TMEM52B suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating E-cadherin stability and EGFR activity
Abstract Background TMEM52B is a novel gene broadly expressed in a variety of normal human tissues. However, the biological function of TMEM52B expression in cancer is largely unknown. Methods The effects of TMEM52B on tumor growth and metastasis were investigated in vitro and in vivo, and the under...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-021-01828-7 |
| _version_ | 1818347886424883200 |
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| author | Yunhee Lee Dongjoon Ko Junghwa Yoon Younghoon Lee Semi Kim |
| author_facet | Yunhee Lee Dongjoon Ko Junghwa Yoon Younghoon Lee Semi Kim |
| author_sort | Yunhee Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background TMEM52B is a novel gene broadly expressed in a variety of normal human tissues. However, the biological function of TMEM52B expression in cancer is largely unknown. Methods The effects of TMEM52B on tumor growth and metastasis were investigated in vitro and in vivo, and the underlying biological and molecular mechanisms involved in this process were evaluated. Clinical datasets from KmPlotter and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed in relation to TMEM52B expression and function. Results Suppression of TMEM52B in colon cancer cells promoted cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and survival in vitro. Similarly, in vivo studies showed increased tumor growth and circulating tumor cell survival (early metastasis). ERK1/2, JNK, and AKT signaling pathways were involved in TMEM52B suppression-induced invasiveness and cell survival. TMEM52B suppression promoted activation and internalization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with enhanced downstream signaling activity, leading to enhanced cell survival and invasion. In addition, TMEM52B suppression reduced E-cadherin stability, likely due to a reduced association between it and E-cadherin, which led to enhanced β-catenin transcriptional activity. Concomitantly, TMEM52B suppression promoted generation of soluble E-cadherin fragments, contributing to the activation of EGFR. Clinical data showed that high TMEM52B expression correlated with increased patient survival in multiple types of cancer, including breast, lung, kidney, and rectal cancers, and suggested a correlation between TMEM52B and E-cadherin. Conclusions These findings suggest that TMEM52B is a novel modulator of the interplay between E-cadherin and EGFR. It is possible that TMEM52B functions as a tumor-suppressor that could potentially be used as a novel prognostic marker for cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:41:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-051328569911405ebefbab6cc6b7dc53 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-9966 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:41:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-051328569911405ebefbab6cc6b7dc532022-12-21T23:36:44ZengBMCJournal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research1756-99662021-03-0140112010.1186/s13046-021-01828-7TMEM52B suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating E-cadherin stability and EGFR activityYunhee Lee0Dongjoon Ko1Junghwa Yoon2Younghoon Lee3Semi Kim4Immunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and BiotechnologyImmunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and BiotechnologyImmunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and BiotechnologyDepartment of Chemistry, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyImmunotherapy Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and BiotechnologyAbstract Background TMEM52B is a novel gene broadly expressed in a variety of normal human tissues. However, the biological function of TMEM52B expression in cancer is largely unknown. Methods The effects of TMEM52B on tumor growth and metastasis were investigated in vitro and in vivo, and the underlying biological and molecular mechanisms involved in this process were evaluated. Clinical datasets from KmPlotter and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed in relation to TMEM52B expression and function. Results Suppression of TMEM52B in colon cancer cells promoted cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and survival in vitro. Similarly, in vivo studies showed increased tumor growth and circulating tumor cell survival (early metastasis). ERK1/2, JNK, and AKT signaling pathways were involved in TMEM52B suppression-induced invasiveness and cell survival. TMEM52B suppression promoted activation and internalization of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) with enhanced downstream signaling activity, leading to enhanced cell survival and invasion. In addition, TMEM52B suppression reduced E-cadherin stability, likely due to a reduced association between it and E-cadherin, which led to enhanced β-catenin transcriptional activity. Concomitantly, TMEM52B suppression promoted generation of soluble E-cadherin fragments, contributing to the activation of EGFR. Clinical data showed that high TMEM52B expression correlated with increased patient survival in multiple types of cancer, including breast, lung, kidney, and rectal cancers, and suggested a correlation between TMEM52B and E-cadherin. Conclusions These findings suggest that TMEM52B is a novel modulator of the interplay between E-cadherin and EGFR. It is possible that TMEM52B functions as a tumor-suppressor that could potentially be used as a novel prognostic marker for cancer.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-021-01828-7TMEM52BCell survivalInvasionEGFRE-cadherinPrognostic marker |
| spellingShingle | Yunhee Lee Dongjoon Ko Junghwa Yoon Younghoon Lee Semi Kim TMEM52B suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating E-cadherin stability and EGFR activity Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research TMEM52B Cell survival Invasion EGFR E-cadherin Prognostic marker |
| title | TMEM52B suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating E-cadherin stability and EGFR activity |
| title_full | TMEM52B suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating E-cadherin stability and EGFR activity |
| title_fullStr | TMEM52B suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating E-cadherin stability and EGFR activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | TMEM52B suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating E-cadherin stability and EGFR activity |
| title_short | TMEM52B suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating E-cadherin stability and EGFR activity |
| title_sort | tmem52b suppression promotes cancer cell survival and invasion through modulating e cadherin stability and egfr activity |
| topic | TMEM52B Cell survival Invasion EGFR E-cadherin Prognostic marker |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-021-01828-7 |
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