Theranostics 2021; 11(10):4975-4991. doi:10.7150/thno.55074 This issue Cite

Research Paper

FOSL2 promotes VEGF-independent angiogenesis by transcriptionnally activating Wnt5a in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts

Xueying Wan1*, Shengdong Guan1*, Yixuan Hou2, Yilu Qin1, Huan Zeng1, Liping Yang1, Yina Qiao1, Shuiqing Liu1, Qiao Li1, Ting Jin1, Yuxiang Qiu1, Manran Liu1✉

1. Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
2. Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medicine Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
*These authors contributed equally to this work.

Citation:
Wan X, Guan S, Hou Y, Qin Y, Zeng H, Yang L, Qiao Y, Liu S, Li Q, Jin T, Qiu Y, Liu M. FOSL2 promotes VEGF-independent angiogenesis by transcriptionnally activating Wnt5a in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts. Theranostics 2021; 11(10):4975-4991. doi:10.7150/thno.55074. https://www.thno.org/v11p4975.htm
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Abstract

Graphic abstract

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a predominant component of the tumor microenvironment, contribute to aggressive angiogenesis progression. In clinical practice, traditional anti-angiogenic therapy, mainly anti-VEGF, provides extremely limited beneficial effects to breast cancer. Here, we reveal that FOS-like 2 (FOSL2), a transcription factor in breast CAFs, plays a critical role in VEGF-independent angiogenesis in stromal fibroblasts.

Methods: FOSL2 and Wnt5a expression was assessed by qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry in primary and immortalized CAFs and clinical samples. FOSL2- or Wnt5a-silenced CAFs and FOSL2-overexpressing NFs were established to explore their proangiogenic effects. Invasion, tubule formation, three-dimensional sprouting assays, and orthotopic xenografts were conducted as angiogenesis experiments. FZD5/NF-κB/ERK signaling activation was evaluated by western blotting after blocking VEGF/VEGFR with an anti-VEGF antibody and axitinib. Dual luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed to test the role of FOSL2 in regulating Wnt5a expression, and Wnt5a in the serum of the patients was measured to assess its clinical diagnostic value for breast cancer patients.

Results: Enhanced FOSL2 in breast CAFs was significantly associated with angiogenesis and clinical progression in patients. The supernatant from CAFs highly expressing FOSL2 strongly promoted tube formation and sprouting of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a VEGF-independent manner and angiogenesis as well as tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, the enhanced FOSL2 in CAFs was regulated by estrogen/cAMP/PKA signaling. Wnt5a, a direct target of FOSL2, specifically activated FZD5/NF-κB/ERK signaling in HUVECs to promote VEGF-independent angiogenesis. In addition, a high level of Wnt5a was commonly detected in the serum of breast cancer patients and closely correlated with microvessel density in breast tumor tissues, suggesting a promising clinical value of Wnt5a for breast cancer diagnostics.

Conclusion: FOSL2/Wnt5a signaling plays an essential role in breast cancer angiogenesis in a VEGF-independent manner, and targeting the FOSL2/Wnt5a signaling axis in CAFs may offer a potential option for antiangiogenesis therapy.

Keywords: cancer-associated fibroblasts, FOSL2, Wnt5a, VEGF-independent angiogenesis


Citation styles

APA
Wan, X., Guan, S., Hou, Y., Qin, Y., Zeng, H., Yang, L., Qiao, Y., Liu, S., Li, Q., Jin, T., Qiu, Y., Liu, M. (2021). FOSL2 promotes VEGF-independent angiogenesis by transcriptionnally activating Wnt5a in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts. Theranostics, 11(10), 4975-4991. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.55074.

ACS
Wan, X.; Guan, S.; Hou, Y.; Qin, Y.; Zeng, H.; Yang, L.; Qiao, Y.; Liu, S.; Li, Q.; Jin, T.; Qiu, Y.; Liu, M. FOSL2 promotes VEGF-independent angiogenesis by transcriptionnally activating Wnt5a in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts. Theranostics 2021, 11 (10), 4975-4991. DOI: 10.7150/thno.55074.

NLM
Wan X, Guan S, Hou Y, Qin Y, Zeng H, Yang L, Qiao Y, Liu S, Li Q, Jin T, Qiu Y, Liu M. FOSL2 promotes VEGF-independent angiogenesis by transcriptionnally activating Wnt5a in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts. Theranostics 2021; 11(10):4975-4991. doi:10.7150/thno.55074. https://www.thno.org/v11p4975.htm

CSE
Wan X, Guan S, Hou Y, Qin Y, Zeng H, Yang L, Qiao Y, Liu S, Li Q, Jin T, Qiu Y, Liu M. 2021. FOSL2 promotes VEGF-independent angiogenesis by transcriptionnally activating Wnt5a in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts. Theranostics. 11(10):4975-4991.

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