The long-term goal of this proposal is to elucidate the mechanism of action of decorin in controlling cell proliferation. Our central hypothesis is that the augmented synthesis of decorin around invasive carcinomas represents a mechanism to counteract the invading neoplastic cells. This working hypothesis is based on several key observations: [a] Decorin levels are suppressed in most transformed cells, but markedly increased in quiescent cells. [b] Animals harboring a targeted disruption of decorin develop spontaneous colon tumors and mice with a double knock out of decorin and p53 genes die rapidly of thymic lymphomas, indicating that lack of decorin is permissive for tumorigenesis. [c] Ectopic expression of decorin induces profound cytostatic effects in a wide variety of transformed cells. [d] Decorin interacts with the EGFR and causes a profound attenuation of its tyrosine kinase activity, thereby leading to growth inhibition. [e] We have recently discovered that decorin interacts directly with the Met receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) causing its rapid intracellular degradation. This body of evidence offers a mechanistic explanation for the heightened decorin levels around invasive carcinomas and indicates that decorin may function as a natural antagonist of neoplastic cells enriched in RTKs, providing yet another layer of complexity to decorin function. Over the next five years we plan to: 1. Decipher the mechanism of action of decorin in downregulating the Met receptor pathway and its role as a pan-RTK inhibitor. 2. Determine the precise structural requirements for decorin/Met interaction, and 3. Investigate the in vivo function of decorin as an anti-oncogenic and anti-angiogenic factor. These concerted research lines should firmly establish the functional roles of decorin in tumorigenesis and shed light on its mechanism of action. The discovery that decorin is a novel antagonist of the Met receptor and that this interaction leads to an overt attenuation of the Met receptor tyrosine kinase and downstream signaling provides the first demonstration of a secreted proteoglycan interacting with this important signal transducing pathway. These findings could lead to the generation of protein mimetics capable of suppressing Met receptor function. The expected results could open novel perspectives for basic cancer research, and could lead to future approaches of cancer prevention and treatment directed at boosting the expression of this proteoglycan, thereby increasing a natural inhibitor of tumor cell growth.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal is focused on expanding our understanding of the mechanism of action of decorin, a small proteoglycan present in the extracellular environment. Decorin's role as a natural inhibitor of tumor growth has been established in recent years. In addition to targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, decorin targets the Met receptor. Decorin's ability to bind and downregulate multiple receptors involved in tumor progression and metastasis is a key feature that should promote future development into a therapeutic modality against cancer. Thus, we need to define the precise mechanism of action of decorin in inhibiting pathways critical for cancer onset and spreading.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA039481-27
Application #
8461457
Study Section
Tumor Microenvironment Study Section (TME)
Program Officer
Woodhouse, Elizabeth
Project Start
1988-09-01
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
27
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$340,819
Indirect Cost
$120,224
Name
Thomas Jefferson University
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053284659
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19107
Gubbiotti, Maria A; Seifert, Erin; Rodeck, Ulrich et al. (2018) Metabolic reprogramming of murine cardiomyocytes during autophagy requires the extracellular nutrient sensor decorin. J Biol Chem 293:16940-16950
Karamanos, Nikos K; Theocharis, Achilleas D; Neill, Thomas et al. (2018) Matrix modeling and remodeling: A biological interplay regulating tissue homeostasis and diseases. Matrix Biol :
Neill, Thomas; Andreuzzi, Eva; Wang, Zi-Xuan et al. (2018) Endorepellin remodels the endothelial transcriptome toward a pro-autophagic and pro-mitophagic gene signature. J Biol Chem 293:12137-12148
Iozzo, Renato V; Gubbiotti, Maria A (2018) Extracellular matrix: The driving force of mammalian diseases. Matrix Biol 71-72:1-9
Schaefer, Liliana; Tredup, Claudia; Gubbiotti, Maria A et al. (2017) Proteoglycan neofunctions: regulation of inflammation and autophagy in cancer biology. FEBS J 284:10-26
Buraschi, Simone; Neill, Thomas; Iozzo, Renato V (2017) Decorin is a devouring proteoglycan: Remodeling of intracellular catabolism via autophagy and mitophagy. Matrix Biol :
Torres, Annabel; Gubbiotti, Maria A; Iozzo, Renato V (2017) Decorin-inducible Peg3 Evokes Beclin 1-mediated Autophagy and Thrombospondin 1-mediated Angiostasis. J Biol Chem 292:5055-5069
Gubbiotti, Maria A; Neill, Thomas; Iozzo, Renato V (2017) A current view of perlecan in physiology and pathology: A mosaic of functions. Matrix Biol 57-58:285-298
Neill, Thomas; Sharpe, Catherine; Owens, Rick T et al. (2017) Decorin-evoked paternally expressed gene 3 (PEG3) is an upstream regulator of the transcription factor EB (TFEB) in endothelial cell autophagy. J Biol Chem 292:16211-16220
Pozzi, Ambra; Yurchenco, Peter D; Iozzo, Renato V (2017) The nature and biology of basement membranes. Matrix Biol 57-58:1-11

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