ITGB4-mediated metabolic reprogramming of cancer-associated fibroblasts

Oncogene. 2020 Jan;39(3):664-676. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-1014-0. Epub 2019 Sep 18.

Abstract

Integrin beta 4 (ITGB4) overexpression in cancer cells contributes to cancer progression. However, the role of stromal ITGB4 expression in cancer progression remains poorly understood, despite stromal ITGB4 overexpression in malignant cancers. In our study, ITGB4-overexpressing triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells provided cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with ITGB4 proteins via exosomes, which induced BNIP3L-dependent mitophagy and lactate production in CAFs. In coculture assays, the ITGB4-induced mitophagy and glycolysis were suppressed in CAFs by knocking down ITGB4 or inhibiting exosome generation in MDA-MB-231, or blocking c-Jun or AMPK phosphorylation in CAFs. ITGB4-overexpressing CAF-conditioned medium promoted the proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and invasion of breast cancer cells. In a co-transplant mouse model, MDA-MB-231 made a bigger tumor mass with CAFs than ITGB4 knockdown MDA-MB-231. Herein, we presented how TNBC-derived ITGB4 protein triggers glycolysis in CAFs via BNIP3L-dependent mitophagy and suggested the possibility that ITGB4-induced mitophagy could be targeted as a cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast / surgery
  • Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Exosomes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Glycolysis
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta4 / genetics
  • Integrin beta4 / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mitophagy
  • Paracrine Communication
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • BNIP3L protein, human
  • Culture Media, Conditioned
  • ITGB4 protein, human
  • Integrin beta4
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins