TGF-β-induced stromal CYR61 promotes resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through downregulation of the nucleoside transporters hENT1 and hCNT3.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal cancer in part due to inherent resistance to chemotherapy, including the first-line drug gemcitabine. Although low expression of the nucleoside transporters hENT1 and hCNT3 that mediate cellular uptake of gemcitabine has been linked to gemcitabine resistance, the mechanisms regulating their expression in the PDAC tumor microenvironment are largely unknown. Here, we report that the matricellular protein cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61) negatively regulates the nucleoside transporters hENT1 and hCNT3. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of CYR61 increased expression of hENT1 and hCNT3, increased cellular uptake of gemcitabine and sensitized PDAC cells to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. In PDAC patient samples, expression of hENT1 and hCNT3 negatively correlates with expression of CYR61 . We demonstrate that stromal pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) are a source of CYR61 within the PDAC tumor microenvironment. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) induces the expression of CYR61 in PSCs through canonical TGF-β-ALK5-Smad2/3 signaling. Activation of TGF-β signaling or expression of CYR61 in PSCs promotes resistance to gemcitabine in PDAC cells in an in vitro co-culture assay. Our results identify CYR61 as a TGF-β-induced stromal-derived factor that regulates gemcitabine sensitivity in PDAC and suggest that targeting CYR61 may improve chemotherapy response in PDAC patients.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Hesler, RA; Huang, JJ; Starr, MD; Treboschi, VM; Bernanke, AG; Nixon, AB; McCall, SJ; White, RR; Blobe, GC
Published Date
- November 1, 2016
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 37 / 11
Start / End Page
- 1041 - 1051
PubMed ID
- 27604902
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC5091039
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1460-2180
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1093/carcin/bgw093
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- England