ECM Substrates Impact RNAi Localization at Adherens Junctions of Colon Epithelial Cells

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays crucial roles in tissue homeostasis. Abnormalities in ECM composition are associated with pathological conditions, such as fibrosis and cancer. These ECM alterations are sensed by the epithelium and can influence its behavior through crosstalk with other mechanos...

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Main Authors: Amanda C. Daulagala, Antonis Kourtidis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Cells
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/23/3740
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author Amanda C. Daulagala
Antonis Kourtidis
author_facet Amanda C. Daulagala
Antonis Kourtidis
author_sort Amanda C. Daulagala
collection DOAJ
description The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays crucial roles in tissue homeostasis. Abnormalities in ECM composition are associated with pathological conditions, such as fibrosis and cancer. These ECM alterations are sensed by the epithelium and can influence its behavior through crosstalk with other mechanosensitive complexes, including the adherens junctions (AJs). We have previously shown that the AJs, through their component PLEKHA7, recruit the RNAi machinery to regulate miRNA levels and function. We have particularly shown that the junctional localization of RNAi components is critical for their function. Here, we investigated whether different ECM substrates can influence the junctional localization of RNAi complexes. To do this, we plated colon epithelial Caco2 cells on four key ECM substrates found in the colon under normal or pathogenic conditions, namely laminin, fibronectin, collagen I, and collagen IV, and we examined the subcellular distribution of PLEKHA7, and of the key RNAi components AGO2 and DROSHA. Fibronectin and collagen I negatively impacted the junctional localization of PLEKHA7, AGO2, and DROSHA when compared to laminin. Furthermore, fibronectin, collagen I, and collagen IV disrupted interactions of AGO2 and DROSHA with their essential partners GW182 and DGCR8, respectively, both at AJs and throughout the cell. Combinations of all substrates with fibronectin also negatively impacted junctional localization of PLEKHA7 and AGO2. Additionally, collagen I triggered accumulation of DROSHA at tri-cellular junctions, while both collagen I and collagen IV resulted in DROSHA accumulation at basal areas of cell–cell contact. Altogether, fibronectin and collagens I and IV, which are elevated in the stroma of fibrotic and cancerous tissues, altered localization patterns and disrupted complex formation of PLEKHA7 and RNAi components. Combined with our prior studies showing that apical junctional localization of the PLEKHA7-RNAi complex is critical for regulating tumor-suppressing miRNAs, this work points to a yet unstudied mechanism that could contribute to epithelial cell transformation.
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spelling doaj.art-a1db6ae9384843988c75b3524f39a5f52023-11-24T10:43:03ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092022-11-011123374010.3390/cells11233740ECM Substrates Impact RNAi Localization at Adherens Junctions of Colon Epithelial CellsAmanda C. Daulagala0Antonis Kourtidis1Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USADepartment of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USAThe extracellular matrix (ECM) plays crucial roles in tissue homeostasis. Abnormalities in ECM composition are associated with pathological conditions, such as fibrosis and cancer. These ECM alterations are sensed by the epithelium and can influence its behavior through crosstalk with other mechanosensitive complexes, including the adherens junctions (AJs). We have previously shown that the AJs, through their component PLEKHA7, recruit the RNAi machinery to regulate miRNA levels and function. We have particularly shown that the junctional localization of RNAi components is critical for their function. Here, we investigated whether different ECM substrates can influence the junctional localization of RNAi complexes. To do this, we plated colon epithelial Caco2 cells on four key ECM substrates found in the colon under normal or pathogenic conditions, namely laminin, fibronectin, collagen I, and collagen IV, and we examined the subcellular distribution of PLEKHA7, and of the key RNAi components AGO2 and DROSHA. Fibronectin and collagen I negatively impacted the junctional localization of PLEKHA7, AGO2, and DROSHA when compared to laminin. Furthermore, fibronectin, collagen I, and collagen IV disrupted interactions of AGO2 and DROSHA with their essential partners GW182 and DGCR8, respectively, both at AJs and throughout the cell. Combinations of all substrates with fibronectin also negatively impacted junctional localization of PLEKHA7 and AGO2. Additionally, collagen I triggered accumulation of DROSHA at tri-cellular junctions, while both collagen I and collagen IV resulted in DROSHA accumulation at basal areas of cell–cell contact. Altogether, fibronectin and collagens I and IV, which are elevated in the stroma of fibrotic and cancerous tissues, altered localization patterns and disrupted complex formation of PLEKHA7 and RNAi components. Combined with our prior studies showing that apical junctional localization of the PLEKHA7-RNAi complex is critical for regulating tumor-suppressing miRNAs, this work points to a yet unstudied mechanism that could contribute to epithelial cell transformation.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/23/3740PLEKHA7AGO2DROSHAE-cadherinlamininfibronectin
spellingShingle Amanda C. Daulagala
Antonis Kourtidis
ECM Substrates Impact RNAi Localization at Adherens Junctions of Colon Epithelial Cells
Cells
PLEKHA7
AGO2
DROSHA
E-cadherin
laminin
fibronectin
title ECM Substrates Impact RNAi Localization at Adherens Junctions of Colon Epithelial Cells
title_full ECM Substrates Impact RNAi Localization at Adherens Junctions of Colon Epithelial Cells
title_fullStr ECM Substrates Impact RNAi Localization at Adherens Junctions of Colon Epithelial Cells
title_full_unstemmed ECM Substrates Impact RNAi Localization at Adherens Junctions of Colon Epithelial Cells
title_short ECM Substrates Impact RNAi Localization at Adherens Junctions of Colon Epithelial Cells
title_sort ecm substrates impact rnai localization at adherens junctions of colon epithelial cells
topic PLEKHA7
AGO2
DROSHA
E-cadherin
laminin
fibronectin
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/11/23/3740
work_keys_str_mv AT amandacdaulagala ecmsubstratesimpactrnailocalizationatadherensjunctionsofcolonepithelialcells
AT antoniskourtidis ecmsubstratesimpactrnailocalizationatadherensjunctionsofcolonepithelialcells