Wild-type and mutant p53 differentially regulate NADPH oxidase 4 in TGF-β-mediated migration of human lung and breast epithelial cells.
BACKGROUND
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) induces the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) leading to increased cell plasticity at the onset of cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Mechanisms involved in TGF-β-mediated EMT and cell motility are unclear. Recent studies showed that p53 affects TGF-β/SMAD3-mediated signalling, cell migration, and tumorigenesis. We previously demonstrated that Nox4, a Nox family NADPH oxidase, is a TGF-β/SMAD3-inducible source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) affecting cell migration and fibronectin expression, an EMT marker, in normal and metastatic breast epithelial cells. Our present study investigates the involvement of p53 in TGF-β-regulated Nox4 expression and cell migration.


METHODS
We investigated the effect of wild-type p53 (WT-p53) and mutant p53 proteins on TGF-β-regulated Nox4 expression and cell migration. Nox4 mRNA and protein, ROS production, cell migration, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation were examined in three different cell models based on their p53 mutational status. H1299, a p53-null lung epithelial cell line, was used for heterologous expression of WT-p53 or mutant p53. In contrast, functional studies using siRNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous p53 were conducted in MDA-MB-231 metastatic breast epithelial cells that express p53-R280K and MCF-10A normal breast cells that have WT-p53.


RESULTS
We found that WT-p53 is a potent suppressor of TGF-β-induced Nox4, ROS production, and cell migration in p53-null lung epithelial (H1299) cells. In contrast, tumour-associated mutant p53 proteins (R175H or R280K) caused enhanced Nox4 expression and cell migration in both TGF-β-dependent and TGF-β-independent pathways. Moreover, knockdown of endogenous mutant p53 (R280K) in TGF-β-treated MDA-MB-231 metastatic breast epithelial cells resulted in decreased Nox4 protein and reduced phosphorylation of FAK, a key regulator of cell motility. Expression of WT-p53 or dominant-negative Nox4 decreased TGF-β-mediated FAK phosphorylation, whereas mutant p53 (R280K) increased phospho-FAK. Furthermore, knockdown of WT-p53 in MCF-10A normal breast epithelial cells increased basal Nox4 expression, whereas p53-R280K could override endogenous WT-p53 repression of Nox4. Remarkably, immunofluorescence analysis revealed MCF-10A cells expressing p53-R280K mutant showed an upregulation of Nox4 in both confluent and migrating cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, our findings define novel opposing functions for WT-p53 and mutant p53 proteins in regulating Nox4-dependent signalling in TGF-β-mediated cell motility.
Laboratory of Host Defenses, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12441 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
H E
HE
Boudreau
Laboratory of Host Defenses, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12441 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
B W
BW
Casterline
Laboratory of Host Defenses, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12441 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
D J
DJ
Burke
Laboratory of Host Defenses, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 12441 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
T L
TL
Leto
D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology*
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D000074663:NADPH Oxidase 4; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; C498910:NOX4 protein, human; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases