Hyaluronan-CD44 interaction promotes c-Src-mediated twist signaling, microRNA-10b expression, and RhoA/RhoC up-regulation, leading to Rho-kinase-associated cytoskeleton activation and breast tumor cell invasion

J Biol Chem. 2010 Nov 19;285(47):36721-35. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.162305. Epub 2010 Sep 15.

Abstract

Dysregulation of microRNAs is observed in many cancers, including breast cancer. In particular, miR-10b appears to play an important role in tumor cell invasion and breast cancer progression. In this study, we investigated hyaluronan (HA)-induced CD44 (a primary HA receptor) interaction with c-Src kinase and the transcriptional factor, Twist, in breast tumor cells (MDA-MB-231 cells). Our results indicate that HA binding to CD44 promotes c-Src kinase activation, which, in turn, increases Twist phosphorylation, leading to the nuclear translocation of Twist and transcriptional activation. Further analyses reveal that miR-10b is controlled by an upstream promoter containing the Twist binding site(s), whereas ChIP assays demonstrate that stimulation of miR-10b expression by HA/CD44-activated c-Src is Twist-dependent in breast tumor cells. This process results in the reduction of a tumor suppressor protein (HOXD10), RhoA/RhoC up-regulation, Rho-kinase (ROK) activation, and breast tumor cell invasion. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with PP2 (a c-Src inhibitor) or Twist-specific siRNAs effectively blocks HA-mediated Twist signaling events, abrogates miR-10b production, and increases HOXD10 expression. Subsequently, this c-Src/Twist signaling inhibition causes down-regulation of RhoA/RhoC expression and impairment of ROK-regulated cytoskeleton function (e.g. tumor cell invasion). To further evaluate the role of miR-10b in RhoGTPase signaling, MDA-MB-231 cells were also transfected with a specific anti-miR-10b inhibitor in order to silence miR-10b expression and block its target functions. Our results demonstrate that anti-miR-10b inhibitor not only enhances HOXD10 expression but also abrogates HA/CD44-mediated tumor cell behaviors in breast tumor cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that the HA-induced CD44 interaction with c-Src-activated Twist plays a pivotal role in miR-10b production, leading to the down-regulation of tumor suppressor protein (HOXD10), RhoGTPase-ROK activation, and tumor cell invasion. All of these events are critical prerequisite steps for the acquisition of metastatic properties by human breast cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / metabolism
  • Apoptosis
  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / genetics
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism*
  • Hyaluronic Acid / metabolism*
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Twist-Related Protein 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Twist-Related Protein 1 / genetics
  • Twist-Related Protein 1 / metabolism*
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • rho-Associated Kinases / genetics
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • rhoC GTP-Binding Protein
  • src-Family Kinases

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • CD44 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • MIRN10 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • TWIST1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Twist-Related Protein 1
  • RHOA protein, human
  • HOXD10 protein, human
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase
  • src-Family Kinases
  • CSK protein, human
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • RHOC protein, human
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • rhoC GTP-Binding Protein