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J Cancer 2022; 13(2):373-384. doi:10.7150/jca.65511 This issue Cite

Research Paper

ARID1A knockdown enhances carcinogenesis features and aggressiveness of Caco-2 colon cancer cells: An in vitro cellular mechanism study

Paleerath Peerapen, Kanyarat Sueksakit, Wanida Boonmark, Sunisa Yoodee, Visith Thongboonkerd

Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.

✉ Corresponding author: Prof. Visith Thongboonkerd, Head of Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 6th Floor - SiMR Building, 2 Wanglang Road, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. Phone: +66-2-4192850; E-mail: thongboonkerdcom (or) vthongbocom. More

Abstract

Loss of ARID1A, a tumor suppressor gene, is associated with the higher grade of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the progression and aggressiveness of CRC induced by the loss of ARID1A remain poorly understood. Herein, we evaluated cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of ARID1A knockdown on the carcinogenesis features and aggressiveness of CRC cells. A human CRC cell line (Caco-2) was transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to ARID1A (siARID1A) or scrambled (non-specific) siRNA (siControl). Cell death, proliferation, senescence, chemoresistance and invasion were then evaluated. In addition, formation of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), self-aggregation (multicellular spheroid) and secretion of an angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were examined. The results showed that ARID1A knockdown led to significant decreases in cell death and senescence. On the other hand, ARID1A knockdown enhanced cell proliferation, chemoresistance and invasion. The siARID1A-transfected cells also had greater number of PGCCs and larger spheroid size and secreted greater level of VEGF compared with the siControl-transfected cells. These data, at least in part, explain the cellular mechanisms of ARID1A deficiency in carcinogenesis and aggressiveness features of CRC.

Keywords: Chemoresistance, Colorectal cancer, Invasion, Proliferation, Spheroid, VEGF

Introduction

ARID1A encoding adenine-thymine (AT)-rich interactive domain-containing protein 1A (ARID1A), also known as BAF250a, SMARCF1 and p27, is recognized as a tumor suppressor gene [1-3]. ARID1A protein is a subunit of SWI/SNF (SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable) complex. Normally, this complex plays roles in regulation of gene expression via ATP hydrolysis-dependent nucleosome remodeling to make DNA accessible during transcription, replication and DNA repair [1-3]. Mutations and loss of genes encoding proteins in this complex have been found in several cancers [4-6]. In particular, ARID1A is frequently mutated and/or lost in various cancers, including ovarian, breast, and hepatic cancers [7-12]. Additionally, the loss of ARID1A tumor suppressor gene is associated with the higher cancer mortality rate [13, 14].

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is considered as a lethal disease. The global incidence of this cancer type (10% of diagnosed cases) and its mortality rate (9.4% of dead cases) are ranked numbers three and two, respectively, among all cancers [15]. Although the survival rate of this cancer at an early stage is comparable to other cancers, its mortality rate is very high, especially in patients with higher stages [15]. Therefore, better understanding of the disease pathogenesis and pathophysiologic processes that regulate CRC progression may be helpful for lowering the incidence and mortality rate of CRC. Interestingly, a recent meta-analysis has found mutations and loss of ARID1A in 13% and 11.7%, respectively, of the CRC patients [16]. In concordance, a more recent study has shown that 12/18 (approximately 67%) of CRC tissues had no or low ARID1A expression [17]. Additionally, several previous studies using human specimens or animal models have reported an association between ARID1A down-regulation and CRC tumorigenicity [18-22]. Moreover, the loss of ARID1A is associated with the poorly differentiated grade of CRC cells [16]. Nonetheless, cellular mechanisms underlying the progression and aggressiveness of CRC induced by the loss of ARID1A remain poorly understood.

This study therefore evaluated cellular mechanisms underlying the effects of ARID1A knockdown on the carcinogenesis features and aggressiveness of CRC. Caco-2 cells were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to ARID1A (siARID1A) or non-specific siRNA (siControl). Thereafter, several various assays were performed to examine cell death, proliferation, senescence, chemoresistance, invasion, polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) formation, self-aggregation, and secretion of an angiogenic factor VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), in the si-ARID1A-transfected cells compared with those transfected with siControl.

Materials & Methods

Cell culture

Caco-2, a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (ATCC; Manassas, VA), was grown in the growth medium containing Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) (Gibco; Grand Island, NY) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Gibco), 1% non-essential amino acid (Sigma-Aldrich; St. Louis, MO), 60 U/ml Penicillin G (Sigma-Aldrich) and 60 µg/ml Streptomycin (Sigma-Aldrich). The cells were maintained in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ at 37°C.

ARID1A knockdown by siRNA

siRNA transfection was performed using a protocol reported previously [23, 24]. Briefly, the cells were seeded in each well of the 6-well plate (Corning Inc.; Corning, NY) and grown in antibiotics-free growth medium containing 10% FBS overnight. siRNA specific to ARID1A (siARID1A) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology; Santa Cruz, CA) or control siRNA consisting of a scrambled sequence (siControl) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) was premixed with siRNA Transfection Reagent (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) in Opti-MEM (Gibco) and incubated at 25 °C for 45 min. An equal dose (40 pmol) of siARID1A or siControl was then added and incubated with the cells at 37 °C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ for 6 h. Thereafter, the cells were further incubated in complete growth medium for 48 h prior to all subsequent functional investigations as follows.

Semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

Total RNA was extracted from siControl-transfected and siARID1A-transfected cells using Trizol reagent (Invitrogen; Carlsbad, CA) and Direct-zol RNA MiniPrep (Zymo Research; Irvine, CA). An equal amount of total RNA was used for preparation of cDNA with Super Script III reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed using Taq DNA polymerase (New England BioLabs; Beverly, MA) to assess mRNA expression level of ARID1A, whereas the mRNA level of GAPDH served as the loading control. The amplification was carried out using the following primers: ARID1A forward: 5'-CCCCTCAATGACCTCCAGTA-3', reverse: 5'-CTGGAAATCCCTGATGTGCT-3'; GAPDH forward: 5'-CATCACTGCCACCCAGAAGA-3', reverse: 5'-GTGTAGCCCAGGATGCCTTT-3'.

The PCR reaction was started with initial DNA denaturation step (at 95 °C for 3 min) followed by 30 cycles of denaturation at 95 °C for 30 sec, annealing at 55 °C for 30 sec and extension at 72 °C for another 30 sec. The PCR products were then resolved by 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis and stained with ethidium bromide. The DNA bands were visualized using ChemiDoc MP Imaging System (Bio-Rad; Berkeley, CA) and quantitated by using ImageQuant TL software (GE Healthcare; Uppsala, Sweden).

Western blot analysis

Proteins were extracted from individual samples using Laemmli's buffer and their concentrations were measured by Bradford's method using Bio-Rad Protein Assay (Bio-Rad). Proteins with an equal amount (50 µg/sample/lane) were resolved by 12% SDS-PAGE and transferred onto a nitrocellulose membrane. After blocking non-specific bindings with 5% skim-milk/PBS for 1 h, the membrane was incubated at 4 °C overnight with mouse monoclonal anti-ARID1A (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) or mouse monoclonal anti-GAPDH (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) (all were diluted 1:1,000 in 1% skim milk/PBS). After probing with corresponding secondary antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (Dako; Glostrup, Denmark) (diluted 1:2,000 in 1% skim milk/PBS) at 25 °C for 1 h, the immunoreactive protein bands were visualized by SuperSignal West Pico chemiluminescence substrate (Pierce Biotechnology, Inc.; Rockford, IL) and autoradiography. Band intensity data was obtained using ImageQuant TL software (GE Healthcare).

Immunofluorescence staining

The cells were grown on a coverslip and treated as described above. After rinsing with PBS, the cells were fixed with 4% (v/v) paraformaldehyde/PBS at 25 °C for 15 min and then permeabilized with 0.1% Triton X-100/PBS at 25°C for 15 min. After washing, non-specific bindings were blocked with 1% BSA in PBS at 25 °C for 30 min and the cells were incubated at 4 °C overnight with mouse monoclonal anti-ARID1A (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) (1:50 in 1% BSA/PBS). After another washing step, the cells were incubated with corresponding secondary antibody conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (Invitrogen) (1:2,000 in 1% BSA/PBS) at 25 °C for 1 h. Nuclei were counterstained by Hoechst dye (Sigma-Aldrich) (1:2,000 in 1% BSA/PBS). Finally, the cells were extensively washed with PBS and mounted onto a glass slide using 50% glycerol in PBS. Cellular imaging was done by using Nikon Eclipse 80i fluorescence microscope (Nikon; Tokyo, Japan) and expression level of ARID1A was analyzed by measuring mean fluorescence intensity from at least 100 cells in ≥10 random high-power fields (HPFs) of each sample using NIS-Elements D V.4.11 (Nikon).

Flow cytometric analysis of cell death using annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide co-staining

The cells were detached from cell monolayers in the culture well using 0.1% trypsin in 2.5 mM EDTA/PBS and washed twice with ice-cold PBS. The cell pellets were then resuspended with annexin V buffer (10 mM HEPES, 140 mM NaCl and 2.5 mM CaCl₂.2H₂O; pH 7.4) (BD Biosciences; San Jose, CA) and further incubated with FITC-labelled annexin V (BD Biosciences) on ice in the dark for 15 min. Propidium iodide (BD Biosciences) at the final concentration of 0.2 µg/ml was added to the cell suspension prior to analysis by using a flow cytometer (BD Accuri C6) (BD Biosciences) [25, 26].

Total cell count

All the cells in each well were detached by incubation with 0.1% trypsin in 2.5 mM EDTA/PBS and were harvested. The cells pellet was collected by centrifugation at 1,000 g for 5 min. After resuspended in PBS, the cells were stained with 0.4% trypan blue solution (Gibco). Thereafter, total cell number was counted using a hemacytometer under a phase contrast light microscope (CKX41; Olympus, Tokyo, Japan).

Cellular senescence assay

Cellular senescence was evaluated by cytochemical detection of the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity. Briefly, the cells were rinsed twice with PBS before incubation with a fixative solution (2% formaldehyde and 0.2% glutaraldehyde in PBS) at 25 °C for 5 min. After removing the fixative solution and further rinsing with PBS, the cells were then incubated with the staining solution (40 mM citric acid/Na phosphate buffer, 5 mM K₄[Fe(CN)₆]·3H₂O, 5 mM K₃[Fe(CN)₆], 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM MgCl₂, and 1 mg/ml X-gal) at 37 °C for 16 h. The staining solution was then discarded and the cells were washed twice with PBS followed by another wash with methanol. After air dry, the cells were imaged under an inverted phase-contrast microscope (Eclipse Ti-S) (Nikon).

Chemoresistance assay

Docetaxel (Hospira; Melbourne, Australia) was used as a chemotherapeutic drug to kill the cancer cells. The cells were treated with 10 mM docetaxel and maintained at 37 °C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ for 24 h. Thereafter, the cells were subjected to cell death assay by flow cytometry as described above.

Cell invasion assay

The cells were cultured in serum-free growth medium for 24 h. In parallel, Matrigel (BD Biosciences) was pre-coated onto polycarbonate membrane insert (5-µm pore size) of Transwell cultured plate (0.33-cm² culture area/well) (Corning Costar; Cambridge, MA) and further incubated at 37 °C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ for 24 h. Thereafter, the cells were detached from cell monolayers using 0.1% trypsin in 2.5 mM EDTA/PBS and resuspended in serum-free growth medium. The cell suspension (2×10⁵ cells in 200 μl medium) was added into upper chamber of each well, whereas the lower chamber of each well contained 500 μl complete growth medium (containing 10% FBS, as the source for chemoattractants). The Transwell plates were incubated at 37 °C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ for 24 h. Thereafter, the non-invading cells remained on the upper surface of the membrane inserts were swapped out and the membrane inserts were washed with PBS. The invading cells appeared on the lower surface of the membrane inserts were fixed with 3.7% (v/v) formaldehyde in PBS for 15 min and stained with Hoechst dye (1:2,000 in PBS) at 25 °C for 10 min. The stained cells were then imaged using the Nikon Eclipse 80i fluorescence microscope. Number of the invaded cells was counted from ≥10 random low-power fields (LPFs) for each group.

Self-aggregation (hanging drop) assay

The cells were detached from cell monolayers in the culture well using 0.1% trypsin in 2.5 mM EDTA/PBS and resuspended in complete growth medium at 2.5×10⁵ cells/ml. The cell suspension was dropped (20 µl/drop) onto the inner side of upper lid of 100-mm tissue culture dish (10 drops/dish). The upper lid was then inverted to cover the dish containing 5 ml of the growth medium at the bottom for humidification. The dishes were incubated at 37 °C in a humidified incubator with 5% CO₂ for 24 h. A total of 30 drops for each group were harvested, disbursed by pipetting up and down for several times, and examined for self-aggregated multicellular spheroid formation under an inverted phase-contrast microscope (Eclipse Ti-S) (Nikon). Size of the multicellular spheroid was measured from at least 100 aggregates using NIS-Elements D V.4.11 program (Nikon).

ELISA

ELISA was performed to measure level of VEGF. The cells were cultured in serum-free growth medium for 24 h. The culture supernatant was then collected, lyophilized and resuspended in 500 μl deionized water. An equal amount of 2.5 μg total protein of each sample was mixed with a coating buffer containing 15 mM Na₂CO₃ and 30 mM NaHCO₃ (pH 9.4) and then coated in each well of the 96-well ELISA plate (Nunc; Roskilde, Denmark). After an overnight incubation at 4 °C, the sample wells were washed five times with a washing buffer (0.05% Tween-20 in PBS). Non-specific bindings were blocked with 1% BSA/PBS at 25 °C for 2 h. After other five washes, mouse monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnology) (1:1,000 in 0.1% BSA/PBS) was incubated with the samples at 25 °C for 2 h. After other five washes, the samples were then probed with rabbit anti-mouse IgG conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (1:2,000 in 0.1% BSA/PBS) at 25 °C for 1 h in the dark. After the final five washes, the reaction color was developed by incubation with 100 μl chromogenic substrate (1.5 mM ortho-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (Sigma-Aldrich) in 35 mM citric acid (Bio-Basic; Markham, Canada) and 0.012% H₂O₂ (Fisher Scientific; Loughborough, UK) (pH 5.5) in the dark for 15 min. Finally, the reaction was stopped by adding 50 μl of 2 M H₂SO₄. Absorbance (optical density) of each sample was then measured at λ492 nm using an ELISA microplate reader (EZRead 400, Biochrom Ltd.; Cambridge, UK).

Statistical analysis

All quantitative data were derived from at least three independent experiments and are reported as mean ± SEM. Comparisons between two groups were done by unpaired Student's t-test. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Effective down-regulation of ARID1A expression by siRNA knockdown

Prior to examining the effects of ARID1A knockdown on carcinogenesis features and aggressiveness of cancer cells, the efficacy of siRNA specific to ARID1A (siARID1A) was first examined. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the decrease of ARID1A transcript by approximately 50% in the siARID1A-transfected cells compared with the siControl-transfected cells (Figures 1A and 1B). In concordance, Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence study both confirmed the decreased level of ARID1A protein by approximately a half (Figures 1C-1F) in the siARID1A-transfected cells. These data indicate the effective down-regulation of ARID1A by siRNA knockdown in Caco-2 cells.

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on cell death and proliferation

To determine the role for ARID1A down-regulation in cancer cell survival, flow cytometric analysis of cell death using annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide was performed. The scatter plot showed the results of annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide signals (Figure 2A). Quantitative analysis revealed the significantly lower cell death of the siARID1A-transfected cells compared with the siControl-transfected cells (Figure 2B). In concordance, the total cell number, which reflected cell proliferation, was significantly greater in the siARID1A-transfected cells (Figure 2C). These results indicated that the down-regulation of ARID1A inhibited cell death but, on the other hand, promoted cell proliferation.

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on cellular senescence

Cellular senescence, which was determined by the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, was evaluated. The assay demonstrated the SA-β-gal-positive cells, which underwent senescence process, in blue (Figure 3A). Quantitative analysis revealed that percentage of the SA-β-gal-positive cells in the siARID1A-transfected cells was significantly lower than that of the siControl-transfected cells (Figure 3B). This data indicated that the down-regulation of ARID1A suppressed cellular senescence.

 Figure 1 

Effective down-regulation of ARID1A expression by siRNA knockdown. (A-B) Semi-quantitative RT-PCR to measure mRNA level of ARID1A normalized with that of GAPDH. (C-D) Western blot analysis of ARID1A protein. (E-F) Immunofluorescence staining of ARID1A protein. Intensities of the transcript and protein bands were quantitated by using ImageQuant TL software (GE Healthcare). Mean fluorescence intensity was measured from at least 100 cells in ≥10 random high-power fields (HPFs) of each sample using NIS-Elements D V.4.11 (Nikon). Each bar represents mean ± SEM of the data derived from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. siControl-transfected cells; A.U. = arbitrary fluorescence unit.

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on chemoresistance

To evaluate the chemoresistance, which is one of the features of cancer cells, docetaxel was used. Flow cytometric analysis using annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide revealed significant decrease of cell death in the siARID1A-transfected cells after treatment with docetaxel compared with the treated siControl-transfected cells (Figure 4). This data indicated that the down-regulation of ARID1A enhanced chemoresistance of the cancer cells.

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on cell invasion

Cell invasion capability was evaluated using the Transwell-based invasion assay. Number of the cells that passed (invaded) through the Transwell membrane sieves was counted. Figure 5A shows the Hoechst-stained nuclei of the invaded cells. The quantitative data showed that the siARID1A-transfected cells had significantly greater number of the invaded cells compared with the siControl-transfected cells (Figure 5B). This data indicated that the down-regulation of ARID1A promoted invasion capability of the cancer cells.

 Figure 2 

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on cell death and proliferation. (A) Scatter plot of the cells stained by annexin V-FITC and/or propidium iodide detected by flow cytometry. (B) Percentage of cell death. (C) Total cell number using hemacytometer. Each bar represents mean ± SEM of the data derived from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. siControl-transfected cells.

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) formation

PGCCs formation is one of the indicators for aggressiveness and poor prognosis of cancers. The PGCCs number was thus counted and compered between the two groups. Figure 6A shows that some of the cancer cells had giant nuclei and were thus counted as the PGCCs. Quantitative analysis revealed significant greater number of the PGCCs in the siARID1A-transfected cells compared with those transfected with siControl (Figure 6B). This data suggested that the down-regulation of ARID1A increased the aggressiveness of the cancer cells.

 Figure 3 

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on cellular senescence. (A) SA-β-gal-positive cells are shown in blue. (B) Percentage of the SA-β-gal positive cells was analyzed from at least 100 cells in ≥10 random high-power fields (HPFs) of each sample using NIS-Elements D V.4.11 (Nikon). Each bar represents mean ± SEM of the data derived from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. siControl-transfected cells.

 Figure 4 

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on chemoresistance. (A) Scatter plot of the cells stained by annexin V-FITC and/or propidium iodide detected by flow cytometry after treatment with 10 mM docetaxel for 24 h. (B) Percentage of cell death after treatment with 10 mM docetaxel for 24 h. Each bar represents mean ± SEM of the data derived from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. siControl-transfected cells.

 Figure 5 

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on cell invasion. (A) The invaded cells attached at the bottom side of the Transwell membrane were stained with Hoechst dye (shown in blue). (B) Number of the invaded cells was counted from ≥10 random low-power fields (LPFs) for each group. Each bar represents mean ± SEM of the data derived from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. siControl-transfected cells.

 Figure 6 

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) formation. (A) The fluorescence image of PGCCs stained with Hoechst dye (shown in blue). (B) Number of the PGCCs was counted from ≥10 random low-power fields (LPFs) for each group. Each bar represents mean ± SEM of the data derived from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. siControl-transfected cells.

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on self-aggregation of the cells or formation of multicellular spheroid

To determine the effects of ARID1A knockdown on cellular self-aggregation or formation of multicellular spheroid, we applied two methods. The first one was based on fluorescence staining, in which the nuclei were stained with Hoechst dye and observed under a fluorescence microscope (Figure 7A). The second method was the non-fluorescence hanging drop assay (Figure 7C). Both methods provided the consistent data demonstrating the significant larger size of the cancer cell spheroid in the siARID1A-transfected cells compared with the siControl-transfected cells (Figures 7B and 7D). These data indicated that the down-regulation of ARID1A promoted cancer cell self-aggregation.

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on VEGF secretion

Angiogenesis is one of the features of carcinogenesis and cancer aggressiveness. To investigate the effects of ARID1A knockdown on the ability of cancer cells to induce angiogenesis, level of secretory VEGF was measured using an ELISA assay. The data showed significantly greater level of VEGF secreted from the siARID1A-transfected cells as compared with that from the siControl-transfected cells (Figure 8). This data implicated that the down-regulation of ARID1A induced or enhanced angiogenesis.

Discussion

The cancer cells are usually graded based on degree of their differentiation [27-29]. The cells that are well organized and apparently similar to the normal cells are defined as low-grade (well-differentiated) cells, whereas those with disorganization are defined as high-grade (poor-differentiated or undifferentiated) cells. In addition, the poor-differentiated grade is associated with the aggressive behaviors of cancer cells [27-29]. Aggressiveness of the cancer cells is characterized by chemoresistance toward various chemotherapy agents, increased cell proliferation, migration, invasion, etc. [30, 31]. The aggressive phenotypes of CRC cells are also associated with enhancement of the hallmark of carcinogenesis, including resisting cell apoptosis, sustaining proliferation signal, enabling replicative immortality, evading growth suppressor, activating invasion, and inducing angiogenesis [32].

As aforementioned, there are several previous studies demonstrating the association between ARID1A down-regulation and CRC in human tissues or animal models [16-22]. Herein, we thus focused our attention on the cellular mechanism study, whereas a validation to demonstrate the down-regulation of ARID1A expression in CRC tissues was not done. Caco-2 cell line was originated from a 72-year-old Caucasian male with primary colon adenocarcinoma [33]. In nude mice, the tumorigenicity of this cell line is generally classified as the moderately well-differentiated phenotype (consistent with grade II primary CRC) [33-36]. Several previous studies had employed this cell line to investigate the effects of various inducers on the progression of CRC or its tumorigenicity [37-40]. Additionally, Caco-2 is a CIMP (CpG island methylator phenotype) positive cancer cell [41, 42]. Interestingly, the down-regulation of ARID1A in several cancer types has been shown to be associated with the promoter hypermethylation in CpG island of the gene [17, 43]. We thus used only this cell model to address cellular mechanisms underlying the significant roles of ARID1A down-regulation in the carcinogenesis and aggressiveness features of CRC. It should be noted that these cellular mechanisms may not entirely explain all types of CRC.

 Figure 7 

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on self-aggregation of the cells or formation of multicellular spheroid. (A) The fluorescence image of self-aggregates of the cancer cells stained with Hoechst dye (shown in blue). (C) Self-aggregates of the cancer cells were also examined using the hang-drop assay. (B and D) Size of the multicellular spheroid was measured from at least 100 aggregates using NIS-Elements D V.4.11 (Nikon). Each bar represents mean ± SEM of the data derived from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. siControl-transfected cells.

We first confirmed the association between the down-regulation of ARID1A and resistance to apoptosis (or the programmed cell death), which is required for normal cell turnover and tissue homeostasis. Resistance to the cell death is one of the important characteristic features of the cancer cells. Additionally, the association between high-grade staging and cell death resistance has been reported in several cancers [44-47]. Interestingly, inactivation of SWI/SNF complex by ARID1A mutation has been reported to be associated with the decreased cell death in ovarian cancer cells [48]. The loss of ARID1A in pancreatic cancer cells correlates with poor differentiation and elevation of anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 [49]. In consistent, we found the decreased cell apoptosis in ARID1A-knockdowned Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, we also observed the increased cell proliferation in ARID1A-knockdowned cells. This data was in concordance with the previous evidence reporting the promotion of cell proliferation in ARID1A suppressive cells [50]. A recent study also revealed that the promotion of CRC proliferation correlates with its aggressiveness in SOX12-overexpressed cells [51]. These data underscore the role of ARID1A down-regulation in apoptosis resistance and enhancement of cell proliferation in CRC.

 Figure 8 

Effects of ARID1A knockdown on VEGF secretion. Level of VEGF secreted into culture supernatant was measured by ELISA. Each bar represents mean ± SEM of the data derived from three independent experiments. *p < 0.05 vs. siControl-transfected cells.

Another important characteristic of the cancer cells is its unlimited replication ability. Normally, the somatic cells has a limited lifespan - they can be replicated (but limitedly) and finally undergo cellular senescence, which is the process of permanent cell cycle arrest. Cellular senescence is a cell protective mechanism that can be detected by measuring the SA-β-gal activity [52, 53]. Several lines of evidence have reported that suppression of cellular senescence is associated with the enhanced carcinogenesis [54, 55]. Interestingly, several cancer cells can undergo senescence after exposure to chemotherapeutic agents [56-58]. In CRC, recent studies have reported that the anti-tumor agents, e.g., baicalin, methotrexate, can induce cellular senescence [59, 60]. Our data were in the same lines of those reported in previous studies. We observed the suppression of the cellular senescence activity of the cells by ARID1A knockdown, indicating the important role of ARID1A deficiency in the regulation of the replicative ability of the cancer cells.

Resistance to chemotherapy has been used to determine the ability of cancer cells to escape from growth suppressor signals in several cancer types [61-63]. Our present study revealed the enhancement of the chemoresistance ability of the siARID1A-transfected cells. This data was consistent with those reported in several other studies demonstrating that the decreased expression of ARID1A is associated with chemoresistance in ovarian cancer and renal cell carcinoma [64, 65]. In addition, the high level of ARID1A is found in paclitaxel-sensitive breast cancer cells, whereas its lower level is found in paclitaxel-resistant cells [66]. These data highlight the important role of ARID1A deficiency in the chemoresistance of CRC.

We also found the greater invasive capability of the siARID1A-transfected cells. The spread of cancer cells from their origin to other organs or metastasis is the main cause of the cancer mortality. Invasion of the cancer cells is the main process underlying cancer metastasis, in which the cells are dissociated from their cell-cell adhesion and can then penetrate to other locales through the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Several previous studies have shown that the loss or mutation of ARID1A tumor suppressor gene promote invasion of several cancers, including neuroblastoma [67], gastric cancer [68], hepatocellular carcinoma [69], and breast cancer [70]. However, our present study showed the first evidence that could demonstrate the association between ARID1A deficiency and increased cell invasive capability of the CRC cells.

Two other phenotypes, which were examined in our study to evaluate the effects of ARID1A down-regulation on carcinogenesis and aggressiveness of CRC, were the PGCCs and multicellular spheroid formation. It has been previously reported that the PGCCs formation is associated with breast cancer cell invasion [71]. The increase of the PGCCs number is also associated with the high grade of cancers [71-73]. Furthermore, self-aggregation or multicellular spheroid formation has been considered as one of the parameters determining cancer aggressiveness [74]. Interestingly, self-aggregation of the cancer cells promotes their survival and proliferation [75]. However, the association between ARID1A deficiency and PGCCs as well as multicellular spheroid formation had not been previously studied. We report herein for the first time that both PGCCs and multicellular spheroid were increased by ARID1A knockdown in Caco-2 cells. These changes were in concordance with other carcinogenesis and aggressiveness features discussed above.

Induction of angiogenesis is another important hallmark of cancers and their aggressiveness. Due to the requirement for oxygen and nutrient supply for cellular activities, formation of the new blood vessels is needed. It has been reported that the growth of cancer cells without blood supply will be stopped when its size is over 1-2 mm² in diameter [76]. The angiogenesis is initially driven by secretion of angiogenic factors such as VEGF, angiopoietin and fibroblast growth factor from the cancer cells to recruit the endothelial cells to the cancer locale. It has been reported that expression levels of angiogenic factors can reflect the aggressiveness of cancers [77-79]. In hepatocellular carcinoma, ARID1A deficiency promotes angiopoietin-2-induced angiogenesis that correlates with the cancer progression and aggressiveness [80]. Interestingly, the most recent evidence has highlighted the direct effects of ARID1A down-regulation in human endothelial cells on angiogenesis via increased angiopoietin 2 secretion [81]. Moreover, endometrioid carcinomas exhibit the loss of ARID1A with enhanced VEGF expression [82]. Our data were consistent with those reported previously revealing that the ARID1A-knockdowned cells had increased VEGF secretion suggesting the potential of these cells with the ARID1A down-regulation to induce angiogenesis.

In summary, we have demonstrated that ARID1A knockdown suppresses cell death and cellular senescence in Caco-2 CRC cells. On the other hand, the ARID1A down-regulation enhances cell proliferation, chemoresistance, cell invasion, PGCCs formation, multicellular spheroid formation, and secretion of the angiogenic factor VEGF. These findings may, at least in part, explain the cellular mechanisms of ARID1A deficiency in carcinogenesis and aggressiveness features of CRC.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Prof. Narattaphol Charoenphandhu for kindly providing the CRC cell line and Ms. Keerakarn Somsuan for her assistance in data analysis during her training at Medical Proteomics Unit. This work was supported by Mahidol University.

Author Contributions

PP, KS, WB, SY and VT designed research; PP, KS, WB and SY performed experiments; PP, KS, WB, SY and VT analyzed data; PP and VT wrote the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved the manuscript.

Competing Interests

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

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Author contact

Corresponding author: Prof. Visith Thongboonkerd, Head of Medical Proteomics Unit, Office for Research and Development, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 6^th Floor - SiMR Building, 2 Wanglang Road, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. Phone: +66-2-4192850; E-mail: thongboonkerdcom (or) vthongbocom.

Received 2021-7-30
Accepted 2021-11-30
Published 2022-1-1

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