title: The ZEB1/miR-200 feedback loop controls Notch signalling in cancer cells.
abstract: Notch signalling is important for development and tissue homeostasis and activated in many human cancers. Nevertheless, mutations in Notch pathway components are rare in solid tumours. ZEB1 is an activator of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and has crucial roles in tumour progression towards metastasis. ZEB1 and miR-200 family members repress expression of each other in a reciprocal feedback loop. Since miR-200 members target stem cell factors, ZEB1 indirectly induces stemness maintenance and associated drug resistance. Here, we link ZEB1 and its cancer promoting properties to Notch activation. We show that miR-200 members target Notch pathway components, such as Jagged1 (Jag1) and the mastermind-like coactivators Maml2 and Maml3, thereby mediating enhanced Notch activation by ZEB1. We further detected a coordinated upregulation of Jag1 and ZEB1, associated with reduced miR-200 expression in two aggressive types of human cancer, pancreatic adenocarcinoma and basal type of breast cancer. These findings explain increased Notch signalling in some types of cancers, where mutations in Notch pathway genes are rare. Moreover, they indicate an additional way how ZEB1 exerts its tumour progressing functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral Surgery, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brabletz
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bajdak
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meidhof
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Burk
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niedermann
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Firat
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wellner
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimmler
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faller
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brabletz
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000606273:JAG1 protein, human; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; C471297:MAML2 protein, human; C471298:MAML3 protein, human; C533896:MIRN200 microRNA, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C486307:ZEB1 protein, human; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1