Wild-type p53 inhibits pro-invasive properties of TGF-β3 in breast cancer, in part through regulation of EPHB2, a new TGF-β target gene

S Lam, E Wiercinska, AFAS Teunisse, K Lodder… - Breast cancer research …, 2014 - Springer
S Lam, E Wiercinska, AFAS Teunisse, K Lodder, P ten Dijke, AG Jochemsen
Breast cancer research and treatment, 2014Springer
The p53 tumor suppressor protein is primarily known for its important role in tumor
suppression. In addition, p53 affects tumor cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-
mesenchymal transition (EMT); processes also regulated by the transforming growth factor-β
(TGF-β) signaling pathway. Here, we investigated the role of p53 in breast tumor cell
invasion, migration, and EMT and examined the interplay of p53 with TGF-β3 in these
processes. MCF-10A1 and MCF-10CA1a breast cancer cells were treated with Nutlin-3 and …
Abstract
The p53 tumor suppressor protein is primarily known for its important role in tumor suppression. In addition, p53 affects tumor cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); processes also regulated by the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway. Here, we investigated the role of p53 in breast tumor cell invasion, migration, and EMT and examined the interplay of p53 with TGF-β3 in these processes. MCF-10A1 and MCF-10CA1a breast cancer cells were treated with Nutlin-3 and TGF-β3, and the effects on tumor cell migration and invasion were studied in transwell and 3D spheroid invasion assays. The effects of Nutlin-3 and TGF-β3 on EMT were examined in NMuMG cells. To identify genes involved in TGF-β-induced invasion that are modulated by p53, a Human Tumor Metastasis-specific RT-PCR array was performed. Verification of EPHB2 regulation by TGF-β3 and p53 was performed on breast cancer tumor cell lines. We demonstrate that p53 inhibits basal and TGF-β3-induced invasion, migration, and EMT in normal breast epithelial and breast cancer cells. Pharmacological activation of p53 inhibited induction of several TGF-β3 targets involved in TGF-β3-induced tumor cell invasion, i.e., matrix metallo proteinase (MMP)2, MMP9, and integrin β 3 . The ephrin-type B receptor 2 (EPHB2) gene was identified as a new TGF-β target important for TGF-β3-mediated invasion and migration, whose transcriptional activation by TGF-β3 is also inhibited by p53. The results show an intricate interplay between p53 and TGF-β3 whereby p53 inhibits the TGF-β3-induced expression of genes, e.g., EPHB2, to impede tumor cell invasion and migration.
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