Redox sensor CtBP mediates hypoxia-induced tumor cell migration

Q Zhang, SY Wang, AC Nottke… - Proceedings of the …, 2006 - National Acad Sciences
Q Zhang, SY Wang, AC Nottke, JV Rocheleau, DW Piston, RH Goodman
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2006National Acad Sciences
The rapid growth and poor vascularization of solid tumors expose cancer cells to hypoxia,
which promotes the metastatic phenotype by reducing intercellular adhesion and increasing
cell motility and invasiveness. In this study, we found that hypoxia increased free NADH
levels in cancer cells, promoting CtBP recruitment to the E-cadherin promoter. This effect
was blocked by pyruvate, which prevents the NADH increase. Furthermore, hypoxia
repressed E-cadherin gene expression and increased tumor cell migration, effects that were …
The rapid growth and poor vascularization of solid tumors expose cancer cells to hypoxia, which promotes the metastatic phenotype by reducing intercellular adhesion and increasing cell motility and invasiveness. In this study, we found that hypoxia increased free NADH levels in cancer cells, promoting CtBP recruitment to the E-cadherin promoter. This effect was blocked by pyruvate, which prevents the NADH increase. Furthermore, hypoxia repressed E-cadherin gene expression and increased tumor cell migration, effects that were blocked by CtBP knockdown. We propose that CtBP senses levels of free NADH to control expression of cell adhesion genes, thereby promoting tumor cell migration under hypoxic stress.
National Acad Sciences