PLOD2 regulated by transcription factor FOXA1 promotes metastasis in NSCLC

Cell Death Dis. 2017 Oct 26;8(10):e3143. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2017.553.

Abstract

In multiple types of tumors, fibrotic collagen is regarded as the 'highway' for cancer cell migration, which is mainly modified by lysyl hydroxylase 2 (PLOD2). The previous findings have demonstrated that the expression of PLOD2 was regulated by multiple factors, including HIF-1α, TGF-β and microRNA-26a/b. Although PLOD2 was confirmed to be related to poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma, the regulatory mechanism and function of PLOD2 in human lung adenocarcinoma is poorly understood. On the other hand, upregulation or hyperactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor is considered as a prognostic marker in many cancers, especially in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we found that PLOD2 was elevated in NSCLC specimens and positively links to NSCLC poor prognosis. Gain- and loss-of-function studies and orthotopic implantation metastasis model pinpointed that PLOD2 promotes NSCLC metastasis directly by enhancing migration and indirectly by inducing collagen reorganization. In addition, we revealed that PLOD2 was regulated by PI3K/AKT-FOXA1 axis. The transcription factor FOXA1 directly bound to the PLOD2 promoter, and turned on PLOD2 transcription. In summary, our findings revealed a regulatory mechanism of NSCLC metastasis through EGFR-PI3K/AKT-FOXA1-PLOD2 pathway, and provided PLOD2 as a therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha / genetics
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Procollagen-Lysine, 2-Oxoglutarate 5-Dioxygenase / genetics*
  • Procollagen-Lysine, 2-Oxoglutarate 5-Dioxygenase / metabolism*
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Survival Analysis
  • Transfection

Substances

  • FOXA1 protein, human
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha
  • PLOD2 protein, human
  • Procollagen-Lysine, 2-Oxoglutarate 5-Dioxygenase
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt