Bischoff Philip, Kornhuber Marja, Dunst Sebastian, Zell Jakob, Fauler Beatrix, Mielke Thorsten, Taubenberger Anna V, Guck Jochen, Oelgeschläger Michael, Schönfelder Gilbert
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany.
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
iScience. 2020 Oct 15;23(11):101683. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101683. eCollection 2020 Nov 20.
Estrogens play an important role in the development and progression of human cancers, particularly in breast cancer. Breast cancer progression depends on the malignant destabilization of adherens junctions (AJs) and disruption of tissue integrity. We found that estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) inhibition led to a striking spatial reorganization of AJs and microclustering of E-Cadherin (E-Cad) in the cell membrane of breast cancer cells. This resulted in increased stability of AJs and cell stiffness and a reduction of cell motility. These effects were actomyosin-dependent and reversible by estrogens. Detailed investigations showed that the ERα target gene and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand Amphiregulin (AREG) essentially regulates AJ reorganization and E-Cad microclustering. Our results not only describe a biological mechanism for the organization of AJs and the modulation of mechanical properties of cells but also provide a new perspective on how estrogens and anti-estrogens might influence the formation of breast tumors.
雌激素在人类癌症的发生和发展中起着重要作用,尤其是在乳腺癌中。乳腺癌的进展取决于黏附连接(AJs)的恶性不稳定和组织完整性的破坏。我们发现,雌激素受体α(ERα)的抑制导致乳腺癌细胞膜中AJs的显著空间重组和E-钙黏蛋白(E-Cad)的微聚集。这导致AJs稳定性增加、细胞硬度增加以及细胞运动性降低。这些作用依赖于肌动球蛋白,并且可被雌激素逆转。详细研究表明,ERα靶基因和表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)配体双调蛋白(AREG)基本上调节AJ重组和E-Cad微聚集。我们的结果不仅描述了AJs组织和细胞力学特性调节的生物学机制,还为雌激素和抗雌激素如何影响乳腺肿瘤的形成提供了新的视角。