RESUMEN
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most deadly gynaecologic malignancy due to late onset of symptoms and propensity towards drug resistance. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been linked to the development of chemoresistance in other cancers, yet little is known regarding its role in EOC. In this study, we sought to determine the role of the transcription factor TWIST1, a master regulator of EMT, on cisplatin resistance in an EOC model. We created two Ovcar8-derived cell lines that differed only in their TWIST1 expression. TWIST1 expression led to increased tumour engraftment in mice, as well as cisplatin resistance in vitro. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that TWIST1 expression resulted in upregulation of GAS6 and L1CAM and downregulation of HMGA2. Knockdown studies of these genes demonstrated that loss of GAS6 or L1CAM sensitized cells to cisplatin, but that loss of HMGA2 did not give rise to chemoresistance. TWIST1, in part via GAS6 and L1CAM, led to higher expression and activation of Akt upon cisplatin treatment, and inhibition of Akt activation sensitized cells to cisplatin. These results suggest TWIST1- and EMT-driven increase in Akt activation, and thus tumour cell proliferation, as a potential mechanism of drug resistance in EOC.
Asunto(s)
Cisplatino/farmacología , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/efectos de los fármacos , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intercelular/metabolismo , Molécula L1 de Adhesión de Célula Nerviosa/metabolismo , Proteínas Nucleares/metabolismo , Neoplasias Ováricas/patología , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/metabolismo , Proteína 1 Relacionada con Twist/metabolismo , Regulación hacia Arriba/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Línea Celular Tumoral , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Activación Enzimática/efectos de los fármacos , Femenino , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Técnicas de Silenciamiento del Gen , Proteína HMGA2/metabolismo , Humanos , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intercelular/genética , Ratones , Modelos Biológicos , Molécula L1 de Adhesión de Célula Nerviosa/genética , Neoplasias Ováricas/genética , Fosforilación/efectos de los fármacos , ARN Interferente Pequeño/metabolismo , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Análisis de Secuencia de ARN , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
PROBLEM: Diabetes confers an increased risk of preeclampsia, but its pathogenic role in preeclampsia is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of excess glucose on trophoblast function and whether any changes could be reversed by metformin. METHOD OF STUDY: The human first trimester trophoblast cell line (Sw.71) was treated with glucose at 5, 10, 25, and 50 mm, in the presence and absence of metformin. Trophoblast migration was quantified and supernatant cytokine, chemokine, and angiogenic factors measured. RESULTS: Increasing concentrations of glucose significantly increased trophoblast secretion of the inflammatory cytokines/chemokines: IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, GRO-α, RANTES, and G-CSF; significantly increased trophoblast secretion of the anti-angiogenic factors sFlt-1 and sEndoglin; and significantly decreased trophoblast migration. Excess glucose-induced trophoblast IL-1ß production was inhibited by disabling the Nalp3/ASC inflammasome. Metformin partially reduced the glucose-induced inflammatory response, but had no effect on the anti-angiogenic or antimigratory response. CONCLUSION: Excess glucose induced a pro-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and antimigratory state in first trimester trophoblast cells. Glucose-induced trophoblast IL-1ß secretion was mediated by the inflammasome. Glucose-induced inflammation was partially reversed by metformin. These findings demonstrate the pleiotropic effects of hyperglycaemia on the trophoblast, providing potential explanations for the strong link between diabetes and preeclampsia.