S100A2 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in SMAD4-dependent manner

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive tumor and is associated with a poor prognosis. Treatment strategies for PDAC are largely ineffective primarily because of delay in its diagnosis and limited efficacy of systematic treatment. S100A2 is associated with the prolife...

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Main Authors: Qinbo Chen, Hangcheng Guo, Haojie Jiang, Zujian Hu, Xuejia Yang, Ziwei Yuan, Yuanyuan Gao, Ge Zhang, Yongheng Bai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2023-09-01
Series:Cell Death Discovery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-023-01661-1
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author Qinbo Chen
Hangcheng Guo
Haojie Jiang
Zujian Hu
Xuejia Yang
Ziwei Yuan
Yuanyuan Gao
Ge Zhang
Yongheng Bai
author_facet Qinbo Chen
Hangcheng Guo
Haojie Jiang
Zujian Hu
Xuejia Yang
Ziwei Yuan
Yuanyuan Gao
Ge Zhang
Yongheng Bai
author_sort Qinbo Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive tumor and is associated with a poor prognosis. Treatment strategies for PDAC are largely ineffective primarily because of delay in its diagnosis and limited efficacy of systematic treatment. S100A2 is associated with the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of several tumors; however, its effects on PDAC and the associated molecular mechanisms remain to be explored. We studied the mechanisms underlying the effect of S100A2 on epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in PDAC cells. We found that the level of S100A2 remarkably increased and was associated with poor PDAC prognosis. The overexpression of S100A2 in PANC-1 cells also induced EMT, in addition to increasing the invasion and migration of PDAC cells, whereas the knockdown of S100A2 markedly inhibited cell metastasis. Furthermore, S100A2 was found to enhance metastatic abilities in vivo. The overexpression of S100A2 increased SMAD4 expression, whereas the knockdown of S100A2 reduced SMAD4 expression. SMAD4 overexpression could effectively rescue the effects of S100A2 knockdown on EMT. S100A2 mechanistically activated the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, upregulated SMAD4 expression, induced EMT, and increased PANC-1 cell metastasis. In conclusion, the S100A2/SMAD4 axis modulates EMT to accelerate PDAC development. Our results supplement and enrich the understanding of the pathogenesis underlying PDAC and provide a new theoretical basis and strategy targeting S100A2 for the diagnosis and treatment of PDAC.
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spelling doaj.art-ea885f6957974c84a9166780a6fa901e2023-11-19T12:22:40ZengNature Publishing GroupCell Death Discovery2058-77162023-09-019111010.1038/s41420-023-01661-1S100A2 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in SMAD4-dependent mannerQinbo Chen0Hangcheng Guo1Haojie Jiang2Zujian Hu3Xuejia Yang4Ziwei Yuan5Yuanyuan Gao6Ge Zhang7Yongheng Bai8Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive tumor and is associated with a poor prognosis. Treatment strategies for PDAC are largely ineffective primarily because of delay in its diagnosis and limited efficacy of systematic treatment. S100A2 is associated with the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of several tumors; however, its effects on PDAC and the associated molecular mechanisms remain to be explored. We studied the mechanisms underlying the effect of S100A2 on epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis in PDAC cells. We found that the level of S100A2 remarkably increased and was associated with poor PDAC prognosis. The overexpression of S100A2 in PANC-1 cells also induced EMT, in addition to increasing the invasion and migration of PDAC cells, whereas the knockdown of S100A2 markedly inhibited cell metastasis. Furthermore, S100A2 was found to enhance metastatic abilities in vivo. The overexpression of S100A2 increased SMAD4 expression, whereas the knockdown of S100A2 reduced SMAD4 expression. SMAD4 overexpression could effectively rescue the effects of S100A2 knockdown on EMT. S100A2 mechanistically activated the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, upregulated SMAD4 expression, induced EMT, and increased PANC-1 cell metastasis. In conclusion, the S100A2/SMAD4 axis modulates EMT to accelerate PDAC development. Our results supplement and enrich the understanding of the pathogenesis underlying PDAC and provide a new theoretical basis and strategy targeting S100A2 for the diagnosis and treatment of PDAC.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-023-01661-1
spellingShingle Qinbo Chen
Hangcheng Guo
Haojie Jiang
Zujian Hu
Xuejia Yang
Ziwei Yuan
Yuanyuan Gao
Ge Zhang
Yongheng Bai
S100A2 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in SMAD4-dependent manner
Cell Death Discovery
title S100A2 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in SMAD4-dependent manner
title_full S100A2 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in SMAD4-dependent manner
title_fullStr S100A2 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in SMAD4-dependent manner
title_full_unstemmed S100A2 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in SMAD4-dependent manner
title_short S100A2 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in SMAD4-dependent manner
title_sort s100a2 induces epithelial mesenchymal transition and metastasis in pancreatic cancer by coordinating transforming growth factor β signaling in smad4 dependent manner
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-023-01661-1
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