Darren F. Seals

A role for the podosome/invadopodia scaffold protein Tks5 in tumor growth in vivo.

Podosomes and invadopodia are electron-dense, actin-rich protrusions located on the ventral side of the cellular membrane. They are detected in various types of normal cells, but also in human cancer cells and in Src-transformed fibroblasts. Previously we have shown that the scaffold protein Tks5 (tyrosine kinase substrate 5) co-localizes to podosomes/invadopodia in different human cancer cells and in Src-transformed NIH-3T3 cells. Upon reduced expression of Tks5 podosome formation is decreased, which leads to diminished gelatin degradation in vitro in various human cancer cell lines. It is unclear, however, whether cancer cells need podosomes for tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. To test this idea, we evaluated the ability of Src-transformed NIH-3T3 cells, showing stable reduced expression of Tks5 and podosome formation (Tks5 KD), to form subcutaneous tumors in mice. We demonstrate that decreased expression of Tks5 correlated with reduced tumor growth at this site. In addition, we generated lung metastases from these cells following tail vein injection. The lungs of mice injected i.v. with the Tks5 KD showed smaller-sized metastases, but there was no difference in the number of lesions compared to the controls, indicating that podosomes may not be required for extravasation from the blood stream into the lung parenchyma. Independent of the microenvironment however, the reduced tumor growth correlated with decreased tumor vascularization. Our data potentially implicate a novel role of podosomes as mediators of tumor angiogenesis and support further exploration of how podosome formation and Tks5 expression contribute to tumor progression.

Suppression of Tak1 promotes prostate tumorigenesis.

More than 30% of primary prostate cancers contain a consensus deletion of an approximately 800 kb locus on chromosome 6q15.1. The MAP3K7 gene, which encodes TGF-β activated kinase-1 (Tak1), is a putative prostate tumor suppressor gene within this region whose precise function remains obscure. In this study, we investigated the role of Tak1 in human and murine prostate cancers. In 50 well-characterized human cancer specimens, we found that Tak1 expression was progressively lost with increasing Gleason grade, both within each cancer and across all cancers. In murine prostate stem cells and Tak1-deficient prostatic epithelial cells, Tak1 loss increased proliferation, migration, and invasion. When prostate stem cells attenuated for Tak1 were engrafted with fetal urogenital mesenchyme, the histopathology of the grafts reflected the natural history of prostate cancer leading from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia to invasive carcinoma. In the grafts containing Tak1-suppressed prostate stem cells, p38 and c-jun-NH(2)-kinase activity was attenuated and proliferation was increased. Together, our findings functionally validate the proposed tumor suppressor role of Tak1 in prostate cancer.

Src-dependent Tks5 phosphorylation regulates invadopodia-associated invasion in prostate cancer cells

The Src tyrosine kinase substrate and adaptor protein Tks5 had previously been implicated in the invasive phenotype of normal and transformed cell types via regulation of cytoskeletal structures called podosomes/invadopodia. The role of Src‐Tks5 signaling in invasive prostate cancer, however, had not been previously evaluated.

Metabolic Regulation of Invadopodia and Invasion by Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase 1 and De novo Lipogenesis

Invadopodia are membrane protrusions that facilitate matrix degradation and cellular invasion. Although lipids have been implicated in several aspects of invadopodia formation, the contributions of de novo fatty acid synthesis and lipogenesis have not been defined. Inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1), the committed step of fatty acid synthesis, reduced invadopodia formation in Src-transformed 3T3 (3T3-Src) cells, and also decreased the ability to degrade gelatin. Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis through AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) activation and ACC phosphorylation also decreased invadopodia incidence. The addition of exogenous 16∶0 and 18∶1 fatty acid, products of de novo fatty acid synthesis, restored invadopodia and gelatin degradation to cells with decreased ACC1 activity. Pharmacological inhibition of ACC also altered the phospholipid profile of 3T3-Src cells, with the majority of changes occurring in the phosphatidylcholine (PC) species. Exogenous supplementation with the most abundant PC species, 34∶1 PC, restored invadopodia incidence, the ability to degrade gelatin and the ability to invade through matrigel to cells deficient in ACC1 activity. On the other hand, 30∶0 PC did not restore invadopodia and 36∶2 PC only restored invadopodia incidence and gelatin degradation, but not cellular invasion through matrigel. Pharmacological inhibition of ACC also reduced the ability of MDA-MB-231 breast, Snb19 glioblastoma, and PC-3 prostate cancer cells to invade through matrigel. Invasion of PC-3 cells through matrigel was also restored by 34∶1 PC supplementation. Collectively, the data elucidate the novel metabolic regulation of invadopodia and the invasive process by de novo fatty acid synthesis and lipogenesis.

The podosome marker protein Tks5 regulates macrophage invasive behavior

Tks5 is a Src substrate and adaptor protein previously recognized for its regulation of cancer cell invasion through modulation of specialized adhesion structures called podosomes/invadopodia. Here we show for the first time that Tks5 localizes to the podosomes of primary macrophages, and that Tks5 protein levels increase concurrently with podosome deposition during the differentiation of monocytes into macrophages. Similar results are reported for model THP‐1 cells, which differentiate into macrophages and form proteolytically active podosomes in response to a PKC signaling agonist (PMA) and with sensitivity to a PKC inhibitor (bisindolylmaleimide). Genetic manipulation of Tks5 expression (silencing and overexpression) in stable THP‐1 cell lines does not independently alter this macrophage differentiation process. Nor do these cells lose the ability to focalize F‐actin and its accessory proteins into podosome‐like structures following PMA treatment. However, Tks5 directly controls podosome‐associated gelatin degradation and invasion through collective changes in adhesion, chemotaxis, and the expression/proteolytic activity of MMP9. The Src family kinase‐dependent phosphorylation of Tks5 is also implicated in the regulation of THP‐1 macrophage invasive behavior. These results therefore define a previously unappreciated function of Tks5 signaling specific to the functional attributes of the macrophage podosome in adhesion, motility, and extracellular matrix‐remodeling.

The anti-angiogenic and cytotoxic effects of the boswellic acid analog BA145 are potentiated by autophagy inhibitors

BackgroundWhile angiogenesis inhibitors represent a viable cancer therapy, there is preclinical and clinical data to suggest that many tumors develop resistance to such treatments. Moreover, previous studies have revealed a complex association between autophagy and angiogenesis, and their collective influence on tumorigenesis. Autophagy has been implicated in cytoprotection and tumor promotion, and as such may represent an alternative way of targeting apoptosis-resistant cancer cells. This study explored the anti-cancer agent and boswellic acid analog BA145 as an inducer of autophagy and angiogenesis-mediated cytoprotection of tumor cells.MethodsFlow cytometry, western blotting, and confocal microscopy were used to investigate the role of BA145 mediated autophagy. ELISA, microvessel sprouting, capillary structure formation, aortic ring and wound healing assays were performed to determine the relationship between BA145 triggered autophagy and angiogenesis. Flow cytometery, western blotting, and microscopy were employed to examine the mechanism of BA145 induced cell death and apoptosis. Live imaging and tumor volume analysis were carried out to evaluate the effect of BA145 triggered autophagy on mouse tumor xenografts.ResultsBA145 induced autophagy in PC-3 cancer cells and HUVECs significantly impeded its negative regulation on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tube formation. These effects of BA145 induced autophagy were observed under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. However, inhibition of autophagy using either pharmacological inhibitors or RNA interference enhanced the BA145 mediated death of these cells. Similar observations were noticed with sunitinib, the anti-angiogenic properties of which were significantly enhanced during combination treatments with autophagy inhibitors. In mouse tumor xenografts, co-treatment with chloroquinone and BA145 led to a considerable reduction in tumor burden and angiogenesis compared to BA145 alone.ConclusionThese studies reveal the essential role of BA145 triggered autophagy in the regulation of angiogenesis and cytoprotection. It also suggests that the combination of the autophagy inhibitors with chemotherapy or anti-angiogenic agents may be an effective therapeutic approach against cancer.

Abstract 42: Biological significance of the lipogenic enzyme acetyl-CoA carboxylase in the control of metastatic properties of murine and human transformed cells

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC In recent years, it has been determined that the fatty acid synthesis pathway is upregulated in several types of cancers of epithelial origin at both transcriptional and translational levels. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells rely on this pathway to provide the fatty acid precursors needed for synthesizing lipids that preferentially segregate into the liquid ordered microdomains of the plasma membrane. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) is the ATP dependent and rate limiting step of fatty acid synthesis and catalyzes the carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA. Interestingly, overexpression of this enzyme increases with severity of breast cancer patient samples and cell lines, indicating a possible role for ACC in the metastatic process. Preliminary findings from our lab indicate that ACC is important for the proteolytic invasion and migration of transformed cells independently of cell death. Moreover, ACC is critical for formation of F-actin rich membrane structures known as podosomes, which have been implicated in the metastatic process in recent years. Restoration of podosomes in cells with ACC inhibition was achieved with the addition of the soluble fatty acid, C18:1 (oleate). In contrast, inhibition of the fatty acid synthetic enzyme, fatty acid synthase (FASN), or the Δ9 desaturase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1), does not affect podosome formation. However, inhibition of FASN resulted in attenuated proteolytic invasion and migration of transformed cells with a phenotype similar to cells with ACC inhibition although not quite to the same degree. In addition to regulation at transcriptional and translational levels, ACC activity is also regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation by AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). Decreased ACC phosphorylation at serine 79 (S79) has been shown to correlate with increased disease severity and reduced disease free survival of lung adenocarcinoma patients. This indicates that the phosphorylation status of ACC may be an important mechanism that cancer cells manipulate to successfully achieve metastasis. Therefore, induction of phosphorylation, and inactivation of ACC, either by activation of AMPK or by direct mutation of S79 may be sufficient to reduce invasion and migration of cancer cells. Taken together, investigating ACC phosphorylation status and analyzing the resulting phenotype will advance the mechanistic understanding of how cancer cells metastasize and possibly provide new therapeutic avenues to explore in the treatment of disseminated disease. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 42.

Abstract 503: Investigating the role of Tks5 and invadopodia in prostate tumor progression

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Much of the morbidity and mortality in prostate cancer patients occurs strictly in response to metastatic disease. While ongoing efforts are examining the therapeutic value of Src kinase inhibitors, the mechanism by which Src activates invasive cell behavior within the context of this disease are not well-understood. Invadopodia are cytoskeletal structures formed by cancer cells that enable binding to, proteolytic degradation of, and invasion through the extracellular matrix. We and others have previously demonstrated that the Src tyrosine kinase substrate and adaptor protein Tks5 is important for invadopodia formation and function. Here we demonstrate that Src is activated and Tks5 up-regulated in prostate tumor specimens and invasive cell lines. Remarkably, overexpression of Tks5 alone is sufficient to form invadopodia structures and enhance invadopodia-associated gelatin degradation and invasion in the LNCaP cell line. We further show that this increase in invasive behavior likely depends on Src kinase activity and Tks5 phosphorylation. Our results predict a role for Src-Tks5 signaling in prostate tumor progression. This hypothesis will be tested in future studies using (i) mouse xenografts to monitor tumor development from Tks5-modified prostate cancer cell lines, and (ii) human prostate tumor tissue sections to measure Tks5 staining relative to tumor grade. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 503. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-503