Downregulation of ARMC8 promotes tumorigenesis through activating Wnt/β-catenin pathway and EMT in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas

  • J Dermatol Sci. 2021 Jun;102(3):184-192. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2021.05.002.
Xiangzhi Li  1 ,  Chen Zhang  2 ,  Yawen Yuan  2 ,  Yimeng Wang  2 ,  Sheng Lu  3 ,  Zhaoming Zhou  2 ,  Peilin Zhen  4 ,  Meijuan Zhou  5
Affiliations
  • 1. Department of Radiation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, China.
  • 2. Department of Radiation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
  • 3. The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, China.
  • 4. Jiangmen Central Hospital, Affiliated Jiangmen Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Jiangmen, China.
  • 5. Department of Radiation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 34016486 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2021.05.002
Abstract

Background: Aberrant expression of Armadillo repeat containing 8 (ARMC8) plays crucial roles in tumor growth and metastasis of various cancers. The specific role of ARMC8 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is yet to be elucidated.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ARMC8 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cSCC development and provide translational insights for future therapeutics.

Methods: cSCC tumor specimens were used to determine the ARMC8 by immunohistochemistry. Three cSCC cell lines including HSC-1, HSC-5 and A431 as well as BALB/C mouse tumor model was utilized to study the potential mechanisms in tumorigenesis.

Results: Our data identified ARMC8 as a direct downstream target of miR-664. We found that ARMC8 was remarkably low expression in cSCC patient specimens and cSCC cell lines. Knockdown of ARMC8 promotes tumorigenic behaviors such as increased cell proliferation, migration and invasion capacities in vitro and enhanced tumorigenicity in xenograft mouse model. Whereas ARMC8 over-expression inhibits tumorigenesis in cSCC. Together, it revealed ARMC8 functions as a tumor suppressor via restraining Wnt/β-catenin pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cSCC.

Conclusion: Our data verifies that aberrant expression of ARMC8 plays a vital role in carcinogenesis of cSCC. And overexpression of ARMC8 will facilitate future development of cSCC therapeutic interventions.

Keywords
ARMC8; Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas; EMT; Tumorigenesis; Wnt/β-catenin.
Products