VE-cadherin cleavage by ovarian cancer microparticles induces β-catenin phosphorylation in endothelial cells

• Published in: Oncotarget Vol. 7; no. 5; pp. 5289 - 5305
• Main Authors: Al Thawadi, Hamda, Abu-Kaoud, Nadine, Al Farsi, Haleema, Hoarau-Véchot, Jessica, Rafii, Shahin, Rafii, Arash, Pasquier, Jennifer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Impact journals 02.02.2016; Impact Journals LLC
• Subjects: beta Catenin; beta Catenin - metabolism; Cadherins; Cadherins - metabolism; Cancer; Cell Behavior; Cellular Biology; Endothelial Cells; Endothelial Cells - metabolism; Endothelial Cells - physiology; Female; Gynecology and obstetrics; Human health and pathology; Humans; Life Sciences; Ovarian Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms - metabolism; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Phosphorylation; Research Paper; Signal Transduction; Tumor Microenvironment; β-catenin; microparticles; tumor microenvironment; ovarian cancer; angiogenesis
• ISSN: 1949-2553; 1949-2553
• DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.6677

Microparticles (MPs) are increasingly recognized as important mediators of cell-cell communication in tumour growth and metastasis by facilitating angiogenesis-related processes. While the effects of the MPs on recipient cells are usually well described in the literature, the leading process remains unclear. Here we isolated MPs from ovarian cancer cells and investigated their effect on endothelial cells. First, we demonstrated that ovarian cancer MPs trigger β-catenin activation in endothelial cells, inducing the upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin target genes and an increase of angiogenic properties. We showed that this MPs mediated activation of β-catenin in ECs was Wnt/Frizzled independent; but dependent on VE-cadherin localization disruption, αVβ3 integrin activation and MMP activity. Finally, we revealed that Rac1 and AKT were responsible for β-catenin phosphorylation and translocation to the nucleus. Overall, our results indicate that MPs released from cancer cells could play a major role in neo-angiogenesis through activation of beta catenin pathway in endothelial cells.