Hypoxia suppression of Bim and Bmf blocks anoikis and luminal clearing during mammary morphogenesis.
Proper adhesion to extracellular matrix is critical for epithelial cell survival. Detachment from matrix signals results in apoptosis, referred to as anoikis. Selective apoptosis of cells that become detached from matrix is associated with the formation of a lumen in three-dimensional mammary epithelial acinar structures in vitro. Because early breast cancer lesions such as carcinoma in situ, characterized by ducts exhibiting lumens filled with cells, are often associated with hypoxic markers, we sought to examine the role of hypoxia in anoikis and lumen formation in mammary epithelial cells. Here, we show that hypoxic conditions inhibit anoikis and block expression of proapoptotic BH3-only family members Bim and Bmf in epithelial cells. Hypoxia-mediated anoikis protection is associated with increased activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) kinase pathway and requires the hypoxia-activated transcription factor. Consistent with these data, hypoxic conditions inhibit luminal clearing during morphogenesis in human mammary epithelial acini when grown in three-dimensional cultures and are associated with decreased expression of Bim and Bmf as well as Erk activation. We show that hypoxia regulates specific cell survival pathways that disrupt tissue architecture related to clearing of luminal space during mammary morphogenesis and suggest that hypoxia-mediated anoikis resistance may contribute to cancer progression.
Whelan
Kelly A
KA
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
Caldwell
Sarah A
SA
Shahriari
Kristina S
KS
Jackson
S RaElle
SR
Franchetti
Lisa D
LD
Johannes
Gregg J
GJ
Reginato
Mauricio J
MJ
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D023102:Anoikis; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D015151:Immunoblotting; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000606775:BCL2L11 protein, human; C486655:BMF protein, human; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D002070:Butadienes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009570:Nitriles; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C113580:U 0126; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1