STAT3alpha is oncogenic for endometrial carcinoma cells and mediates the oncogenic effects of autocrine human growth hormone

Endocrinology. 2010 Sep;151(9):4133-45. doi: 10.1210/en.2010-0273. Epub 2010 Jul 28.

Abstract

We herein demonstrate an oncogenic role for signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3alpha (the full length STAT3 isoform), which also mediates autocrine human GH (hGH)-stimulated oncogenicity, in human endometrial carcinoma (EC) cells. Autocrine hGH stimulated Y705 phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT3-mediated transcriptional activity in a SRC and Janus-2 Kinase dependent manner in human EC cell lines. Forced expression of a constitutively active variant of STAT3alpha increased proliferation, anchorage-independent, three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel, and xenograft growth and promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion of EC cells. Conversely, the oncogenic capacity of EC cells was significantly impaired by treatment with JSI-124, an inhibitor of STAT3 phosphorylation and activity, small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of STAT3alpha, or a dominant-negative variant of STAT3alpha. Furthermore, the enhanced EC cell oncogenicity stimulated by autocrine hGH, was also abrogated by functional inhibition or small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of STAT3alpha. STAT3alpha may therefore be a common mediator of oncogenic signaling pathways stimulating progression of EC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autocrine Communication / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Human Growth Hormone / genetics
  • Human Growth Hormone / metabolism*
  • Human Growth Hormone / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Phosphorylation
  • RNA Interference
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Triterpenes
  • delta-hGHR
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • cucurbitacin I