SHARP1 suppresses angiogenesis of endometrial cancer by decreasing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α level

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 11;9(6):e99907. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099907. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Recent data support a role for SHARP1, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription repressor, in the regulation of malignant cell behavior in several human cancers. However, the expression and role of SHARP1 during the development of endometrial cancer (EC) remain unclear. Here we show that upregulation of SHARP1 suppressed tumor angiogenesis by decreasing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), inhibited cell viability and tumor growth in EC. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of SHARP1 was negatively correlated with tumor stage, histological grade, myometrial invasion, lymph node metastasis, blood vessel permeation in the myometrium and HIF-1α expression. Mechanistic studies showed that SHARP1 interacted with HIF-1α physically, and the protein level of HIF-1α and the mRNA level of its target genes (VEGFA, ANGPTL4 and CA9) were decreased by SHARP1 under hypoxia. Upregulation of SHARP1 in EC impeded hypoxia-induced angiogenesis by reducing VEGF secretion. Immunohistochemical analysis verified a correlation between decreased SHARP1 expression and increased microvessel density in EC tissues. Additionally, SHARP1 inhibited cell viability in EC cell lines. Overexpression of SHARP1 in vivo inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis, and decreased HIF-1α expression. In this study, we established SHARP1 as a novel tumor suppressor of EC and shed light on the mechanisms by how SHARP1 inhibited EC progression. Therefore, SHARP1 may be a valuable prognostic biomarker for EC progression and shows promise as a new potential target for antiangiogenic therapeutics in human EC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Capillary Permeability / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Disease Progression
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / genetics*
  • Microvessels / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Myometrium / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics

Substances

  • BHLHE41 protein, human
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • HIF1A protein, human
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81272885, 81172476, 81072139, 81072140), the Foundation Project of Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission (No. 13JC1404500) and the Ph.D. Programs Foundation of the Ministry of Education of China (No. 20120073110090). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.