title: Vasohibin-2 is required for epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ovarian cancer cells by modulating transforming growth factor-β signaling.
abstract: Vasohibin-2 (VASH2) is a homolog of VASH1, an endothelium-derived angiogenesis inhibitor. Vasohibin-2 is mainly expressed in cancer cells, and has been implicated in the progression of cancer by inducing angiogenesis and tumor growth. Although VASH2 has been recently reported to be involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), its precise roles are obscure. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of VASH2 in the EMT of cancer cells in relation to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling, which is a major stimulator of EMT. Decreased expression of VASH2 in ovarian cancer cells significantly repressed the expression of TGF-β type I receptor, namely activin receptor-like kinase 5. Transforming growth factor-β1-induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 was markedly decreased in VASH2 knockdown cells while the expression of Smad2 and Smad3 was unchanged. Accordingly, the responses to TGF-β1 shown by promoter assay and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 expression were significantly attenuated in VASH2 knockdown cells. Furthermore, knockdown of VASH2 in cancer cells abrogated the TGF-β1-induced reduced expression of epithelial markers including E-cadherin, and the elevated expression of mesenchymal markers including fibronectin, ZEB2, and Snail2, suggesting that endogenous VASH2 is required for TGF-β1-induced EMT. In accordance with these results, the effects of TGF-β1 on cell morphology, migration, invasion, and MMP2 expression were also abrogated when VASH2 was knocked down. These results indicate that VASH2 played a significant role in the EMT by modulating the TGF-β signaling. We propose that VASH2 would be a novel molecular target for the prevention of EMT in cancers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Biology, Institute of Development Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Norita
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Biology, Institute of Development Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Micro-Signaling Regulation Technology Unit, RIKEN Center for Life Science Technologies, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Furutani
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Oncology, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular Physiological Chemistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshimatsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Katarzyna A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Podyma-Inoue
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watabe
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Biology, Institute of Development Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000235:genetics; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000235:genetics; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074165:Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D015820:Cadherins; D005353:Fibronectins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; C497782:SMAD2 protein, human; C497790:SMAD3 protein, human; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C574858:VASH2 protein, human; C492363:ZEB2 protein, human; D000074165:Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; C000625841:TGFBR1 protein, human; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
keywords: 
  EMT
  ; ALK5; TGF-β; ovarian cancer; vasohibin-2