Sp1 expression regulates lung tumor progression

Oncogene. 2012 Aug 30;31(35):3973-88. doi: 10.1038/onc.2011.568. Epub 2011 Dec 12.

Abstract

The role of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) in controlling gene expression in lung tumor development and metastasis is not well understood. In this study, we showed that the Sp1 level was highly increased and required for lung tumor growth in transgenic mice bearing Kras-induced lung tumors under the control of doxycycline. Furthermore, the Sp1 level was highly upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma cells with low invasiveness and in patients with stage I lung cancer. We also demonstrated that Sp1 was downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma cells with high invasiveness and in patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, Sp1 inversely regulated migration, invasion and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma cells in vivo. In addition, a decrease in the Sp1 level in highly invasive lung adenocarcinoma cells resulted from instability of the Sp1 protein. Furthermore, overexpression of Sp1 in highly invasive lung adenocarcinoma cells increased expression of E-cadherin, a suppressor of metastasis, and attenuated the translocation of β-catenin into the cellular nucleus that leads to tumor malignancy. Taken together, Sp1 level accumulated strongly in early stage and then declined in late stage, which is important for lung cancer cell proliferation and metastasis during tumorigenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung
  • Animals
  • Cadherins / biosynthesis
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Progression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor
  • beta Catenin