Lung tumor-associated osteoblast-derived bone morphogenetic protein-2 increased epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of cancer by Runx2/Snail signaling pathway

J Biol Chem. 2011 Oct 28;286(43):37335-46. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.256156. Epub 2011 Sep 1.

Abstract

Bone is a frequent target of lung cancer metastasis and is associated with significant morbidity and a dismal prognosis. Interaction between cancer cells and the bone microenvironment causes a vicious cycle of tumor progression and bone destruction. This study analyzed the soluble factors secreted by lung tumor-associated osteoblast (TAOB), which are responsible for increasing cancer progression. The addition of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), present in large amounts in TAOB conditioned medium (TAOB-CM) and lung cancer patient sera, mimicked the inductive effect of TAOB-CM on lung cancer migration, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In contrast, inhibition of BMP by noggin decreases the inductive properties of TAOB-CM and lung cancer patient sera on cancer progression. Induction of lung cancer migration by BMP-2 is associated with increased ERK and p38 activation and the up-regulation of Runx2 and Snail. Blocking ERK and p38 by a specific inhibitor significantly decreases cancer cell migration by inhibiting Runx2 up-regulation and subsequently attenuating the expression of Snail. Enhancement of Runx2 facilitates Rux2 to recruit p300, which in turn enhances histone acetylation, increases Snail expression, and decreases E-cadherin. Furthermore, inhibiting Runx2 by siRNA also suppresses BMP-2-induced Snail up-regulation and cell migration. Our findings provide novel evidence that inhibition of BMP-2 or BMP-2-mediated MAPK/Runx2/Snail signaling is an attractive therapeutic target for osteolytic bone metastases in lung cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / genetics
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 / metabolism*
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bone Neoplasms / secondary
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / genetics
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Osteoblasts / metabolism*
  • Osteoblasts / pathology
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / genetics
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • BMP2 protein, human
  • Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RUNX2 protein, human
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • noggin protein
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases