Project description:Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) superfamily signaling is a prime inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) that foster cancer cell invasion and metastasis, a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Yet, TGFβ signaling is frequently inactivated in human tumor entities including colorectal cancer (CRC) and pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) with a high proportion of mutations incapacitating SMAD4, which codes for a transcription factor (TF) central to canonical TGFβ and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling. Beyond its role in initiating EMT, SMAD4 was reported to crucially contribute to subsequent gene regulatory events during EMT execution. It is therefore widely assumed that SMAD4-mutant (SMAD4mut) cancer cells are unable to undergo EMT. Here, we scrutinized this notion and probed for potential SMAD4-independent EMT execution using SMAD4mut CRC cell lines. We show that SMAD4mut cells exhibit morphological changes, become invasive, and regulate EMT marker genes upon induction of the EMT-TF SNAIL1. Furthermore, SNAIL1-induced EMT in SMAD4mut cells was found to be entirely independent of TGFβ/BMP receptor activity. Global assessment of the SNAIL1‑dependent transcriptome confirmed the manifestation of an EMT gene regulatory program in SMAD4mut cells highly related to established EMT signatures. Finally, analyses of human tumor transcriptomes showed that SMAD4 mutations are not underrepresented in mesenchymal tumor samples and that expression patterns of EMT‑associated genes are similar in SMAD4mut and SMAD4 wild-type cases. Altogether, our findings reveal considerable plasticity of gene regulatory networks operating in EMT execution and establish that EMT is not categorically precluded in SMAD4mut tumors, which is relevant for their diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation. To identify genes regulated during EMT execution in HT29 cells, two clonal HT29 cell populations (4F5 and 3C2) overexpressing Snail1-HA in a doxycycline (Dox)-inducible manner, as well as control cells were treated with Dox for different periods of time.
Project description:Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a pivotal process in development and disease. In carcinogenesis, various signaling pathways are known to trigger EMT by inducing the expression of EMT transcription factors (EMT-TFs) like SNAIL1, ultimately promoting invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance. However, how EMT is executed downstream of EMT-TFs is incompletely understood. Here, using human colorectal cancer (CRC) and mammary cell line models of EMT, we demonstrate that SNAIL1 critically relies on bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling for EMT execution. This activity requires the transcription factor SMAD4 common to BMP/TGFβ pathways, but is TGFβ signaling-independent. Further, we define a signature of BMP-dependent genes in the EMT-transcriptome which orchestrate EMT-induced invasiveness, and are found to be regulated in human CRC transcriptomes and during EMT in vivo. Collectively, our findings substantially augment the knowledge of mechanistic routes whereby EMT can be effectuated, which is relevant for the conceptual understanding and therapeutic targeting of EMT processes. To identify BMP-dependent genes regulated during EMT, LS174T cells overexpressing Snail1-HA in a doxycycline (Dox)-inducible manner were treated with Dox and inhibitors of BMP signaling (LDN193189/mNoggin) or DMSO as control for different periods of time.
Project description:Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling is essential in cell growth and differentiation. Yet, the role of the individual TGFβ signaling components in human tissue homeostasis and transformation is still incompletely understood. Here we dissected the importance of the core components in the TGFβ signaling pathway by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of human keratinocytes. The edited keratinocytes were used for human organotypic skin cultures and global quantitative proteomics and phosphoproteomics by mass spectrometry. Characterization of cells and human organotypic skin tissues showed control of epithelial differentiation by Smad4-dependent TGF signaling through cell cycle regulation and ECM expression. In contrast, we found that the combined Smad4 dependent and independent pathways, governed by TGFβRII, controls epithelial homeostasis and prevents invasive growth by blocking epithelial inflammation and activation of p38 and ERK signaling. The study provides a framework for exploration of signaling pathways in human 3D tissue models and with global phosphoproteomics.
Project description:TGFβ is known to be a potent inducer of EMT, a process involved in tumor invasion. TIF1γ has been reported to participate to TGFβ signaling. In order to understand the role of TIF1γ in TGFβ signaling and its requirement for EMT, we analyzed the TGFβ1 response of human mammary epithelial cell lines. A strong EMT increase was observed in TIF1γ-silenced cells after TGFβ1 treatment, whereas Smad4 inactivation completely blocked this process. In support of these observations, microarray data show that the functions of several TIF1γ target genes can be linked to EMT. As a negative regulator of Smad4, TIF1γ could be critical for the regulation of TGFβ signaling. This work highlights the molecular relationship between TIF1γ and Smad4 in TGFβ1 signaling and EMT. Total mRNA extractions were performed for 11 samples from transfected HMEC-TR. Replicates are rimo1, 6; rimo3, 9; rimo2, 7; rimo 4, 10 and rimo 5, 11. Rimo 8 is a single experiment. All RNA extractions were obtained from two independent cell cultures excepted for rimo8. Rimo 1, 6 are replicate for ctrl-; Rimo 3, 9 are replicate for ctrl+; Rimo 2, 7 are replicate for SiTIF-; Rimo 4, 10 are replicate for SiTIF+; Rimo8 is SiSmad4-; and Rimo5, 11 are replicate for SiSmad4+. ctrl means that HMEC-TR were transfected with an SiRNA scramble. "siSmad4" means that HMEC-TR were transfected with an SiRNA anti Smad4. "siTIF" means that HMEC-TR were transfected with an SiRNA anti TIF1γ. "-" means that cells were grown without TGFβ. "+" means that cells were treated with 5 ng/ml TGFβ1 for 24h.
Project description:TGFβ is known to be a potent inducer of EMT, a process involved in tumor invasion. TIF1γ has been reported to participate to TGFβ signaling. In order to understand the role of TIF1γ in TGFβ signaling and its requirement for EMT, we analyzed the TGFβ1 response of human mammary epithelial cell lines. A strong EMT increase was observed in TIF1γ-silenced cells after TGFβ1 treatment, whereas Smad4 inactivation completely blocked this process. In support of these observations, microarray data show that the functions of several TIF1γ target genes can be linked to EMT. As a negative regulator of Smad4, TIF1γ could be critical for the regulation of TGFβ signaling. This work highlights the molecular relationship between TIF1γ and Smad4 in TGFβ1 signaling and EMT.
Project description:RNA-sequencing of TGFβ treated empty vector (EV) or Smad4-expressing AKPS lines followed by GSEA revealed a number of gene sets overlapping with those obtained from analyses in reactive cholangiocytes. Hallmark gene sets MYC, E2F, G2M checkpoint, and oxidative phosphorylation were enriched with loss of Smad4, while TGFβ signaling, EMT, and TNFα were enriched with intact Smad4 signaling, suggesting conserved growth suppressive functions of Smad4 in primary cholangiocytes and advanced cancer.
Project description:The pro-tumourigenic role of epithelial TGFβ in colorectal cancer (CRC) has been controversial. Here we identify a cohort of aggressive ‘bad acting’ early-stage (T1) disseminating tumours characterised by high cell-intrinsic TGFβ signalling emanating from the epithelium, not stroma. To address its functional significance, we activated TGFβ signalling in the murine intestinal epithelium either alone or in concert with the common tumour suppressive and oncogenic mutations found in CRC, namely Apc and Kras. Consistent with previous studies, we found that activation of TGFβ rapidly induced apoptosis in Apc-mutant intestine and completely killed Apc-mutant organoids. However, in the presence of both Apc and Kras mutation, activation of TGFβ within the epithelium rampantly accelerates tumourigenesis. Importantly the transcriptional signatures derived from these mice overlapped with the “bad acting” T1 human tumours and this signalling could also predict recurrence in stage II CRC. Mechanistically, the activation of intrinsic TGFβ induced the expression of a growth-factor signalling module containing EGFR that synergised with Apc and Kras to drive marked activation of MAPK signalling. Importantly, inhibition of MEK and/or EGFR suppressed the acceleration conferred by TGFβ even in Kras-mutant cells, which are refractory to MEK/EGFR inhibition in the absence of epithelial TGFβ. Together, we identify both a determinant of early dissemination and a potential vulnerability for tumours with these born-to-be-bad traits.
Project description:TGF-β is a major tumor suppressor in gastrointestinal (GI) and squamous carcinomas, which exhibit frequent genetic inactivation of Smad4, a key TGF-β signaling component. Apoptosis is implicated as an important mediator of the tumor suppressive function of TGF-β, although this process remains poorly understood. To address this long-standing question, we dissected the tumor suppressive action of TGF-β in naïve pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) cells. Here we show that TGF-β/Smad4 signaling triggers an EMT in Kras-mutant pancreatic progenitor cells but turns this process into a trigger of apoptosis by converting the progenitor cell transcription factor Sox4 from an enforcer of epithelial progenitor identity into an activator of apoptosis. This occurs as a result of the EMT-linked repression of the endodermal master regulator Klf5, which cooperates with Sox4 to promote epithelial progenitor identity, and loss of which unmasks a latent apoptotic transcriptional program driven by Sox4. By losing Smad4, Kras-mutant PDA cells avoid this fate and instead use Sox4 as a TGF-β-dependent enforcer of the epithelial progenitor cell state. In this study, 16 RNA-Seq samples and 6 ChIP-Seq samples are included.
Project description:This model is an expansion of the Regan2022 - Mechanosensitive EMT model (MODEL2208050001); it includes a TGFβ signaling module and autocrine signaling in mesenchymal cells. The expanded 150-node (630 link) modular model undergoes EMT triggered by biomechanical and growth signaling crosstalk, or by TGFβ. As its predecessor, this model also reproduces the ability of the core EMT transcriptional network to maintain distinct epithelial, hybrid E/M and mesenchymal states, as well as EMT driven by mitogens such as EGF on stiff ECM. We also reproduce the observed lack of stepwise MET, in that our model's dynamics does not pass through the hybrid E/M state during MET. We show that in the absence of strong autocrine signals such as TGFβ (not included in this version), cells cannot maintain their mesenchymal state in the absence of mitogens, on softer matrices, or at high cell density. In contrast, potent autocrine signaling can stabilize the mesenchymal state in all but very dense monolayers on soft ECM. This expanded model also reproduces the inhibitory effects of TGFβ on proliferation and anoikis resistance in mesenchymal cells, as well as its ability to trigger apoptosis on soft ECM vs. EMT on stiff matrices. The model offers several experimentally testable predictions related to the effect of neighbors on partial vs. full EMT, the tug of war between mitosis and the maintenance of migratory hybrid E/M states, as well as cell cycle defects in dynamic, heterogeneous populations of epithelial, hybrid E/M and mesenchymal cells.
Project description:Deregulation of the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling pathway in epithelial ovarian cancer has been reported, but the precise mechanism underlying disrupted TGFβ signaling in the disease remains unclear. We performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) to investigate genome-wide screening of TGFβ-induced SMAD4 binding in epithelial ovarian cancer. Following TGFβ stimulation of the A2780 epithelial ovarian cancer cell line, we identified 2,362 SMAD4 binding loci and 318 differentially expressed SMAD4 target genes. Comprehensive examination of SMAD4-bound loci, revealed four distinct binding patterns: 1) Basal; 2) Shift; 3) Stimulated Only; 4) Unstimulated Only. SMAD4-bound loci were primarily classified as either Stimulated only (74%) or Shift (25%), indicating that TGFβ-stimulation alters SMAD4 binding patterns in epithelial ovarian cancer cells compared to normal epithelial cells. Furthermore, based on gene regulatory network analysis, we determined that the TGFβ-induced SMAD4-dependent regulatory network was strikingly different in ovarian cancer compared to normal cells. Importantly, the TGFβ/SMAD4 target genes identified in the A2780 epithelial ovarian cancer cell line were predictive of patient survival, based on in silico mining of publically available patient data bases. In conclusion, our data highlight the utility of next generation sequencing technology to identify genome-wide SMAD4 target genes in epithelial ovarian cancer. The results link aberrant TGFβ/SMAD signaling to ovarian tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the identified SMAD4 binding loci, combined with gene expression profiling and in silico data mining of patient cohorts, may provide a powerful approach to determine potential gene signatures with biological and future translational research in ovarian and other cancers.