Academic Journal

SMAD2/3 mediate oncogenic effects of TGF-β in the absence of SMAD4.

Bibliographic Details
Title: SMAD2/3 mediate oncogenic effects of TGF-β in the absence of SMAD4.
Authors: Bertrand-Chapel, Adrien, Caligaris, Cassandre, Fenouil, Tanguy, Savary, Clara, Aires, Sophie, Martel, Sylvie, Huchedé, Paul, Chassot, Christelle, Chauvet, Véronique, Cardot-Ruffino, Victoire, Morel, Anne-Pierre, Subtil, Fabien, Mohkam, Kayvan, Mabrut, Jean-Yves, Tonon, Laurie, Viari, Alain, Cassier, Philippe, Hervieu, Valérie, Castets, Marie, Mauviel, Alain
Source: Communications Biology; 10/7/2022, Vol. 5 Issue 1, p1-13, 13p
Abstract: TGF-β signaling is involved in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumorigenesis, representing one of the four major pathways genetically altered in 100% of PDAC cases. TGF-β exerts complex and pleiotropic effects in cancers, notably via the activation of SMAD pathways, predominantly SMAD2/3/4. Though SMAD2 and 3 are rarely mutated in cancers, SMAD4 is lost in about 50% of PDAC, and the role of SMAD2/3 in a SMAD4-null context remains understudied. We herein provide evidence of a SMAD2/3 oncogenic effect in response to TGF-β1 in SMAD4-null human PDAC cancer cells. We report that inactivation of SMAD2/3 in SMAD4-negative PDAC cells compromises TGF-β-driven collective migration mediated by FAK and Rho/Rac signaling. Moreover, RNA-sequencing analyses highlight a TGF-β gene signature related to aggressiveness mediated by SMAD2/3 in the absence of SMAD4. Using a PDAC patient cohort, we reveal that SMAD4-negative tumors with high levels of phospho-SMAD2 are more aggressive and have a poorer prognosis. Thus, loss of SMAD4 tumor suppressive activity in PDAC leads to an oncogenic gain-of-function of SMAD2/3, and to the onset of associated deleterious effects. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells and patient tissue, SMAD2/3 is shown to mediate oncogenic effects of TGF-β in the absence of SMAD4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Subject Terms: SMAD proteins, PANCREATIC duct, CANCER cells, RNA sequencing
Copyright of Communications Biology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
ISSN: 23993642
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03994-6
Database: Complementary Index