Differential interleukin-6/Stat3 signaling as a function of cellular context mediates Ras-induced transformation Journal Article


Authors: Leslie, K.; Gao, S. P.; Berishaj, M.; Podsypanina, K.; Ho, H.; Ivashkiv, L.; Bromberg, J.
Article Title: Differential interleukin-6/Stat3 signaling as a function of cellular context mediates Ras-induced transformation
Abstract: Introduction: Tyrosine phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pStat3) is expressed in numerous cancers and is required for mediating tumorigenesis. Autocrine and paracrine interleukin (IL)-6 signaling is the principal mechanism by which Stat3 is persistently phosphorylated in epithelial tumors including breast, lung, colon and gastric cancer. The Ras oncogene mediates cellular transformation without evidence of pStat3 in cultured cells. However, non-tyrosine phosphorylated Stat3 was shown to function as a transcriptional activator, localize to the mitochondria and regulate ATP synthesis and mediate cell migration. Here we examined the role of Stat3 in Ras mediated transformation.Methods: Ha-rasV12 transformed mammary epithelial cells (MCF10A-Ras) cells were transduced with a Stat3shRNA, IL-6shRNA and/or treated with inhibitors of Janus kinases (JAKs) to examine the role of the IL-6 signaling pathway in Ras mediated migration, invasion and tumorigenesis.Results: Cellular migration, invasion, anchorage independent growth and tumorigenesis were largely abrogated in the Stat3-reduced cells compared to control cells. Analysis of MCF10A-Ras tumors revealed high levels of pStat3 and interleukin-6. Tumors derived from transgenic MMTV-K-Ras mice were also found to express pStat3 and IL-6. MCF10A-Ras cells, when grown in a three-dimensional Matrigel culture system revealed the appearance of the junctional protein E-Cadherin as a consequence of reducing Stat3 levels or inhibiting Stat3 activity. Decreasing IL-6 levels in the MCF10A-Ras cells abrogated tumorigenesis and reduced cell migration. By isolating Ras-expressing primary tumors and serially passaging these cells in two-dimensional culture led to a decrease in IL-6 and pStat3 levels with the reappearance of E-Cadherin.Conclusions: The cellular and environmental context can lead to differential IL-6/pStat3 signaling and a dependency on this cytokine and transcription factor for migration, invasion and tumorigenesis. © 2010 Leslie et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Keywords: controlled study; protein expression; protein phosphorylation; human cell; nonhuman; protein function; protein localization; mouse; animal tissue; stat3 protein; breast cancer; gene expression; animal experiment; tyrosine; uvomorulin; transgenic mouse; genetic transfection; messenger rna; protein synthesis; cell transformation; janus kinase; interleukin 6; autocrine effect; cell migration; paracrine signaling; ras protein; adenosine triphosphate; breast carcinogenesis; anchorage independent growth; cell invasion; oncogene ras; short hairpin rna; cell strain; cell strain 293 t; cell strain mcf 10a ras
Journal Title: Breast Cancer Research
Volume: 12
Issue: 5
ISSN: 1465-5411
Publisher: Biomed Central Ltd  
Date Published: 2010-10-07
Start Page: R80
Language: English
DOI: 10.1186/bcr2725
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC3096973
PUBMED: 20929542
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 20 April 2011" - "Art. No.: R80" - "CODEN: BCRRC" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Jacqueline Bromberg
    141 Bromberg
  2. Sizhi Gao
    47 Gao
  3. Kenneth Andrew Leslie
    8 Leslie