An epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-inducing potential of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor in colon cancer

Scientific Reports

Hui Peng¹  Yu Chen²  Zhonglin Lv³  Guojiang Chen³  He Xiao³  Chunmei Hou³  Jiannan Feng³  Yaqiong Chen³  Beifen Shen³  Gencheng Han³  Renxi Wang³  Yan Li³  Renfeng Guo⁴  Zhi Zhao⁵  Xin Ding⁶ 

[1] College of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University;Department of Experimental Animals, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine;Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences;Department of Pathology, University of Michigan;Department of Pathology, Yihe Hospital, Henan University;Graduate School, Anhui Medical University;

DOI  :  10.1038/s41598-017-08047-1

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Growing evidence shows that granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) has progression-promoting potentials in certain solid tumors, which is largely attributed to the immunomodulatory function of this cytokine in tumor niches. However, little is known about the effect of GM-CSF on cancer cells. Herein, we show that chronic exposure of colon cancer cells to GM-CSF, which harbor its receptor, leads to occurrence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), in time and dose-dependent manners. These GM-CSF-educated cancer cells exhibit enhanced ability of motility in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, GM-CSF stimulation renders colon cancer cells more resistant to cytotoxic agents. Mechanistic investigation reveals that MAPK/ERK signaling and EMT-inducing transcription factor ZEB1 are critical to mediate these effects of GM-CSF. In specimen of CRC patients, high-level expression of GM-CSF positively correlates with local metastases in lymph nodes. Moreover, the co-expression of GM-CSF and its receptors as well as phosphorylated ERK1/2 are observed. Thus, our study for the first time identifies a progression-promoting function of GM-CSF in colon cancer by inducing EMT.

【 授权许可】

Unknown