Cytoplasmic Asporin promotes cell migration by regulating TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway and indicates a poor prognosis in colorectal cancer

Cell Death Dis. 2019 Feb 6;10(2):109. doi: 10.1038/s41419-019-1376-9.

Abstract

Previous studies revealed that Asporin (ASPN) is a potential mediator in the development of various types of cancer as a secreted stroma protein, but the function of ASPN inside the cancer cells remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated a higher expression level of ASPN in colorectal cancer (CRC) than matched normal tissues, and 25% (2/8) CRC showed copy number variation (CNV) gain/amplification in ASPN gene. Both higher ASPN expression levels and ASPN CNV gain/amplification indicated a worse prognosis in CRC patients. ASPN can promote proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, and inhibit apoptosis by activating Akt/Erk and TGF-β/Smad2/3 signalings. Further investigations revealed that ASPN interacts with Smad2/3, facilitates its translocation into nucleus, and up-regulates the expression of Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related genes. Rescue assays confirmed that TGF-β signaling is essential for the effects of ASPN on promoting CRC cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, ASPN promotes the migration and invasion of CRC cells via TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway and could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker in CRC patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Confocal / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Smad2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Transfection
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / metabolism*

Substances

  • ASPN protein, human
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • SMAD2 protein, human
  • Smad2 Protein
  • TGFB3 protein, human
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta3