Id2 promotes tumor cell migration and invasion through transcriptional repression of semaphorin 3F

Cancer Res. 2010 May 1;70(9):3823-32. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3048. Epub 2010 Apr 13.

Abstract

Id proteins (Id1 to Id4) are helix-loop-helix transcription factors that promote metastasis. It was found that Semaphorin 3F (SEMA3F), a potent inhibitor of metastasis, was repressed by Id2. High metastatic human tumor cell lines had relatively high amounts of Id2 and low SEMA3F levels compared with their low metastatic counterparts. No correlation between metastatic potential and expression of the other Id family members was observed. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Id2 in low metastatic tumor cells downregulated SEMA3F and, as a consequence, enhanced their ability to migrate and invade, two requisite steps of metastasis in vivo. Id2 overexpression was driven by the c-myc oncoprotein. SEMA3F was a direct target gene of the E47/Id2 pathway. Two E-box sites, which bind E protein transcription factors including E47, were identified in the promoter region of the SEMA3F gene. E47 directly activated SEMA3F promoter activity and expression and promoted SEMA3F biological activities, including filamentous actin depolymerization, inactivation of RhoA, and inhibition of cell migration. Silencing of SEMA3F inhibited the E47-induced SEMA3F expression and biological activities, confirming that these E47-induced effects were SEMA3F dependent. E47 did not induce expression of the other members of the SEMA3 family. Id2, a dominant-negative inhibitor of E proteins, abrogated the E47-induced SEMA3F expression and biological activities. Thus, high metastatic tumor cells overexpress c-myc, leading to upregulation of Id2 expression; the aberrantly elevated amount of Id2 represses SEMA3F expression and, as a consequence, enhances the ability of tumor cells to migrate and invade.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glioma / genetics*
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2 / biosynthesis
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Membrane Proteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / deficiency
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • TCF Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 1 Protein
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • ID2 protein, human
  • Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 2
  • MYC protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Messenger
  • SEMA3F protein, human
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • TCF7L1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 1 Protein