of several epithelial characteristics without resulting in a complete mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET). This was corroborated by a reciprocal effect when p63 was knocked down in epithelial EP156T cells. Global gene expression analyses found that DNp63a induced gene modules involving cell adhesion genes in mesenchymal like cells. Genome-wide analysis of p63 binding sites by ChIP-seq analyses confirmed binding of p63 to regulatory areas of genes associated with cell adhesion in prostate epithelial cells.CDH1 and ZEB1 are two elemental factors in the control of EMT. Over-expression and knock-down of these factors, respectively, were not sufficient alone or in combination with DNp63a to reverse the mesenchymal phenotype in EPT1 cells. The partial reversion of epithelial to mesenchymal transition might reflect the ability of DNp63a, as a key co-ordinator of several epithelial gene expression modules, to reduce epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). The utility of DNp63a expression and the potential of reduced EMP in order to counteract metastasis warrant further investigation.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE43111 | GEO | 2013/12/20

SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA184585

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Metastasis consists of sequential steps initiated by cancer cells invading from the primary tumor site into neighboring tissues, followed by entry into the circulatory system and completed by extravasation and growth in distal organs. Circulating tumor cells, thus, encounter and adapt to multiple environmental changes during this transition. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental program that consists of loss of epithelial features concomitant with acquisition of mesenchymal features. Activation of EMT in cancer facilitates acquisition of aggressive traits and cancer invasion. EMT plasticity (EMP), the dynamic transition between multiple hybrid states in which cancer cells display both epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, confers survival advantages for cancer cells in the constantly changing environment. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating intermediate phenotypic states along the E–M spectrum is critical. Core EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs), ZEB, SNAI and TWIST families, play an important role in EMT and its plasticity. In the present study we characterize FLASH as a regulator of EMP and multiple EMT-TFs. We demonstrate that loss of FLASH gives rise to a hybrid E/M phenotype with high epithelial scores even in the presence of TGFβ, as determined by computational methods using expression of predetermined sets of epithelial and mesenchymal genes. We demonstrate that FLASH is regulating expression of multiple cell junction proteins with an established role in cancer progression and that its role in EMT is independent of its histone biogenesis role. Further, we show that FLASH expression in cancer lines is inversely correlated with the epithelial score, consistent with its function as a repressor of the epithelial phenotype. Nonetheless, activation of a distinct set of mesenchymal markers concomitant with epithelial markers reveals the complex role of FLASH in EMT and indicates that intermediate E/M states could arise from opposing control by FLASH on different families of EMT-TFs.

Project description:Background Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), an HPV-negative head and neck cancer, frequently metastasizes to the regional lymph nodes but only occasionally beyond. Initial phases of metastasis are associated with an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), while the consolidation phase is associated with mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET). This dynamic is referred to as epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). While it is known that EMP is essential for cancer cell invasion and metastatic spread, less is known about the heterogeneity of EMP states and even less about the heterogeneity between primary and metastatic lesions. Methods To assess both the heterogeneity of EMP states in OSCC cells and their effects on stromal cells, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) of 5 primary tumors, 9 matching metastatic and 5 tumor-free lymph nodes and re-analyzed publicly available scRNAseq data of 9 additional primary tumors. For examining the cell type composition, we performed bulk transcriptome sequencing. Protein expression of selected genes were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Results From the 23 OSCC lesions, the single cell transcriptomes of a total of 7263 carcinoma cells were available for in-depth analyses. We initially focused on one lesion to avoid confounding inter-patient heterogeneity and identified OSCC cells expressing genes characteristic of different epithelial and partial EMT stages. RNA velocity and the increase in inferred copy number variations indicated a progressive trajectory towards epithelial differentiation in this metastatic lesion, i.e., cells likely underwent MET. Extension to all samples revealed a less stringent but essentially similar pattern. Interestingly, MET cells show increased activity of the EMT-activator ZEB1. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that ZEB1 was co-expressed with the epithelial marker cornifin B in individual tumor cells. The lack of E-cadherin mRNA expression suggests this is a partial MET. Within the tumor microenvironment we found immunomodulating fibroblasts that were maintained in primary and metastatic OSCC. Conclusions This study reveals that EMP enables different partial EMT and epithelial phenotypes of OSCC cells, which are endowed with capabilities essential for the different stages of the metastatic process, including maintenance of cellular integrity. During MET, ZEB1 appears to be functionally active, indicating a more complex role of ZEB1 than mere induction of EMT.

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TP63 regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in an experimental prostate cell model

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