Tissue tranglutaminase regulates interactions between ovarian cancer stem cells and the tumor niche

Salvatore Condello, Livia Sima, Cristina Ivan, Horacio Cardenas, Gary Schiltz, Rama K. Mishra, Daniela Matei*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cancer progression and recurrence are linked to a rare population of cancer stem cells (CSC). Here, we hypothesized that interactions with the extracellular matrix drive CSC proliferation and tumor-initiating capacity and investigated the functions of scaffold protein tissue transglutaminase (TG2) in ovarian CSC. Complexes formed by TG2, fibronectin (FN), and integrin b1 were enriched in ovarian CSC and detectable in tumors. A function-inhibiting antibody against the TG2 FN-binding domain suppressed complex formation, CSC proliferation as spheroids, tumor-initiating capacity, and stemness-associated Wnt/b-catenin signaling. Disruption of the interaction between TG2 and FN also blocked spheroid formation and the response to Wnt ligands. TG2 and the Wnt receptor Frizzled 7 (Fzd7) form a complex in cancer cells and tumors, leading to Wnt pathway activation. Protein docking and peptide inhibition demonstrate that the interaction between TG2 and Fzd7 overlaps with the FN-binding domain of TG2. These results support a new function of TG2 in ovarian CSC, linked to spheroid proliferation and tumor-initiating capacity and mediated through direct interactions with Fzd7. We propose this complex as a new stem cell target. Significance: These findings reveal a new mechanism by which ovarian CSCs interact with the tumor microenvironment, promoting cell proliferation and tumor initiation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2990-3001
Number of pages12
JournalCancer Research
Volume78
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2018

Funding

This work was made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (I01 BX000792-06), the Diana Princess of Wales endowed Professorship from the Lurie Cancer Center (to D. Matei), and Friends of Prentice award (to S. Condello). We acknowledge the technical support provided by the Imaging Core Facility and Flow Cytometry Core supported by the Lurie Cancer Center and the NCI-P30 (CA 060553) award.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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