title: Alternative pathway for the role of furin in tumor cell invasion process. Enhanced MMP-2 levels through bioactive TGFbeta.
abstract: The mammalian convertase furin plays a significant role in tumorigenesis and its overexpression was observed in a number of different cancer types. To date, however, few mechanisms of action have been described. Most of the information available concerns the invasion step and designates MT1-MMP, through the activation of MMP-2, as the bona fide substrate mediating furin activity. However, recent reports indicate furin-independent pathways for MT1-MMP activation. To gain further insights into the role of furin in the invasion process, we studied the in vitro invasive capacity of LoVo cells, a furin-deficient adenocarcinoma cell line transfected with wild-type furin. Furin complementation resulted in an increased cell invasiveness that correlated with their capacity to produce MMP-2. Chemical blockage of MMPs activity with BB-3103 or MMP-2-specific antibodies revealed that the increased invasive capacity of furin-complemented cells was mediated by MMP-2. Unexpectedly, furin complementation did not change the status of MT1-MMP expression or activation, but instead resulted in the production of mature and bioactive TGFbeta1. Western blot-analysis of TGFbeta1 fragmentation species indicated that TGFbeta maturation step required furin activity, whereas results from TGFbeta-inducible reporter assays in the presence of MMP inhibitors or exogenous MMP-2 suggested that the activation step was under MMP influence. In addition, blockage with TGFbeta neutralizing antibodies revealed that furin-induced invasiveness was mediated by endogenous production of TGFbeta. Taken together, our findings established the existence of a novel alternative/complementary pathway by which furin increases tumor cell invasion through an amplification/activation loop between MMP-2 and TGFbeta.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Division, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke QC, Canada J1H 5N4.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Marie Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Laprise
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dubois
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D045683:Furin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D045683:Furin; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2