RESUMEN
The insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in mammals comprises a dynamic network of proteins that modulate several biological processes such as development, cell growth, metabolism, and aging. Dysregulation of the insulin/IGF system has major implications for several pathological conditions such as diabetes and cancer. Metabolic changes also culminate in aberrant glycosylation, which has been highlighted as a hallmark of cancer. Changes in glycosylation regulate every pathophysiological step of cancer progression including tumour cell-cell dissociation, cell migration, cell signaling and metastasis. This review discusses how the insulin/IGF system integrates with glycosylation alterations and impacts on cell behaviour, metabolism and drug resistance in cancer.
Asunto(s)
Factor I del Crecimiento Similar a la Insulina/metabolismo , Insulina/metabolismo , Neoplasias/metabolismo , Polisacáridos/metabolismo , Secuencias Reguladoras de Ácidos Nucleicos/genética , Animales , Glicosilación , Humanos , Insulina/genética , Factor I del Crecimiento Similar a la Insulina/genética , Neoplasias/genética , Neoplasias/patología , Transducción de Señal/genética , Transducción de Señal/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Tumor growth is accompanied with dramatic changes in the cellular glycome, such as the aberrant expression of complex branched N-glycans. However, the role of this protumoral N-glycan in immune evasion and whether its removal contributes to enhancement of immune recognition and to unleashing an antitumor immune response remain elusive. We demonstrated that branched N-glycans are used by colorectal cancer cells to escape immune recognition, instructing the creation of immunosuppressive networks through inhibition of IFNγ. The removal of this "glycan-mask" exposed immunogenic mannose glycans that potentiated immune recognition by DC-SIGN-expressing immune cells, resulting in an effective antitumor immune response. We revealed a glycoimmune checkpoint in colorectal cancer, highlighting the therapeutic efficacy of its deglycosylation to potentiate immune recognition and, thus, improving cancer immunotherapy.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Colorrectales/inmunología , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Polisacáridos/metabolismo , Progresión de la Enfermedad , HumanosRESUMEN
Changes in protein levels in different components of the apical junctional complex occur in colorectal cancer (CRC). Claudin3 is one of the main constituents of tight junctions, and its overexpression can increase the paracellular flux of macromolecules, as well as the malignant potential of CRC cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of claudin3 and its prognostic value in CRC. In silico evaluation in each of the CRC consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs) revealed that high expression levels of CLDN3 (gene encoding claudin3) in CMS2 and CMS3 worsened the patients' longterm survival, whereas a decrease in claudin3 levels concomitant with a reduction in phosphorylation levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and insulinlike growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) could be achieved by inhibiting Nglycan biosynthesis in CRC cells. We also observed that specific inactivation of these receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) led to a decrease in claudin3 levels, and this regulation seems to be mediated by phospholipase C (PLC) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in CRC cells. RTKs are modulated by their Nlinked glycans, and inhibition of Nglycan biosynthesis decreased the claudin3 levels; therefore, we evaluated the correlation between Nglycogenes and CLDN3 expression levels in each of the CRC molecular subtypes. The CMS1 (MSI immune) subtype concomitantly exhibited low expression levels of CLDN3 and Nglycogenes (MGAT5, ST6GAL1, and B3GNT8), whereas CMS2 (canonical) exhibited high gene expression levels of CLDN3 and Nglycogenes (ST6GAL1 and B3GNT8). A robust positive correlation was also observed between CLDN3 and B3GNT8 expression levels in all CMSs. These results support the hypothesis of a mechanism integrating RTK signaling and Nglycosylation for the regulation of claudin3 levels in CRC, and they suggest that CLDN3 expression can be used to predict the prognosis of patients identified as CMS2 or CMS3.