Coordinated expression of Pax-5 and FAK1 in metastasis

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2011 Sep;11(7):643-9. doi: 10.2174/187152011796817637.

Abstract

The Pax-5 gene encodes a B-cell-specific activator protein (BSAP) that plays a key role in B lymphocyte differentiation and embryogenesis. The deregulation of this transcription factor is also linked to B cell malignancies and recently to other cancers. More specifically, the downstream effects of Pax-5 promote cell-cell interactions and mediate the activation of adhesion genes which result in an epithelial phenotypic behavior of human carcinoma cells. To gain a better understanding of Pax-5-mediated gene regulation, we studied available gene expression data in depth and identified several Pax-5 downstream targets. Among these, we found that Pax-5 activity is consistently inversely correlated with the expression of Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 (FAK1). FAK1 is known to enhance migration of cancer cells and promote metastatic dissemination to distant sites. Further analysis looking at genome wide profiling of Pax-5 DNAbinding points to both direct and indirect regulation of FAK1 expression by Pax-5 and its downstream targets. These findings suggest a key role for Pax-5 in phenotypic transitioning during metastasis through the regulation of FAK1 activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Carcinoma / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Movement
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / genetics*
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Focal Adhesions / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / genetics*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / metabolism
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / pathology
  • PAX5 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • PAX5 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • PAX5 Transcription Factor
  • PAX5 protein, human
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1