Jiang Zhihang, Li Xiaoqing, Liu Fuqiang, Li Junfeng, Yang Kun, Xu Shuman, Jiang Zheng
Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Department of Gastroenterology, The People's Hospital of Jianyang City, Jianyang, China.
Mol Carcinog. 2025 Aug;64(8):1330-1346. doi: 10.1002/mc.23933. Epub 2025 May 26.
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and anoikis resistance are crucial characteristics for tumor cell metastasis. High-temperature requirement A1 (HTRA1) has been identified as a serine protease with chaperone functions, but its role in the regulation of EMT, anoikis resistance, and metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified that HTRA1 was downregulated in CRC tissues, and its low expression was significantly associated with advanced TNM stage and poor prognosis. Loss of HTRA1 facilitated EMT and anoikis resistance in CRC cells, thereby potentiating metastatic potential both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, HTRA1 overexpression produced opposite effects. Furthermore, we carried out RNA-seq and found that HTRA1 was probably involved in the regulation of Hippo/YAP1 pathway. HTRA1 overexpression led to increased phosphorylation of YAP1 and decreased nuclear translocation, which could be largely reversed by XMU-MP-1, an inhibitor of the Hippo pathway. Mechanistically, HTRA1 directly bound to and stabilized large tumor suppressor gene 2 (LATS2), a key kinase of the Hippo pathway, which contributed to the inactivation of YAP1. Restoring LATS2 expression in HTRA1-deficient CRC cells decreased EMT and anoikis resistance. Altogether, our findings unveiled the negative regulatory function of HTRA1 in CRC progression through the regulation of the Hippo/YAP1 pathway, and supported HTRA1 as a potential therapeutic target in CRC.
上皮-间质转化(EMT)和失巢凋亡抗性是肿瘤细胞转移的关键特征。高温需求A1(HTRA1)已被鉴定为一种具有分子伴侣功能的丝氨酸蛋白酶,但其在结直肠癌(CRC)的EMT调节、失巢凋亡抗性和转移中的作用仍知之甚少。在本研究中,我们发现HTRA1在CRC组织中表达下调,其低表达与晚期TNM分期和不良预后显著相关。HTRA1的缺失促进了CRC细胞的EMT和失巢凋亡抗性,从而增强了体外和体内的转移潜能。相反,HTRA1过表达产生相反的效果。此外,我们进行了RNA测序,发现HTRA1可能参与了Hippo/YAP1通路的调节。HTRA1过表达导致YAP1磷酸化增加和核转位减少,而Hippo通路抑制剂XMU-MP-1在很大程度上可以逆转这种情况。机制上,HTRA1直接结合并稳定了Hippo通路的关键激酶大肿瘤抑制基因2(LATS2),这有助于YAP1的失活。在HTRA1缺陷的CRC细胞中恢复LATS2表达可降低EMT和失巢凋亡抗性。总之,我们的研究结果揭示了HTRA1通过调节Hippo/YAP1通路在CRC进展中的负调控功能,并支持HTRA1作为CRC的潜在治疗靶点。
Nat Commun. 2017-8-21