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Journal of Ovarian Research
Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Nanog interaction with the androgen receptor signaling axis induce ovarian cancer stem cell regulation: studies based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system

Authors: Kaijian Ling, Lupin Jiang, Shi Liang, Joseph Kwong, Leiyan Yang, Yudi Li, PingYin, Qingchun Deng, Zhiqing Liang

Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) contribute to the poor prognosis of ovarian cancer. Involvement of the androgen receptor (AR) in the malignant behaviors of other tumors has been reported. However, whether AR associates with Nanog (a stem cell marker) and participates in OCSC functions remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the interaction of Nanog with AR and examined whether this interaction induced stem-like properties in ovarian cancer cells.

Methods

AR and Nanog expression in ovarian tumors was evaluated. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we constructed a Nanog green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker cell model to investigate the expression and co-localization of Nanog and AR. Then, we examined the effect of androgen on the Nanog promoter in ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780 and SKOV3). After androgen or anti-androgen treatment, cell proliferation, migration, sphere formation, colony formation and tumorigenesis were assessed in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Both AR and Nanog expression were obviously high in ovarian tumors. Our results showed that Nanog expression was correlated with AR expression. The androgen 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) activated Nanog promoter transcription. Meanwhile, Nanog GFP-positive cells treated with DHT exhibited higher levels of proliferation, migration, sphere formation and colony formation. We also observed that the tumorigenesis of Nanog GFP-positive cells was significantly higher than that of the GFP-negative cells. Xenografts of Nanog GFP-positive cells showed significant differences when treated with androgen or anti-androgen drugs in vivo.

Conclusions

The interaction of Nanog with the AR signaling axis might induce or contribute to OCSC regulation. In addition, androgen might promote stemness characteristics in ovarian cancer cells by activating the Nanog promoter. This finding merits further study because it may provide a new understanding of OCSC regulation from a hormone perspective and lead to the reevaluation of stem cell therapy for ovarian cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Nanog interaction with the androgen receptor signaling axis induce ovarian cancer stem cell regulation: studies based on the CRISPR/Cas9 system
Authors
Kaijian Ling
Lupin Jiang
Shi Liang
Joseph Kwong
Leiyan Yang
Yudi Li
PingYin
Qingchun Deng
Zhiqing Liang
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Ovarian Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1757-2215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13048-018-0403-2

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