Abstract A27: Zeb1 induces LOXL2-mediated collagen stabilization and deposition in the extracellular matrix to drive lung cancer invasion and metastasis
Authors: Peng David H. , Tong Pan , Byers Lauren A. , Wang Jing , Creighton Chad J. , Gibbons Don L. 
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death, primarily due to distant metastatic disease. Metastatic cancer cells undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) regulated by a double-negative feedback loop between the microRNA-200 (miR-200) family and Zeb1, but the precise mechanisms of Zeb1-dependent EMT in promoting malignancy remain largely undefined. While the cell-intrinsic effects of EMT are important for tumor progression, the reciprocal dynamic crosstalk between mesenchymal cancer cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) is equally critical in regulating invasion and metastasis. This study investigates the collaborative effect of EMT and ECM in the metastatic process.

Methods: Bioinformatic analysis of TCGA dataset was done to correlate ECM-associated gene expression with EMT gene signature scores. Western blotting and qPCR analysis of epithelial and mesenchymal lung cancer cell lines were performed to determine expression levels of collagen, LOX, and LOXL2. Lung tumor tissues from non-metastatic KrasG12D and metastatic KrasG12D;p53R172H mutant mice were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Masson's trichrome staining, and second harmonics generation for collagen, LOX, and LOXL2 expression as well as collagen fiber organization. Syngeneic primary tumors generated by subcutaneous injection of murine lung cancer cell lines were analyzed in a similar fashion. Promoter and 3′-UTR luciferase reporter assays were performed to determine direct regulation LOXL2 and LOX by Zeb1 and miR-200, respectively.

Results: Our results reveal increased collagen deposition in metastatic tumor tissues as a direct consequence of amplified collagen gene expression in Zeb1-activated mesenchymal lung cancer cells. Additionally, collagen fibers in metastatic lung tumors exhibit greater linearity and organization as a result of collagen crosslinking by the lysyl oxidase (LOX) family of enzymes. Expression of the LOX and LOXL2 isoforms is directly regulated by miR-200 and Zeb1, respectively, and their upregulation in metastatic tumors and mesenchymal cell lines is coordinated to that of collagen. Functionally, LOXL2, as opposed to LOX, is the principle isoform driving lung cancer metastasis by crosslinking and stabilizing insoluble collagen deposition in primary tumor tissues.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that mesenchymal lung cancer cells metastasize by modulating the compositional and structural properties of the ECM through LOXL-mediated collagen crosslinking and deposition. We are the first to validate direct regulation of LOX and LOXL2 by the miR-200/Zeb1 axis, delineate collagen as a prognostic marker for lung cancer, and identify LOXL2 as a potential therapeutic target against tumor progression.

Citation Format: David H. Peng, Pan Tong, Lauren A. Byers, Jing Wang, Chad J. Creighton, Don L. Gibbons. Zeb1 induces LOXL2-mediated collagen stabilization and deposition in the extracellular matrix to drive lung cancer invasion and metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; 2015 Nov 30-Dec 3; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A27.