title: KLF8 promotes tumorigenesis, invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells by transcriptional activation of FHL2.
abstract: The transcription factor Krüppel-like factor (KLF)8 plays an important role in the formation of several human tumors, including colorectal cancer. We recently identified four-and-a-half LIM protein 2 (FHL2) as a critical inducer of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. However, the molecular mechanism by which KLF8 affects FHL2-mediated tumor proliferation, EMT and metastasis remains unknown. Here, we showed that KLF8 overexpression promoted EMT and metastatic phenotypes. KLF8 expression was stimulated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Moreover, KLF8 acted as a potential EMT inducer by stimulating vimentin expression and inducing a loss of E-cadherin in stable KLF8-transfected cells. KLF8 overexpression induced a strong increase in FHL2 expression, and a positive correlation between the expression patterns of KLF8 and FHL2 was observed in CRC cells. Promoter reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays demonstrated that KLF8 directly bound to and activated the human FHL2 gene promoter. However, siRNA-mediated repression of FHL2 in KLF8-overexpressing cells reversed the EMT and the proliferative and metastatic phenotypes. In vivo, KLF8 promoted FHL2-mediated proliferation and metastasis via orthotopic implantation. Taken together, this work identified KLF8-induced FHL2 activation as a novel and critical signaling mechanism underlying human breast/colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis.
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Qingqing
authors: Q
authors: Yan
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Wenjing
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yao
authors: Y
authors: Wu
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Meiyan
authors: M
authors: Wu
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Mengnan
authors: M
authors: Zhang
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Xinpeng
authors: X
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Rheumatism, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Jinjun
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Qingzhen
authors: Q
authors: Nan
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Ye
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Division of Vascular Interventional Radiology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Long
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Tianming
authors: T
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors: Jiachu
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Bai
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Side
authors: S
authors: Liu
authors: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors: Jide
authors: J
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010641:Phenotype; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D034622:RNA Interference; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: C105987:FHL2 protein, human; C507402:KLF8 protein, human; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: EMT; FHL2; KLF8; colorectal cancer; metastasis