SIX1 represses senescence and promotes SOX2-mediated cellular plasticity during tumorigenesis

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 5;9(1):1412. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-38176-0.

Abstract

Six1 is a developmental transcriptional regulator frequently overexpressed in human tumors. Recent results show that SIX1 also acts as a repressor of cell senescence, an antiproliferative response with a key role in tumor suppression, among other physiological and pathological settings. Here, we set to study the impact of SIX1 gain of function in transformation and tumorigenesis of fibroblasts, in connection with senescence. Using transcriptomic, histological, and functional analyses in murine tumors and cells of fibroblast origin, we show that SIX1 has a strong pro-tumorigenic action in this model, linked to the repression of a senescence-related gene signature and the induction of an undifferentiated phenotype mediated, at least in part, by the regulation of the stemness factor Sox2. Moreover, functional analyses with human glioma cell lines also show that SIX1 controls SOX2 expression, senescence and self-renewal in this model. Collectively, our results support a general link of SIX1 with senescence and SOX2-mediated cell plasticity in tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Plasticity / genetics*
  • Cellular Senescence / genetics*
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glioma / metabolism*
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Heterografts
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcriptome
  • Transduction, Genetic
  • Tumor Burden / genetics

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • SIX1 protein, human
  • SOX2 protein, human
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • Six1 protein, mouse
  • Sox2 protein, mouse