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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Dependence receptor UNC5A restricts luminal to basal breast cancer plasticity and metastasis

Authors: Maria B. Padua, Poornima Bhat-Nakshatri, Manjushree Anjanappa, Mayuri S. Prasad, Yangyang Hao, Xi Rao, Sheng Liu, Jun Wan, Yunlong Liu, Kyle McElyea, Max Jacobsen, George Sandusky, Sandra Althouse, Susan Perkins, Harikrishna Nakshatri

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

The majority of estrogen receptor-positive (ERα+) breast cancers respond to endocrine therapies. However, resistance to endocrine therapies is common in 30% of cases, which may be due to altered ERα signaling and/or enhanced plasticity of cancer cells leading to breast cancer subtype conversion. The mechanisms leading to enhanced plasticity of ERα-positive cancer cells are unknown.

Methods

We used short hairpin (sh)RNA and/or the CRISPR/Cas9 system to knockdown the expression of the dependence receptor UNC5A in ERα+ MCF7 and T-47D cell lines. RNA-seq, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and Western blotting were used to measure the effect of UNC5A knockdown on basal and estradiol (E2)-regulated gene expression. Mammosphere assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence were used to determine the role of UNC5A in restricting plasticity. Xenograft models were used to measure the effect of UNC5A knockdown on tumor growth and metastasis. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were utilized to determine the prognostic value of UNC5A in breast cancer. Log-rank test, one-way, and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analyses.

Results

Knockdown of the E2-inducible UNC5A resulted in altered basal gene expression affecting plasma membrane integrity and ERα signaling, as evident from ligand-independent activity of ERα, altered turnover of phosphorylated ERα, unique E2-dependent expression of genes effecting histone demethylase activity, enhanced upregulation of E2-inducible genes such as BCL2, and E2-independent tumorigenesis accompanied by multiorgan metastases. UNC5A depletion led to the appearance of a luminal/basal hybrid phenotype supported by elevated expression of basal/stem cell-enriched ∆Np63, CD44, CD49f, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and the lymphatic vessel permeability factor NTN4, but lower expression of luminal/alveolar differentiation-associated ELF5 while maintaining functional ERα. In addition, UNC5A-depleted cells acquired bipotent luminal progenitor characteristics based on KRT14+/KRT19+ and CD49f+/EpCAM+ phenotype. Consistent with in vitro results, UNC5A expression negatively correlated with EGFR expression in breast tumors, and lower expression of UNC5A, particularly in ERα+/PR+/HER2− tumors, was associated with poor outcome.

Conclusion

These studies reveal an unexpected role of the axon guidance receptor UNC5A in fine-tuning ERα and EGFR signaling and the luminal progenitor status of hormone-sensitive breast cancers. Furthermore, UNC5A knockdown cells provide an ideal model system to investigate metastasis of ERα+ breast cancers.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Dependence receptor UNC5A restricts luminal to basal breast cancer plasticity and metastasis
Authors
Maria B. Padua
Poornima Bhat-Nakshatri
Manjushree Anjanappa
Mayuri S. Prasad
Yangyang Hao
Xi Rao
Sheng Liu
Jun Wan
Yunlong Liu
Kyle McElyea
Max Jacobsen
George Sandusky
Sandra Althouse
Susan Perkins
Harikrishna Nakshatri
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-018-0963-5

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