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Cancer Biology, Immunology, Cytokines |
Section of Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157 [J. A. M.]; the Centers for Immunology and Microbial Disease [K. K. N., A. C. R., J. M., J. A. B.], and Cell Biology and Cancer Research [K. M. P., K. P.], Albany Medical College, Albany, New York 12208; Division of Genetic Disorders, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12201 [A. M. R.]; and National Cancer Institute, NIH, DCEG/LPG, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-5060 [J. L. R.]
| ABSTRACT |
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Experimental Design: Sod2 and catalase overexpressing HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell lines were used to evaluate the H2O2-dependent regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 promoter activity, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling, DNA-binding activity, and MMP mRNA levels. The invasive and metastatic potential of Sod2 overexpressing cells was characterized using subrenal capsular implantation or tail vein injection of tumor cells into nude mice, respectively.
Results: Our data reveal that Sod2 overexpression increases the DNA-binding activity of transcription factors critical for MMP expression but also enhances MMP-1 promoter activity via the Ras//MAP/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) signaling cascade. A single nucleotide polymorphism that creates an Ets site at position -1607 bp confers Sod2-dependent MMP-1 promoter activity. Sod2 overexpression also increases the mRNA levels of MMPs-2, -3, -7, -10, -9, -11 and enhances the metastatic potential of fibrosarcoma cells when implanted in immunodeficient mice. The Sod2-dependent increases in AP-1 and SP-1 DNA-binding activity, MMP-1 promoter activity, general MMP expression, and collagen degradation can be reversed by the hydrogen peroxide-detoxifying enzyme, catalase.
Conclusion: MMPs play a critical role in the process of stromal invasion and metastasis, and these findings suggest that the association between increased Sod2 and poor prognosis in certain cancers may be attributed to elevated MMP production.
| INTRODUCTION |
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2) to H2O2 at near diffusion-limiting rates. It has been established that Sod2-dependent H2O2 production contributes to the signaling mechanism that regulates the expression of MMP3
-1 (7
, 8)
. MMPs are major contributors to stromal degradation involved in tumor invasion (9)
. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that Sod2 overexpression enhances the metastatic capacity of tumor cells in vivo by modulating the expression of MMP-1 and potentially other MMP family members. The results presented here indicate that the increased metastatic potential of Sod2-overexpressing tumor cell lines may be attributed to their enhanced MMP production. | MATERIALS AND METHODS |
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Analysis of Metastatic Tumor Growth in Nude Mice.
For the determination of metastatic potential, 1 x 106 cells in a 0.2-ml volume of 1X PBS were injected into the tail veins of male athymic mice at 34 weeks of age. Mice were sacrificed 21 days later by the injection of a lethal dose of Nembutal, followed by cervical dislocation. Lungs were stained by injecting feketes solution intratracheally, or they were formalin fixed and paraffin embedded. We used Massons trichrome stain to detect collagen deposition as described previously (11)
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SRC Growth of Tumors.
In brief, cell lines were grown to confluence and harvested. Cells were converted to solid tumor form by centrifugation into a pellet and exposure of the cell pellet to 15 µl of fibrinogen (50 mg/ml) and 10 µl of thrombin (50 u/ml) for 30 min at 37°C. Fibrin clots were then cut into pieces
1.5 mm in diameter and each piece implanted under the kidney capsule of a severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mouse. Tumor size was measured using a dissecting microscope equipped with an ocular micrometer during survival laparotomies on days 10 and 20 after tumor implantation. A minimum of four replicate mice per group were analyzed.
MMP Analysis.
RT-PCR analysis were performed as described previously (8)
. The following primer sets were used and the optimal annealing temperature and expected size of the PCR product are indicated: MMP-1, 55°C, 550 bp, 5'-GGA GGA AAT CTT GCT CAT, 3'-CTC AGA AAG AGC AGC ATC; MMP-2, 57°C, 1389 bp, 5'-CTA CGA TGA TGA CCG CAA GTG, 3'-AAA ACA AGA CCC AAA GAA AAA; MMP-3, 55.6°C, 403 bp, 5'-CCC ACT CTA TCA CTC ACT CAC, 3'-AGC TCG TAC CTC ATT TCC TC; MMP-7, 55°C, 420 bp, 5'-TCT TTG GCC TAC CTA TAA CTG G, 3'-CTA GAC TGC TAC CAT CCG TC; MMP-9, 60°C, 409 bp, 5'-GCT TCA TCC CCC TCC CTC CCT TT, 3'-TGA GAA CCA ATC TCA CCG ACA GGC; MMP-10, 54.4°C, 750 bp, 5'-CCC ACT CTA CAA CTC ATT CAC, 3'-CCA TAT CTG TCT TCC CCC TAT C; MMP-11,55°C, 1031 bp, 5'-GAA GAC GGA CCT CAC CTA CA, 3'-CAG AGC CTT CAC CTT CAC AG; MMP-12, 55°C, 261 bp, 5'-TCA CGA GAT TGG CCA TTC CTT, 3'-TCT GGC TTC AAT TTC ATA AGC; and MMP-13, 53.1°C, 684 bp, 5'-CCA ACC CTA AAC ATC CAA AAA C, 3'-TAG CTC TTC TTC CCC TAC CC.
MMP-1 Promoter Deletion Constructs.
The hMMP-1 promoter/luciferase reporter plasmids full-length, -3830, -3292, -2942, -2002, -1193, -1546, and -517 used in this study contained the firefly luciferase gene under the transcriptional control of the hMMP-1 promoter and were provided by Dr. Constance Brinckerhoff. Additional 2G deletion constructs (-1902, -1802, -1702, -1602) were prepared by a PCR method using MMP-1 promoter-specific oligonucleotide primers introducing a XhoI site at the 5' end of the desired deletion product and a HindIII site at the 3' end of the deletion PCR product. The -2002 hMMP-1 promoter/luciferase plasmid (pGL3basic) was the template for the PCR. The resulting PCR products were enzyme-digested with XhoI and HindIII and subsequently subcloned into the XhoI/HindIII sites of the pGL3basic reporter vector (Promega, Madison, WI).
Transient Transfections of hMMP-1 Promoter Constructs and Dominant Negative Constructs.
Cell lines were transfected with the various pGL3-MMP-1 (1G) or pGL3-MMP-1 (2G) constructs (8)
and pCMV.SPORTß-gal using LipofectAMINE Plus reagent according to manufacturers instructions. Details of the use and construction of the pAdTrack-RasN17 has been described previously (12)
. The dominant/negative (S217A) MEK-1 cDNA was kindly provided by Dr. M. J. Weber of the University of Virginia, Health Sciences Center and has been previously described (13)
. The S217A MEK-1 cDNA was then excised from pBABE-PURO by digestion with BamHI and EcoRI and inserted into a previously digested DIVA-CMV. The cells were lysed 18 h posttransfection, and the luciferase reporter activity was determined using the Promega assay system. All of the results were reported after normalization for transfection efficiency by measuring ß-galactosidase activity.
Statistics.
ANOVA with
= 0.05 was used for processing the data. A two-sample t test was used as posttest unless otherwise indicated.
| RESULTS |
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Redox-regulation of Inducible MMP Family Members.
MMP-1 expression has been shown to be sensitive to the modulation of intracellular H2O2 (7, 8, 9)
. The promoter regions of inducible MMP genes have many conserved regulatory elements (14)
and may also respond to changes in the steady-state concentrations of hydrogen peroxide similar to MMP-1. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the expression of the inducible MMPs using RT-PCR in cell lines that overexpress Sod2 and catalase (mitochondrial or cytosolic) or a combination of the two (15)
. The mRNA levels of MMP-2, -3, -7, -9, -10, -11, -12, and -13 were increased in the Sod2 overexpressors when compared with control cell lines (Fig. 3A)
. Furthermore, the Sod2-dependent increases in MMP expression were attenuated by the coexpression of catalase in either the mitochondrial or the cytosolic compartment. Catalase alone also decreased the basal expression of several of the MMP family members including MMP-2, -3, -7, -10, -12. These data indicate that many of the MMP family members respond similarly to Sod2-dependent production of H2O2 and that Sod2 may regulate a broad spectrum of MMPs and function as a "global" redox regulator of metalloproteinases.
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Redox-dependent Regulation of Invasion and Metastasis.
We have previously established that Sod2-dependent production of H2O2 can enhance MMP production (8)
. A consequence of elevated MMP production in response to Sod2 overexpression would be an increase in both the invasive and metastatic potential of tumor cells. To test this hypothesis previously established control and Sod2-overexpressing HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell lines were injected into the tail-vein of NCR nude mice and lungs were inspected for metastases 30 days after injection. Sod2-overexpressing HT-1080 cell lines showed a dramatic increase in their ability to colonize the lung when compared with the control HTCMV (empty vector) cell line (Fig. 4A)
. Lung metastases were observed in 13 of the 18 mice that were given injections of the heterogeneous population of Sod2-overexpressing cell lines as compared with only 2 of the 18 in the control group (Table 1)
. Analysis of several metastatic nodules by RT-PCR showed increases in Sod2 (3 of 4) and MMP-1 (4 of 4) relative to the control CMV cell line (Fig. 4b)
. H&E staining did not show any phenotypic differences between control and Sod2-overexpressing metastatic foci besides size and number of metastatic nodules present in the lung sections (data not shown). The data for three independent experiments are summarized in Table 1
and clearly demonstrate that the metastatic potential of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell lines is dramatically enhanced in response to Sod2 overexpression.
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| DISCUSSION |
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The Ets and AP-1 motif at position -72 and -88, respectively, have been shown to contribute to the induction of MMP-1 promoter (17)
. However, in the present study, the Ets and AP-1 promoter elements downstream of -1546 minimally contribute to MMP-1 promoter activity. The SNP at position -1607 has been shown to greatly enhance MMP-1 promoter activity (18)
. Deletion of the region between -2002 and -1546 containing the Ets binding site at position -1607 decreases Sod2-dependent promoter activity nearly 30-fold. An equivalent fold loss in promoter activity is observed both in the control and Sod2-overexpressing cell lines until the region between -1702 to -1602 is deleted (Fig. 1C)
. This deletion results in a 25-fold loss in promoter activity in the Sod2-overexpressing cell lines. A similar deletion in the 1G construct shows no difference in fold loss of activity between the Sod2 and control cell lines (Fig. 1, B and C)
. Although there appears to be a loss in Sod2-dependent promoter activity in the 1G construct when the region from -1902 to -1802 is deleted, this difference was not found to be statistically significant. Furthermore, other elements in the full-length promoter contribute to its maximal activity, but none show such a profound loss in activity as compared with the deletion of the Ets-binding motif. Thus, the 2G SNP that creates an Ets consensus-binding motif is the essential element that confers the maximum redox-responsiveness to the MMP-1 promoter. It has been suggested that Ets may act as a sensor for mitochondrial function by its ability to regulate the transcriptional activity of the mitochondrial ATP synthase (19)
. Thus, it is possible that Sod2 may alter mitochondrial function and thereby modulate Ets activity.
The DNA-binding activity of both Ets and AP-1 is redox sensitive (20)
and responsive to MAPK signaling (14)
. The dominant negative isoforms of Ras and MEK-1 attenuate the Sod2-dependent increase in MMP-1 expression (Fig. 1, B and C)
, suggesting that the Ras/MAPK/AP-1 signaling cascade is quite sensitive to Sod2-dependent H2O2 production. We have reported that the Sod2-dependent induction of MMP-1 signals through the activation of ERK1/2 (8)
. The limited inhibitory effect of N17Ras relative to the dominant-negative MEK-1 (Fig. 2B)
may be explained by the presence of Ras-independent MEK/ERK activation cascade similar to that reported for nerve growth factor activation of ERK (21)
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Antioxidants such as the glutathione precursor N-acetyl cysteine block MMP production and metastasis (22, 23, 24) , whereas selenium, an essential component of the H2O2-detoxifying enzyme glutathione peroxidase, inhibits invasion of HT1080 human fibrosarcoma cells and decreases MMP expression (25) . Nishikawa et al. (26) have recently shown that the both i.v. and s.c. injection of catalase derivatives can inhibit the formation of experimental pulmonary metastases in mice. In addition, decreases in catalase activity have been correlated with the emergence of the malignant phenotype in mouse keratinocytes treated with the carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (27) . The ability of catalase to attenuate both the basal and the Sod2-dependent MMP expression and collagen deposition further supports the importance of oxidants in regulating these processes.
The Sod2-dependent up-regulation of MMPs and their critical role in invasion and metastasis may explain why tumors with elevated levels of Sod2 are more invasive (7 , 8) . Janssen et al. (28) evaluated adenocarcinomas from the stomach of 81 patients and showed a significant increase (P > 0.007) in Sod2 levels relative to normal tissues. Malafa et al. (6) have shown that Sod2 expression is increased in 93% of metastatic as compared with 44% of nonmetastatic gastric tumors. The present observation that Sod2 overexpression mediates increased expression of numerous MMP family members suggests that Sod2 modulates invasion and metastasis via multiple proteinases. These findings can explain the reports by several independent groups that Sod2 levels may be used as prognostic parameters to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients with esophageal (28) , colorectal (5 , 29) , and gastric cancers (5 , 6 , 28) .
Sod2 is essential for MMP-13 (the murine functional homologue of MMP-1) expression in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (8)
and also dramatically enhances the transcription of a MMP-1 promoter containing a SNP that has been linked to increased incidence of metastases (30)
. A Sod2 SNP has also been linked to an increase in breast cancer risk in premenopausal women with a low consumption of dietary sources of antioxidants (31)
. The Sod2 polymorphism GTT
GCT leads to the insertion of either a Val or Ala in the mitochondrial leader sequence, respectively, and it has been proposed that the presence of the Ala allele may enhance the rate of mitochondrial import as well as its activity. Thus, we have identified two proteins that interact functionally and have been linked to increased cancer incidence and metastasis. Future studies will be directed at evaluating whether individuals carrying both the Sod2 and the MMP-1 polymorphism may be at risk for developing metastatic cancers.
The present study is in contrast to reports from a number of laboratories, including our own, that have demonstrated the antitumoral properties of Sod2 overexpression (1) . Thus, it appears that, on the one hand, Sod2 overexpression inhibits tumor cell growth but, on the other, promotes metastasis. Oberley et al. (32) have recently reported that Sod2 levels are elevated at the invasive edge of primary prostate cancer. Sod2 overexpression has also been shown to suppress metastasis of a mouse fibrosarcoma cell lines (33) . The difference in the response of a specific cell type to Sod2 overexpression may be dependent on the ability of the cell to detoxify hydrogen peroxide. Li et al. have shown that stable transfection of Sod2 can result in compensatory increases in either catalase or glutathione peroxidase (34) ; thus, the steady-state concentration of hydrogen peroxide would remain relatively constant. We have previously established that both catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities are unchanged and that the steady-state concentration of hydrogen peroxide is increased (8) in the Sod2-overexpressing cell lines used in the present study (15) . Ho et al. have recently demonstrated that Sod2 levels are elevated and that catalase decreased in primary lung tumors when compared with adjacent normal tissue; elevated Sod2 levels and decreased catalase, together, may lead to increased hydrogen peroxide production (35) . Thus, differences in a tumor cells response to Sod2 expression likely reflect the cells ability to detoxify hydrogen peroxide and, in turn, will dictate its tumorigenic and metastatic potential.
Sod2 is generally thought to be low in primary tumors, as has been clearly demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. Bostwick et al. (36) have shown that Sod1, Sod2, and catalase have lower expression in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate carcinoma relative to benign epithelium, which supports the notion that decreased antioxidant enzyme activity is associated with these lesions. However, many of these studies fail to assess the involvement of metastatic tissue with respect to their antioxidant enzyme status. An analysis of prostate-related metastatic lesions by Oberley et al. (32) showed a moderate-to-heavy labeling for Sod2 and markers of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species with no significant alterations in immunoreactive Sod1, glutathione peroxidase, or catalase. These contradictory outcomes may also reflect the stage of tumor progression. It is reasonable to hypothesize that low levels of Sod2 may initiate or promote the neoplastic process. Low levels of Sod2 in tumor cells may not adequately detoxify superoxide, resulting in an enhancement of the mutagenic potential of the cell. Overexpression of Sod2 during the promotion stage may prevent further mutagenesis and inhibit tumor cell growth. In contrast, the elevated Sod2 levels observed in a variety of metastatic cancers may be a response of the tumor to inflammatory cytokines and growth factors produced as a result of the host antitumoral immune response.
The present study indicates that the Sod2-dependent production of H2O2 plays an important role in regulating MMP expression, tumor invasion and metastasis. The importance of Sod2 in regulating MMP production may be even more relevant in the tumor/stromal microenvironment. In vivo, MMP production may be exacerbated by inflammatory cytokines that induce Sod2 expression and are released at the periphery of the tumor. Furthermore, tumors with elevated levels of Sod2 may be protected from free-radical-mediated tumor killing initiated by chemo- or radiation therapy. It is also possible that these therapies may promote tumor expansion by enhancing Sod2-dependent H2O2 production and subsequent MMP expression. These studies would suggest that assessment of Sod2 and MMP status in cancer patients might identify individuals who may respond poorly to therapeutic strategies using redox-cycling drugs or ionizing radiation. Furthermore, efficient antioxidant-based therapeutic strategies may prove useful for the treatment of metastatic disease.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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| FOOTNOTES |
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1 Supported by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (to J. A. M.). ![]()
2 To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Radiation Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157. Phone: (336) 713-7635; Fax: (336) 713-7639; E-mail: melenda{at}mail.amc.edu ![]()
3 The abbreviations used are: MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; SOD, superoxide dismutase; Sod2, manganese SOD; CMV, cytomegalovirus; MAP, mitogen-activated protein; MAPK, MAP kinase; hMMP, human MMP; RT-PCR, reverse transcription-PCR; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; SRC, subrenal capsular; MEK, MAP/extracellular signal-regulated kinase; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase. ![]()
Received 3/19/02; revised 8/12/02; accepted 8/19/02.
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