TY - JOUR
T1 - Mesenchymal-epithelial transition in sarcomas is controlled by the combinatorial expression of microRNA 200s and GRHL2
AU - Somarelli, Jason A.
AU - Shetler, Samantha
AU - Jolly, Mohit K.
AU - Wang, Xueyang
AU - Bartholf Dewitt, Suzanne
AU - Hish, Alexander J.
AU - Gilja, Shivee
AU - Eward, William C.
AU - Ware, Kathryn E.
AU - Levine, Herbert
AU - Armstrong, Andrew J.
AU - Garcia-Blanco, Mariano A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, American Society for Microbiology.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Phenotypic plasticity involves a process in which cells transiently acquire phenotypic traits of another lineage. Two commonly studied types of phenotypic plasticity are epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). In carcinomas, EMT drives invasion and metastatic dissemination, while MET is proposed to play a role in metastatic colonization. Phenotypic plasticity in sarcomas is not well studied; however, there is evidence that a subset of sarcomas undergo an MET-like phenomenon. While the exact mechanisms by which these transitions occur remain largely unknown, it is likely that some of the same master regulators that drive EMT and MET in carcinomas also act in sarcomas. In this study, we combined mathematical models with bench experiments to identify a core regulatory circuit that controls MET in sarcomas. This circuit comprises the microRNA 200 (miR-200) family, ZEB1, and GRHL2. Interestingly, combined expression of miR-200s and GRHL2 further upregulates epithelial genes to induce MET. This effect is phenocopied by downregulation of either ZEB1 or the ZEB1 cofactor, BRG1. In addition, an MET gene expression signature is prognostic for improved overall survival in sarcoma patients. Together, our results suggest that a miR-200, ZEB1, GRHL2 gene regulatory network may drive sarcoma cells to a more epithelial- like state and that this likely has prognostic relevance.
AB - Phenotypic plasticity involves a process in which cells transiently acquire phenotypic traits of another lineage. Two commonly studied types of phenotypic plasticity are epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). In carcinomas, EMT drives invasion and metastatic dissemination, while MET is proposed to play a role in metastatic colonization. Phenotypic plasticity in sarcomas is not well studied; however, there is evidence that a subset of sarcomas undergo an MET-like phenomenon. While the exact mechanisms by which these transitions occur remain largely unknown, it is likely that some of the same master regulators that drive EMT and MET in carcinomas also act in sarcomas. In this study, we combined mathematical models with bench experiments to identify a core regulatory circuit that controls MET in sarcomas. This circuit comprises the microRNA 200 (miR-200) family, ZEB1, and GRHL2. Interestingly, combined expression of miR-200s and GRHL2 further upregulates epithelial genes to induce MET. This effect is phenocopied by downregulation of either ZEB1 or the ZEB1 cofactor, BRG1. In addition, an MET gene expression signature is prognostic for improved overall survival in sarcoma patients. Together, our results suggest that a miR-200, ZEB1, GRHL2 gene regulatory network may drive sarcoma cells to a more epithelial- like state and that this likely has prognostic relevance.
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U2 - 10.1128/MCB.00373-16
DO - 10.1128/MCB.00373-16
M3 - Article
C2 - 27402864
AN - SCOPUS:84990036789
SN - 0270-7306
VL - 36
SP - 2503
EP - 2513
JO - Molecular and cellular biology
JF - Molecular and cellular biology
IS - 19
ER -