title: ADAM12 in human liver cancers: TGF-beta-regulated expression in stellate cells is associated with matrix remodeling.
abstract: "A disintegrin and metalloproteinases" (ADAMs) form a family of cell-surface glycoproteins with potential protease and cell-adhesion activities. We have investigated ADAM expression in human liver cancers and their regulation by several cytokines involved in liver injury. Using degenerative RT-PCR, cDNA encoding sequences for ADAM9 and ADAM12 were identified in human activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Northern blot analyses showed that HSCs, but not hepatocytes, expressed transcripts for ADAM9 messenger RNA (mRNA) and both the long and short forms of ADAM12. This expression was associated with the transition from quiescent to activated state of rat HSCs and markedly increased in human livers with cirrhosis. ADAM12 but not ADAM9 expression was up-regulated by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in human activated HSCs. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor UO126 prevented ADAM12 induction by TGF-beta, suggesting the involvement of PI3K and MEK activities. In vivo, the steady-state of both ADAM9 and ADAM12 mRNA levels was nearly undetectable in both normal livers and benign tumors and increased in hepatocellular carcinomas (up to 3- and 6-fold, respectively) and liver metastases from colonic carcinomas (up to 40- and 60-fold, respectively). The up-regulation of both ADAM9 and ADAM12 was correlated with an increase in matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression and activity. In conclusion, in liver cancers ADAM9 and ADAM12 expression is associated with tumor aggressiveness and progression.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U456, Detoxication et Réparation Tissulaire, Université de Rennes I, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Le Pabic
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonnier
authors.forename: Ulla M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Wewer
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coutand
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Musso
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baffet
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clément
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Théret
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072199:ADAM12 Protein; D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002455:Cell Division; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D019483:Disintegrins / Q000235:genetics; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000201:enzymology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000556:secondary; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072199:ADAM12 Protein; D019483:Disintegrins; D048728:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C482576:MAP3K1 protein, human; C000606480:ADAM12 protein, human; C098339:ADAM9 protein, human