(D) A significant decrease in the RhoC mRNA expression was obtained in the RhoC knockdown adherent cell and in the tumorspheres

(D) A significant decrease in the RhoC mRNA expression was obtained in the RhoC knockdown adherent cell and in the tumorspheres. RhoC-GTP was significantly low in the RhoC knockdown clones of UM-SCC-11A and 74B as revealed by G-LISA.(TIF) pone.0088527.s003.tif (83K) GUID:?7CD531C5-D53D-43D5-8306-2995FEA0209E Abstract In this study we investigated the correlation between RhoC expression and malignancy stem cells (CSCs) formation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The SBC-115076 inhibition of RhoC function was achieved using shRNA. The expression of stem cell surface markers, ALDH and CD44 were significantly low in two RhoC depleted HNSCC cell carcinoma cell lines. Furthermore, a striking reduction in tumorsphere formation was achieved in RhoC knockdown lines. The mRNA expression of RhoC in RhoC knockdown adherent and tumorspheres are dramatically down regulated as compared with the scrambled control. The mRNA expression of stem cell transcription factors; nanog, oct3/4 (Pouf1), and sox2 were significantly depleted in RhoC knockdown clones. Further, the phosphorylation of STAT3ser727, and STAT3tyr705 were significantly down regulated in RhoC knockdown clones. The overexpression of STAT3 in RhoC knockdown did not show any switch in expression patterns of either-STAT3tyr705 or stem cell transcription factors, signifying the role of RhoC in STAT3 activation and thus the expression of nanog, oct3/4 and sox2 in HNSCC. The expression of Inter leukin-6 (IL-6) in RhoC knockdown HNSCC cell lines was dramatically low as compared to the scrambled control. Further, we have shown a rescue in STAT3 phosphorylation by IL-6 activation in RhoC knockdown lines. This study is the first of its kind to establish the involvement of RhoC in STAT3 phosphorylation and hence in promoting the activation of core malignancy stem cells (CSCs) transcription factors. These findings suggest that RhoC may be a novel target for HNSCC therapy. Introduction Head and SBC-115076 neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is among the top SBC-115076 ten fatal cancers worldwide [1], [2]. Moreover, as reported by the American Malignancy Society, approximately 41, 380 new cases will be diagnosed in the year 2013, out of which about 19% of patients are likely to die due to the disease in the same 12 months [3]. The survivors face secondary manifestations of the disease resulting in a continuous and considerable treatment. This is exacerbated by the fact that the disease shows a high frequency of re-occurrence. As a result, HNSCC patients face a long battle against the disease causing great economic and SBC-115076 emotional burden [4]. Consequently, a report by Brown (2002) cites HNSCC among the eight most expensive cancers in the Medicare program [5]. The unusually high morbidity SBC-115076 and mortality rate is due to the malignant nature of HNSCC and its widespread Rabbit Polyclonal to OR11H1 occurrence in most head and neck cancers. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find metastasis to lymph nodes of the neck region leading to loco-regional failure (most frequent) followed by pulmonary and bone metastasis [6], [7]. As a result, patients with HNSCC show poor prognosis and a five 12 months survival rate of only 50C60% [3]. Thus, there is a great need to understand the genetic mechanisms regulating the malignancy of HNSCC and use them to design better treatment strategies that can prevent metastasis and re-occurrence. RhoC is usually a member of the well characterized Rho family of GTPases that are involved in a wide range of cellular activities including intracellular signaling, cytoskeletal business, cell proliferation and the regulation of gene expression [8]. Interestingly, the Rho genes belong to the Ras superfamily, many of which have been identified as oncogenes [9], [10]. Although very few genetic mutations are observed in the RhoC gene, it is reported to be over-expressed in many forms of invasive carcinomas including HNSCC [11], [12]. Specifically, studies in all types of cancers where RhoC expression was analyzed revealed a very strong correlation between greatly increased expression and metastasis. Moreover, when RhoC function is usually inhibited studies of tumorigenesis in RhoC knockout mice show tumors with a greatly reduced ability to metastasize to the lungs [10]. Altogether, these studies strongly suggest RhoC is usually a pro-metastasis oncogene that plays a significant role in transforming non-invasive tumor cells into an invasive phenotype. The study of RhoC function focuses mainly on its role in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton by inducing the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesion, which are critical actions toward changing cells into motile.