A ZEB1/p53 signaling axis in stromal fibroblasts promotes mammary epithelial tumours.

Nat Commun

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.

Published: July 2019

Accumulating evidence indicates that the zinc-finger transcription factor ZEB1 is predominantly expressed in the stroma of several tumours. However, the role of stromal ZEB1 in tumour progression remains unexplored. In this study, while interrogating human databases, we uncover a remarkable decrease in relapse-free survival of breast cancer patients expressing high ZEB1 levels in the stroma. Using a mouse model of breast cancer, we show that ZEB1 inactivation in stromal fibroblasts suppresses tumour initiation, progression and metastasis. We associate this with reduced extracellular matrix remodeling, immune cell infiltration and decreased angiogenesis. ZEB1 deletion in stromal fibroblasts increases acetylation, expression and recruitment of p53 to FGF2/7, VEGF and IL6 promoters, thereby reducing their production and secretion into the surrounding stroma. Importantly, p53 ablation in ZEB1 stroma-deleted mammary tumours sufficiently recovers the impaired cancer growth and progression. Our findings identify the ZEB1/p53 axis as a stroma-specific signaling pathway that promotes mammary epithelial tumours.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6642263PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11278-7DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

stromal fibroblasts
12
promotes mammary
8
mammary epithelial
8
epithelial tumours
8
breast cancer
8
zeb1
6
zeb1/p53 signaling
4
signaling axis
4
stromal
4
axis stromal
4

Similar Publications

Aim: The tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer, characterized by abundant desmoplastic stroma, has been implicated in the failure of chemotherapy. Therefore, developing therapeutic strategies targeting tumor and stromal cells is essential. Triptolide, a natural compound derived from the plant Tripterygium wilfordii, has shown antitumor activity in various cancers, including pancreatic cancer.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Sulfur mustard gas (SM) exposure to eyes causes multiple corneal injuries including stromal cell loss in vivo. However, mechanisms mediating stromal cell loss/death remains elusive. This study sought to test the novel hypothesis that SM-induced toxicity to human corneal stromal fibroblasts involves ferroptosis mechanism via p38 MAPK signaling.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Our aim was to examine the expression of PAX6 and keratocyte-specific markers in human limbal stromal cells (LSCs) in congenital aniridia (AN) and in healthy corneas, .

Methods: Primary human LSCs were extracted from individuals with aniridia (AN-LSCs) ( = 8) and from healthy corneas (LSCs) ( = 8). The cells were cultured in either normal-glucose serum-containing cell culture medium (NGSC-medium) or low-glucose serum-free cell culture medium (LGSF-medium).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mesenchymal stromal cells promote the formation of lung cancer organoids via Kindlin-2.

Stem Cell Res Ther

January 2025

Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Precision Medicine for Cancers, Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, 518116, China.

Background: Patient-derived lung cancer organoids (PD-LCOs) demonstrate exceptional potential in preclinical testing and serve as a promising model for the multimodal management of lung cancer. However, certain lung cancer cells derived from patients exhibit limited capacity to generate organoids due to inter-tumor or intra-tumor variability. To overcome this limitation, we have created an in vitro system that employs mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) or fibroblasts to serve as a supportive scaffold for lung cancer cells that do not form organoids.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fap-targeting biomimetic nanosystem to restore the activated cancer-associated fibroblasts to quiescent state for breast cancer radiotherapy.

Int J Pharm

January 2025

Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China; Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, 430022, China. Electronic address:

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the most important stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, playing a pivotal role in the development, recurrence, metastasis, and immunosuppression of cancer and treatment resistance. Here, we developed a core-shell biomimetic nanosystem termed as FAP-C NPs. This system was comprised of 4 T1 extracellular vesicles fused with a FAP single-chain antibody fragment to form the biomimetic shell, and PLGA nanoparticles loaded with calcipotriol as the core.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!