Abstract
Enhanced blood vessel (BV) formation is thought to drive tumor growth through elevated nutrient delivery. However, this observation has overlooked potential roles for mural cells in directly affecting tumor growth independent of BV function. Here we provide clinical data correlating high percentages of mural-β3-integrin-negative tumor BVs with increased tumor sizes but no effect on BV numbers. Mural-β3-integrin loss also enhances tumor growth in implanted and autochthonous mouse tumor models with no detectable effects on BV numbers or function. At a molecular level, mural-cell β3-integrin loss enhances signaling via FAK-p-HGFR-p-Akt-p-p65, driving CXCL1, CCL2, and TIMP-1 production. In particular, mural-cell-derived CCL2 stimulates tumor cell MEK1-ERK1/2-ROCK2-dependent signaling and enhances tumor cell survival and tumor growth. Overall, our data indicate that mural cells can control tumor growth via paracrine signals regulated by β3-integrin, providing a previously unrecognized mechanism of cancer growth control.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1346-1363.e21 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Cell |
Volume | 181 |
Issue number | 6 |
Early online date | 29 May 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 11 Jun 2020 |
Keywords
- mural cell
- paracrine
- β3-integrin
Profiles
-
Stephen Robinson
- School of Biological Sciences - Research Leader
- Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging - Member
- Cells and Tissues - Member
Person: Research Group Member, Research Centre Member, Academic, Teaching & Research