Protease-activated-receptor-2 affects protease-activated-receptor-1-driven breast cancer

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2014 Jul;71(13):2517-33. doi: 10.1007/s00018-013-1498-7. Epub 2013 Nov 1.

Abstract

Mammalian protease-activated-receptor-1 and -2 (PAR1 and PAR2) are activated by proteases found in the flexible microenvironment of a tumor and play a central role in breast cancer. We propose in the present study that PAR1 and PAR2 act together as a functional unit during malignant and physiological invasion processes. This notion is supported by assessing pro-tumor functions in the presence of short hairpin; shRNA knocked-down hPar2 or by the use of a truncated PAR2 devoid of the entire cytoplasmic tail. Silencing of hPar2 by shRNA-attenuated thrombin induced PAR1 signaling as recapitulated by inhibiting the assembly of Etk/Bmx or Akt onto PAR1-C-tail, by thrombin-instigated colony formation and invasion. Strikingly, shRNA-hPar2 also inhibited the TFLLRN selective PAR1 pro-tumor functions. In addition, while evaluating the physiological invasion process of placenta extravillous trophoblast (EVT) organ culture, we observed inhibition of both thrombin or the selective PAR1 ligand; TFLLRNPNDK induced EVT invasion by shRNA-hPar2 but not by scrambled shRNA-hPar2. In parallel, when a truncated PAR2 was utilized in a xenograft mouse model, it inhibited PAR1-PAR2-driven tumor growth in vivo. Similarly, it also attenuated the interaction of Etk/Bmx with the PAR1-C-tail in vitro and decreased markedly selective PAR1-induced Matrigel invasion. Confocal images demonstrated co-localization of PAR1 and PAR2 in HEK293T cells over-expressing YFP-hPar2 and HA-hPar1. Co-immuno-precipitation analyses revealed PAR1-PAR2 complex formation but no PAR1-CXCR4 complex was formed. Taken together, our observations show that PAR1 and PAR2 act as a functional unit in tumor development and placenta-uterus interactions. This conclusion may have significant consequences on future breast cancer therapeutic modalities and improved late pregnancy outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Receptor, PAR-1 / genetics*
  • Receptor, PAR-1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, PAR-2 / genetics*
  • Receptor, PAR-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / genetics
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • Oligopeptides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptor, PAR-1
  • Receptor, PAR-2
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • threonyl-phenylalanyl-leucyl-leucyl-arginyl-asparagine