Breast tumor cells promotes the horizontal propagation of EMT, stemness, and metastasis by transferring the MAP17 protein between subsets of neoplastic cells.

ABSTRACT: MAP17 (PDZK1IP1) is a small protein regulating inflammation and tumor progression, upregulated in a broad range of carcinomas. MAP17 levels increase during tumor progression in a large percentage of advanced tumors. In the present work, we explored the role of this protein shaping tumor evolution. Here we show that in breast cancer, cells increased MAP17 levels in tumors by demethylation induced multiple changes in gene expression through specific miRNAs downregulation. These miRNA changes are dependent on Notch pathway activation. As a consequence, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness are induced promoting the metastatic potential of these cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, MAP17 increased the exosomes in tumor cells, where MAP17 was released as cargo, and this

SUBMITTER: Garcia-Heredia JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7589521 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature