The secreted protein ANGPTL2 promotes metastasis of osteosarcoma cells through integrin α5β1, p38 MAPK, and matrix metalloproteinases

Sci Signal. 2014 Jan 21;7(309):ra7. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.2004612.

Abstract

The tumor microenvironment can enhance the invasive capacity of tumor cells. We showed that expression of angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) in osteosarcoma (OS) cell lines increased and the methylation of its promoter decreased with time when grown as xenografts in mice compared with culture. Compared with cells grown in normal culture conditions, the expression of genes encoding DNA demethylation-related enzymes increased in tumor cells implanted into mice or grown in hypoxic, serum-starved culture conditions. ANGPTL2 expression in OS cell lines correlated with increased tumor metastasis and decreased animal survival by promoting tumor cell intravasation mediated by the integrin α5β1, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and matrix metalloproteinases. The tolloid-like 1 (TLL1) protease cleaved ANGPTL2 into fragments in vitro that did not enhance tumor progression when overexpressed in xenografts. Expression of TLL1 was weak in OS patient tumors, suggesting that ANGPTL2 may not be efficiently cleaved upon secretion from OS cells. These findings demonstrate that preventing ANGPTL2 signaling stimulated by the tumor microenvironment could inhibit tumor cell migration and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiopoietin-Like Protein 2
  • Angiopoietin-like Proteins
  • Angiopoietins / genetics
  • Angiopoietins / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Bone Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Bone Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Methylation
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha5beta1 / metabolism*
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic
  • Osteosarcoma / enzymology
  • Osteosarcoma / metabolism
  • Osteosarcoma / pathology*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • ANGPTL2 protein, human
  • Angiopoietin-Like Protein 2
  • Angiopoietin-like Proteins
  • Angiopoietins
  • Integrin alpha5beta1
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Matrix Metalloproteinases

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE14827