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Theranostics 2023; 13(7):2368-2383. doi:10.7150/thno.83938 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Lactate-mediated Fascin protrusions promote cell adhesion and migration in cervical cancer

Xiao Han^1*, Shujuan Du^1*, Xiaoting Chen^1*, Xuehua Min¹, Zhongwei Dong¹, Yuyan Wang¹, Caixia Zhu¹, Fang Wei^2✉, Shujun Gao^1✉, Qiliang Cai^1✉

1. Center of Diagnosis and Treatment For Cervical & Uterine Cavity Disease, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-Related Disease, & MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, Shanghai Institute of Infections Disease and Biosecurity, Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Infection, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China.
2. ShengYushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China.
*Equally contributed to this work.

✉ Corresponding author: qiliangedu.cn (QC); 031108282edu.cn (SG); fangweiedu.cn (FW)

Abstract

Background: Lactate is associated with the poor prognosis of many human malignancies. Cervical cancer, one of main causes of women mortality worldwide, is aggressive and absent of effective pharmacological treatment, and its underlying mechanisms of progression remain elusive.

Methods: The regulation of β-catenin to fascin protrusion formation upon acidic lactate (Lactic acid [LA]) stimulation was evaluated through in β-catenin or fascin deficiency cell line models by immunofluorescence assays, and subcellular fractionation. The effect of β-catenin and fascin relocation by LA and its antagonist were evaluated by immunohistochemistry assay in patient tissues and mouse tumor xenograft model. Trypsin digestion, Transwell assay, cell proliferation in vitro was performed to explore the role of LA in the cell growth, adhesion and migration.

Results: Low concentration of LA significantly promotes cytoskeleton remodeling via `protrusion formation to increase cell adhesion and migration. Mechanistically, upon LA stimulation, β-catenin diffuses from the cytoplasmic membrane into the nucleus, which in turn induces fascin nuclear-cytoplasm redistribution to the protrusion compartment. Moreover, the antagonist of LA sufficiently blocks the LA-mediated β-catenin nuclear import, fascin nuclear export, and the growth and invasion of cervical cancer cells in vitro and in vivo using a murine xenograft model.

Conclusions: This study uncovers β-catenin-fascin axis as a key signal in response to extracellular lactate and indicates that antagonist of LA may serve as a potential clinical intervention for cancer development.

Keywords: Lactate, LA antagonist, β-catenin/fascin, Cervical Cancer

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