Irradiation induces DJ-1 secretion from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells to accelerate metastasis of bystander cells via a TGF-β1 positive feedback loop

• Published in: Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research 2022-08, Vol.41 (1), p.1-259, Article 259
• Main Authors: Gu, Junjie, Sun, Yuanyuan, Song, Jiahang, Zhao, Ruiling, Di, Xiaoke, Zhang, Yumeng, Ge, Xiaolin, Zhang, Shu, Gu, Yun, Sun, Xinchen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Cancer therapies; DJ-1; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Gene expression; HSC70; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; Patients; Plasmids; Proteins; Radiation therapy; Smad3; Squamous cell carcinoma; TGF-β1; TSP1
• ISSN: 1756-9966; 0392-9078; 1756-9966
• DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02471-6

Background Radiation-induced bystander effect (RIBE) can promote tumor metastasis contributing to the failure of radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Aberrant expression of DJ-1 has been identified in ESCC; however, the relationship between DJ-1 and RIBE in ESCC remains unknown. Methods We detected DJ-1 in the serum and cell supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and evaluated tumor metastasis by phenotypic experiments in vivo and in vitro. RNA-seq, mass spectrometry, western blot (WB), immunoprecipitation (IP), and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Results DJ-1 was highly expressed in the serum of patients with ESCC receiving radiotherapy and was significantly overexpressed in the medium of ESCC cells receiving irradiation. DJ-1 promoted tumor metastasis via the TGF-β1 pathway. Mechanistic studies revealed that DJ-1 bound to HSC70 to promote Smad3 phosphorylation and nuclear aggregation in a protein-interaction manner, which activated the transcription of Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1). Subsequently, the activation of TGF-β1 by TSP1 re-promoted Smad3 phosphorylation and nuclear aggregation, constituting a positive feedback loop to strengthen the metastasis of ESCC cells, which was effectively blocked by LY2109761 and LSKL. Moreover, higher levels of serum DJ-1 in patients with ESCC were related to a poorer prognosis of radiotherapy. Conclusions Irradiation can induce ESCC cells secreting DJ-1. Secreted DJ-1 enters bystander cells to initiate activation of the TGF-β1 pathway via the DJ-1/HSC70/Smad3 signaling axis. The TSP1/TGF-β1/Smad3 positive feedback pathway constitutes the core pathway that promotes ESCC metastasis. DJ-1 is a useful biomarker for predicting the efficacy of radiotherapy and a potential therapeutic target for reversing RIBE in ESCC.