An antihypertensive drug-AT1 inhibitor attenuated BRCA development promoted by chronic psychological stress via Ang II/PARP1/FN1 pathway

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease Vol. 1870; no. 3; p. 167031
• Main Authors: Cui, Yuqing, Zhuang, Ming, Huang, Zheping, Guo, Yan, Chen, Fengzhi, Li, Yangyang, Long, Yuanhui, Liu, Ying, Zeng, Guangchun, Feng, Xujing, Chen, Xuesong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Ang II; AT1 inhibitor; BRCA; Chronic psychological stress; FN1; FN1; BRCA; AT1 inhibitor; Chronic psychological stress; Ang II
• ISSN: 0925-4439; 1879-260X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167031

Chronic psychological stress contributes to the occurrence of cancer and activates the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). However, the mechanisms by which RAS promotes the progression of breast cancer (BRCA) under chronic psychological stress are remain unknown. In this study, we observed elevated levels of Angiotensin II (Ang II) in both serum and BRCA tissue under chronic stress, leading to accelerated BRCA growth in a mouse model. An antihypertensive drug, candesartan (an AT1 inhibitor), effectively attenuated Ang II-induced cell proliferation and metastasis. Utilizing mass spectrometry and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we identified fibronectin 1 (FN1) as the hub protein involved in chronic stress-Ang II/AT1 axis. Focal adhesion pathway was identified as a downstream signaling pathway activated during the progression of chronic stress. Depletion of FN1 significantly attenuated Ang II-induced proliferation and metastasis of BRCA cells. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) was found to bind to the DNA promoter of FN1, leading to the transcription of FN1. Ang II upregulated PARP1 expression, resulting in increased FN1 levels. Recombinant FN1 partially restored the progress of BRCA malignancy induced by the Ang II/PARP1 pathway. In vivo, candesartan reversed the progressive effect of chronic psychological stress on BRCA. In clinical samples, Ang II levels in both serum and tumor tissues are higher in stressed patients compared to control patients. Serum Ang II levels were positively correlated with chronic stress indicators. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that chronic psychological stress accelerates the malignancy of BRCA, and the AT1 inhibitor candesartan counteracts these effects by suppressing the Ang II-AT1 axis and the downstream PARP1/FN1/focal adhesion pathway. •Chronic restraint stress stimulated Ang II generation and accelerated BRCA growth.•FN1 was the hub protein in the BRCA-related chronic restraint stress response.•Ang II/AT1 signaling accelerated malignancy of BRCA through the PARP1/FN1/focal adhesion pathway.•Candesartan attenuated BRCA development induced by chronic stress via modulating PARP1/FN1/focal adhesion signaling.