The iron-regulated metastasis suppressor, Ndrg-1: identification of novel molecular targets

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2008 Oct;1783(10):1981-92. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2008.05.016. Epub 2008 Jun 26.

Abstract

A recently identified metastasis suppressor, N-myc downstream regulated gene-1 (Ndrg-1), has been shown to reduce the invasion and metastasis of breast, colon, prostate and pancreatic cancer. Among its many functions, Ndrg-1 is involved in modulating differentiation, proliferation and angiogenesis. However, knowledge of the molecular targets of Ndrg-1 is limited. The current study has focused on examining the functions of Ndrg-1 in a number of different cancer cell models including prostate, colon, lung and pancreatic cancer to elucidate the known pleiotropic nature of this protein. Furthermore, the potential gene targets of Ndrg-1 were analyzed using whole genome gene array revealing a substantial number of genes whose expression was affected by this metastasis suppressor. Significantly, Ndrg-1 up-regulated thiamine triphosphatase (Thtpa) expression in three of the four cell models. Thtpa is known to decrease the levels of the energy currency molecule, thiamine triphosphate, suggesting a potential pathway for the anti-proliferative effects of Ndrg-1. Furthermore, Ndrg-1 reduced the protein levels of cathepsin C which plays a role in invasion, indicating a potential mechanism of its anti-metastatic role in pancreatic cancer cells. These findings provide a potential link between the observed functions of Ndrg-1 and its molecular targets, further demonstrating its anti-metastatic effect.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Rats
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 protein
  • Iron