title: Distinct functions of macrophage-derived and cancer cell-derived cathepsin Z combine to promote tumor malignancy via interactions with the extracellular matrix.
abstract: During the process of tumor progression, cancer cells can produce the requisite growth- and invasion-promoting factors and can also rely on noncancerous cells in the tumor microenvironment as an alternative, cell-extrinsic source. However, whether the cellular source influences the function of such tumor-promoting factors remains an open question. Here, we examined the roles of the cathepsin Z (CtsZ) protease, which is provided by both cancer cells and macrophages in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors in humans and mice. We found that tumor proliferation was exclusively regulated by cancer cell-intrinsic functions of CtsZ, whereas tumor invasion required contributions from both macrophages and cancer cells. Interestingly, several of the tumor-promoting functions of CtsZ were not dependent on its described catalytic activity but instead were mediated via the Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) motif in the enzyme prodomain, which regulated interactions with integrins and the extracellular matrix. Together, these results underscore the complexity of interactions within the tumor microenvironment and indicate that cellular source can indeed impact molecular function.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York,10065, USA;
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Akkari
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York,10065, USA;
authors.forename: Vasilena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gocheva
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York,10065, USA;
authors.forename: Jemila C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kester
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York,10065, USA;
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York,10065, USA;
authors.forename: Marsha L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Quick
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York,10065, USA;
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sevenich
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York,10065, USA;
authors.forename: Hao-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Albert-Ludwigs University, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany; BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), D-79104 Freiburg, Germany;
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Laura H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Klimstra
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Albert-Ludwigs University, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany; BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), D-79104 Freiburg, Germany;
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reinheckel
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York,10065, USA; joycej@mskcc.org.
authors.forename: Johanna A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Joyce
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056663:Cathepsin Z / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000503:physiopathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D056663:Cathepsin Z
keywords: cell invasion; cell migration; protease; tumor microenvironment