title: Dorsomorphin reverses the mesenchymal phenotype of breast cancer initiating cells by inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein signaling.
abstract: Increasing evidence supports the theory that tumor growth, homeostasis, and recurrence are dependent on a small subset of cells with stem cell properties, redefined cancer initiating cells (CICs) or cancer stem cells. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are involved in cell-fate specification during embryogenesis, in the maintenance of developmental potency in adult stem cells and may contribute to sustain CIC populations in breast carcinoma. Using the mouse A17 cell model previously related to mesenchymal cancer stem cells and displaying properties of CICs, we investigated the role of BMPs in the control of breast cancer cell plasticity. We showed that an autocrine activation of BMP signaling is crucial for the maintenance of mesenchymal stem cell phenotype and tumorigenic potential of A17 cells. Pharmacological inhibition of BMP signaling cascade by Dorsomorphin resulted in the acquisition of epithelial-like traits by A17 cells, including expression of Citokeratin-18 and E-cadherin, through downregulation of Snail and Slug transcriptional factors and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) expression, and in the loss of their stem-features and self-renewal ability. This phenotypic switch compromised A17 cell motility, invasiveness and in vitro tumor growth. These results reveal that BMPs are key molecules at the crossroad between stemness and cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Garulli
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalogris
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pietrella
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartolacci
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andreani
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy. Electronic address: cristina.marchini@unicam.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchini
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, University of Camerino, Camerino 62032, Italy. Electronic address: augusto.amici@unicam.it.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amici
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051798:Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C497455:Idb1 protein, mouse; D051798:Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011743:Pyrimidines; C516138:dorsomorphin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C498212:Bmpr1a protein, mouse; C498219:Bmpr2 protein, mouse; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I; D052006:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II
keywords: Bone morphogenic proteins; Breast cancer; Dorsomorphin; EMT (epithelial–mesenchymal transition); Mesenchymal cancer stem cells