CAPS1 promotes colorectal cancer metastasis via Snail mediated epithelial mesenchymal transformation

Oncogene. 2019 Jun;38(23):4574-4589. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0740-7. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common gastrointestinal cancer with high mortality rate mostly due to metastasis. Ca2+-dependent activator protein for secretion 1 (CAPS1) was originally identified as a soluble factor that reconstitutes Ca2+-dependent secretion. In this study, we discovered a novel role of CAPS1 in CRC metastasis. CAPS1 is frequently up-regulated in CRC tissues. Increased CAPS1 expression is associated with frequent metastasis and poor prognosis of CRC patients. Overexpression of CAPS1 promotes CRC cell migration and invasion in vitro, as well as liver metastasis in vivo, without affecting cell proliferation. CAPS1 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including decreased E-cadherin and ZO-1, epithelial marker expression, and increased N-cadherin and Snail, mesenchymal marker expression. Snail knockdown reversed CAPS1-induced EMT, cell migration and invasion. This result indicates that Snail is required for CAPS1-mediated EMT process and metastasis in CRC. Furthermore, CAPS1 can bind with Septin2 and p85 (subunit of PI3K). LY294002 and wortmanin, PI3K/Akt inhibitors, can abolish CAPS1-induced increase of Akt/GSK3β activity, as well as increase of Snail protein level. Taken together, CAPS1 promotes colorectal cancer metastasis through PI3K/Akt/GSK3β/Snail signal pathway-mediated EMT process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HCT116 Cells
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Prognosis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • CADPS protein, human
  • Cadps protein, mouse
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • SNAI1 protein, human
  • Snail Family Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Calcium