ESM1 mediates NGFR-induced invasion and metastasis in murine oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly invasive and metastatic malignancy. The nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) has been observed to be expressed on a subset of cells in OSCC, and NGFR+ cells have greater tumor-initiating capacity in vivo. Further, inhibition of NGFR reduces tumor growth, indicating a functional role of this receptor; however, the mechanisms by which NGFR confers enhanced tumor formation are not known. Here, we used an established murine model of OSCC and gene expression array analysis to identify ESM1 as a downstream target gene of NGFR, critical for tumor invasion and metastasis. ESM1 encodes a protein called endocan, which has the property of regulating proliferation, differentiation, migration, and adhesion of different cell types. Incubation of NGFR+ murine OSCC cells with nerve growth factor resulted in increased expression of ESM1. Importantly, ESM1 overexpression conferred an enhanced migratory, invasive, and metastatic phenotype, similar to what has been correlated with NGFR expression. Conversely, shRNA knockdown of ESM1 in NGFR overexpressing OSCC cells abrogated the tumor growth kinetics and the invasive and metastatic properties associated with NGFR. Together, our data indicate that NGFR plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of OSCC via regulation of ESM1.

• Authors: Chen Chen, June Ho Shin, Joshua T Eggold, Man Ki Chung, Luhua H Zhang, Jeremy Lee, John B Sunwoo
• Journal: Oncotarget (Oncotarget) Vol. 7 Issue 43 Pg. 70738-70749 (Oct 25 2016) ISSN: 1949-2553 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27683113 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Proteoglycans
• RNA, Small Interfering
• Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor
• endothelial cell-specific molecule-1, mouse
• Nerve Growth Factor

Topics

• Animals
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (pathology, secondary)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Movement
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Gene Knockdown Techniques
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (pathology, secondary)
• Mice
• Mouth Neoplasms (pathology)
• Neoplasm Invasiveness (pathology)
• Nerve Growth Factor (metabolism)
• Proteoglycans (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA Interference
• RNA, Small Interfering (metabolism)
• Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor (metabolism)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays