PRSS8 suppresses colorectal carcinogenesis and metastasis

Oncogene. 2019 Jan;38(4):497-517. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0453-3. Epub 2018 Aug 16.

Abstract

The serine protease PRSS8 has shown important physiological and pathological functions, but its roles in cancer initiation and progression are unclear. We developed and dynamically characterized a conditional knockout Prss8fl/fl, p-Villin-Cre+ mouse model. We found that genetic deficiency of the Prss8 gene caused spontaneous colitis and an inflamed rectum at an early age and caused intestinal tumors at a late age, which were linked to increased intestinal cell proliferation and migration but decreased cell differentiation. Increased PRSS8 expression inhibited cancer cell growth and metastasis in nude mice and inhibited cancer cell migration, invasion, colony formation and tumor sphere formation in vitro, but decreased PRSS8 expression facilitated malignancies in vivo and in vitro. Gene profiling on manipulated cancer cells and intestinal epithelial cells of Prss8 mouse models, gene set enrichment analysis and mechanistic studies revealed that PRSS8 targeted the Wnt/β-catenin, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and stem cell signaling pathways, which were further supported by the results from the TCGA data mining and validated by immunohistochemical staining on colorectal cancer tissue microarrays. In conclusion, PRSS8 is a novel tumor suppressor that plays critical roles in the suppression of colorectal carcinogenesis and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenoma / genetics
  • Animals
  • Colitis / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Duodenal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / deficiency
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / physiology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases / deficiency
  • Serine Endopeptidases / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases / physiology*
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / deficiency
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • prostasin