title: The multifaceted role of the embryonic gene Cripto-1 in cancer, stem cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
abstract: Cripto-1 (CR-1)/Teratocarcinoma-derived growth factor1 (TDGF-1) is a cell surface glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked glycoprotein that can function either in cis (autocrine) or in trans (paracrine). The cell membrane cis form is found in lipid rafts and endosomes while the trans acting form lacking the GPI anchor is soluble. As a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF)/Cripto-1-FRL-1-Cryptic (CFC) family, CR-1 functions as an obligatory co-receptor for the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family members, Nodal and growth and differentiation factors 1 and 3 (GDF1/3) by activating Alk4/Alk7 signaling pathways that involve Smads 2, 3 and 4. In addition, CR-1 can activate non-Smad-dependent signaling elements such as PI3K, Akt and MAPK. Both of these pathways depend upon the 78kDa glucose regulated protein (GRP78). Finally, CR-1 can facilitate signaling through the canonical Wnt/β-catenin and Notch/Cbf-1 pathways by functioning as a chaperone protein for LRP5/6 and Notch, respectively. CR-1 is essential for early embryonic development and maintains embryonic stem cell pluripotentiality. CR-1 performs an essential role in the etiology and progression of several types of human tumors where it is expressed in a population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and facilitates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this context, CR-1 can significantly enhance tumor cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis. Collectively, these facts suggest that CR-1 may be an attractive target in the diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of several types of human cancer.
authors.affiliation: Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klauzinska
authors.affiliation: Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Nadia P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rangel
authors.affiliation: Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Spike
authors.affiliation: Clayton Foundation Laboratories for Peptide Biology, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.affiliation: Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bertolette
authors.affiliation: Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cuttitta
authors.affiliation: Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA. Electronic address: salomond@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salomon
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051901:Smad4 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D055411:TGF-beta Superfamily Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D055411:TGF-beta Superfamily Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; C000717247:HSPA5 protein, human; C000717248:Hspa5 protein, mouse; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; C070636:TDGF1 protein, human; C498932:ACVR1B protein, human; C424205:ACVR1C protein, human
keywords: Cancer; Cripto-1; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; GRP78; Stem cells