Breast tumor cell-specific knockout of Twist1 inhibits cancer cell plasticity, dissemination, and lung metastasis in mice
Twist1 is an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-inducing transcription factor (TF) that promotes cell migration and invasion. To determine the intrinsic role of Twist1 in EMT and breast cancer initiation, growth, and metastasis, we developed mouse models with an oncogene-induced mammary tumor c...
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Published in | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 114; no. 43; pp. 11494 - 11499 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
United States
National Academy of Sciences
24.10.2017
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Twist1 is an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-inducing transcription factor (TF) that promotes cell migration and invasion. To determine the intrinsic role of Twist1 in EMT and breast cancer initiation, growth, and metastasis, we developed mouse models with an oncogene-induced mammary tumor containing wild-type (WT) Twist1 or tumor cell-specific Twist1 knockout (Twist1TKO). Twist1 knockout showed no effects on tumor initiation and growth. In both models with early-stage tumor cells, Twist1, and mesenchymal markers were not expressed, and lung metastasis was absent. Twist1 expression was detected in ∼6% of the advanced WT tumor cells. Most of these Twist1⁺ cells coexpressed several other EMT-inducing TFs (Snail, Slug, Zeb2), lost ERα and luminal marker K8, acquired basal cell markers (K5, p63), and exhibited a partial EMT plasticity (E-cadherin⁺/vimentin⁺). In advanced Twist1TKO tumor cells, Twist1 knockout largely diminished the expression of the aforementioned EMT-inducing TFs and basal and mesenchymal markers, but maintained the expression of the luminal markers. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were commonly detected in mice with advanced WT tumors, but not in mice with advanced Twist1TKO tumors. Nearly all WT CTCs coexpressed Twist1 with other EMT-inducing TFs and both epithelial and mesenchymal markers. Mice with advanced WT tumors developed extensive lung metastasis consisting of luminal tumor cells with silenced Twist1 and mesenchymal marker expression. Mice with advanced Twist1TKO tumors developed very little lung metastasis. Therefore, Twist1 is required for the expression of other EMT-inducing TFs in a small subset of tumor cells. Together, they induce partial EMT, basal-like tumor progression, intravasation, and metastasis. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Author contributions: J.X. designed research; Yixiang Xu, D.-K.L., Z.F., Yan Xu, W.B., and L.L. performed research; D.-K.L., Y.L., and L.L. contributed new reagents/analytic tools; Yixiang Xu, D.-K.L., and Z.F. analyzed data; and Yixiang Xu and J.X. wrote the paper. 1Yixiang Xu and D.-K.L. contributed equally to this work. Edited by Dennis A. Carson, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, and approved September 12, 2017 (received for review October 31, 2016) |
ISSN: | 0027-8424 1091-6490 |
DOI: | 10.1073/pnas.1618091114 |