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Published on: May 17, 2019
TLE1 is an anoikis regulator and is downregulated by Bit1 in breast cancer cells
Chris Brunquell1, Hector Biliran, Scott Jennings
1Center for Nanomedicine, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
Abstract:
TLE1 is a Groucho-related transcriptional repressor protein that exerts survival and antiapoptotic function in several cellular systems and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer. In the present study, we found that TLE1 is a regulator of anoikis in normal mammary epithelial and breast carcinoma cells. The induction of apoptosis following loss of cell attachment to the extracellular matrix (anoikis) in untransformed mammary epithelial MCF10A cells was associated with significant downregulation of TLE1 expression. Forced expression of exogenous TLE1 in these cells promoted resistance to anoikis. In breast cancer cells, TLE1 expression was significantly upregulated following detachment from the extracellular matrix. Genetic manipulation of TLE1 expression via overexpression and downregulation approaches indicated that TLE1 promotes the anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent growth of breast carcinoma cells. Mechanistically, we show that TLE1 inhibits the Bit1 anoikis pathway by reducing the formation of the proapoptotic Bit1-AES complex in part through sequestration of AES in the nucleus. The mitochondrial release of Bit1 during anoikis as well as exogenous expression of the cytoplasmic localized Bit1 or its cell death domain induced cytoplasmic translocation and degradation of nuclear TLE1 protein. These findings indicate a novel role for TLE1 in the maintenance of anoikis resistance in breast cancer cells. This conclusion is supported by an immunohistochemical analysis of a breast cancer tissue array illustrating that TLE1 is selectively upregulated in invasive breast tumors relative to noninvasive ductal carcinoma in situ and normal mammary epithelial tissues.
Insights
Transducin-like enhancer of split 1 (TLE1) protein regulates anoikis, a form of apoptosis. TLE1 promotes anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent growth in breast cancer cells, suggesting a role in tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Transducin-like enhancer of split 1 (TLE1) is a transcriptional repressor involved in cell survival and anti-apoptosis.
- Anoikis, apoptosis induced by loss of cell adhesion, is a critical process in normal tissue homeostasis and cancer progression.
- TLE1's role in anoikis regulation, particularly in breast cancer, remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TLE1 in anoikis regulation in normal mammary epithelial and breast carcinoma cells.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which TLE1 influences anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent growth in breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of TLE1 expression in mammary epithelial and breast cancer cells under conditions of cell detachment.
- Genetic manipulation of TLE1 expression (overexpression and downregulation) to assess its impact on anoikis resistance.
- Investigation of the TLE1-mediated inhibition of the Bit1 anoikis pathway, including interactions with AES and Bit1.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of TLE1 expression in human breast tumor tissues.
Main Results:
- TLE1 expression is downregulated during anoikis induction in normal mammary epithelial cells, while its forced expression confers anoikis resistance.
- TLE1 is upregulated in breast cancer cells upon detachment and promotes their anoikis resistance and anchorage-independent growth.
- TLE1 inhibits the Bit1 anoikis pathway by sequestering AES in the nucleus, thereby preventing the formation of a proapoptotic complex.
- Mitochondrial release of Bit1 or its expression in the cytoplasm induces TLE1 degradation, suggesting a feedback mechanism.
Conclusions:
- TLE1 plays a significant role in promoting anoikis resistance in breast cancer cells.
- TLE1's mechanism involves inhibiting the Bit1 pathway and protecting cancer cells from anoikis-induced death.
- TLE1 upregulation in invasive breast tumors suggests its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target in breast cancer.
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