Cripto-1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer via Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Oncol Rep. 2017 Mar;37(3):1521-1528. doi: 10.3892/or.2017.5378. Epub 2017 Jan 17.

Abstract

The Cripto-1 (CR-1) derived EGF-CFC family was overexpressed in tumor development enhancing proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration of tumor cells. However, correlation between CR-1 and prostate cancer (PCa) remains still unclear. In the present study, we proved that CR-1 was expressed in PCa and its function was in the progression of PCa. Compared with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissues, we confirmed that PCa tissues had high expression of CR-1 by immunohistochemistry and statistical data showed that CR-1 promoted properties of EMT in PCa tissues, including the downregulation of the cell adhesion molecules β-catenin (membrane) and E-cadherin while upregulating transcription factors β-catenin. Overexpression of CR-1 had close relationship with PSA, Gleason, clinical staging and lymph node metastasis in PCa patients. Then, we found that PC-3 cells transfected with CR-1-shRNA inhibited EMT using RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence. Also, we evaluated cell invasive ability in vitro by transwell and wound-healing assay. Our data showed that transfected CR-1-shRNA altered EMT including β-catenin, E-cadherin, c-myc, GSK-3, p-GSK and Wnt/β-catenin pathway in PC-3. It also suppressed PC-3 cell migration. Additionally, our results displayed that Licl had antitumor activity against PC-3 through the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Inhibition of cell viability was dose-time dependent. The present study proved that CR-1 regulates EMT of PCa by Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Hence, CR-1 may provide a new biological marker, and possibly contributes to clinical treatment against PCa.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / genetics
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Prognosis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TDGF1 protein, human
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin