Biomechanical remodeling of the microenvironment by stromal Caveolin-1 favors tumor invasion and metastasis

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2011.05.040

Cell. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2012 July 8.

Published in final edited form as:

Cell. 2011 July 8; 146(1): 148–163.

doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.05.040

PMCID: PMC3244213

NIHMSID: NIHMS343523

Biomechanical remodeling of the microenvironment by stromal Caveolin-1 favors tumor invasion and metastasis

Jacky G. Goetz,¹^*^§^‡ Susana Minguet,¹^§ Inmaculada Navarro-Lérida,¹ Juan José Lazcano,¹ Rafael Samaniego,² Enrique Calvo,⁴ Marta Tello,³ Teresa Osteso-Ibáñez,¹ Teijo Pellinen,¹ Asier Echarri,¹ Ana Cerezo,¹ Andres J.P. Klein-Szanto,⁶ Ricardo Garcia,³ Patricia J. Keely,⁵ Paloma Sánchez-Mateos,² Edna Cukierman,⁶ and Miguel A. Del Pozo¹^*

¹Integrin signaling laboratory, Department of Vascular Biology and Inflammation Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), 28029 Madrid, Spain

²Laboratorio de Inmuno-oncología / Unidad de Microscopía Confocal Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain

³Forcetool Group, Instituto de Microelectrónica de Madrid Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28760 Tres Cantos, Spain

⁴Proteomics Unit, CNIC

⁵Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Pharmacology University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA

⁶Cancer Biology Program Fox Chase Cancer Center, PA, 19111 USA

^§Shared authorship

^‡Present address: Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology, 67404 Illkirch, France

^*Correspondence: Email: madelpozo/at/cnic.es

^* Email: jgoetz/at/igbmc.fr

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Summary

Mechanotransduction, a key determinant of tissue homeostasis and tumor progression, is driven by intercellular adhesions, cell contractility and forces generated with the microenvironment, dependent on extracellular matrix composition, organization and compliance. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) favors cell elongation in 3D cultures and promotes Rho-and force-dependent contraction, matrix alignment and microenvironment stiffening through regulation of p190RhoGAP. In turn, microenvironment remodeling by Cav1-fibroblasts forces cell elongation. Cav1-deficient mice have disorganized stromal tissue architecture. Stroma associated with human carcinomas and melanoma metastases is enriched in Cav1-expressing carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Cav1 expression in breast CAFs correlates with low survival, and Cav1 depletion in CAFs decreases CAF contractility. Consistently, fibroblast expression of Cav1, through p190RhoGAP regulation, favors directional migration and invasiveness of carcinoma cells in vitro. In vivo, stromal Cav1 remodels peri- and intratumoral microenvironments to facilitate tumor invasion, correlating with increased metastatic potency. Thus, Cav1 modulates tissue responses through force-dependent architectural regulation of the microenvironment.

Keywords: Caveolin-1, stiffness, mechanotransduction, cell-derived matrices, cell motility, microenvironment, tumor stroma

INTRODUCTION

In vivo, cells interact with a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment (Yamada and Cukierman, 2007). The mechanical force of these interactions, by altering tissue tension, acts as a molecular switch that determines cell fate (Engler et al., 2009). Tension generated in an extracellular microenvironment induces and cooperates with opposing forces applied by cells (mechanoreciprocity). In embryogenesis such tensile forces govern tissue organization (Krieg et al., 2008), and mammary acinar architecture relies on matrix compliance and cell tension (Ronnov-Jessen and Bissell, 2008).

Microenvironment-mediated tensile forces also contribute to disease. Matrix stiffness promotes breast cancer progression via mechanoreciprocal induction of Rho-dependent cell contractility (Levental et al., 2009). The microenvironment is also important for tumor invasion and metastasis: tumor cells (TCs) migrate along tracks made of ECM collagen fibers (Friedl and Gilmour, 2009), and while reticular collagen surrounding mammary glands restrains invasion, Rho-mediated alignment of dense collagen fibers perpendicular to the tumor boundary promotes it (Provenzano et al., 2008). Activated fibroblasts facilitate tumor cell invasion through protease and force dependent generation of ECM tracks (Gaggioli et al., 2007). Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and mesenchymal stem cells, via paracrine cytokine signaling, promote tumor growth, invasion and metastasis (Karnoub et al., 2007; Orimo et al., 2005). Elucidation of tumor microenvironment remodeling mechanisms is thus an important area of research.

Caveolin-1 (Cav1), the major component of endocytic caveolae plasma membrane (PM) invaginations, has many functions outside caveolae (Parton and Simons, 2007). Cav1 activates Rho by regulating its endogenous inhibitor p190RhoGAP (p190) and assists in focal adhesion (FA) stabilization required for directional cell migration (Goetz et al., 2008a; Grande-Garcia et al., 2007). The role of Cav1 in tumor progression remains unclear. In most primary tumors Cav1 levels decrease, allowing proliferation, anchorage-independence and angiogenesis, while metastasis correlates with Cav1 re-expression, promoting invasion, survival and multidrug resistance (Goetz et al., 2008b). Most studies have focused on Cav1 expression in TCs, with little attention paid to a possible role in the tumor microenvironment. Since Cav1, via a mechanism involving Cav1 Tyr14 and p190, is essential for fibroblast function (Grande-Garcia et al., 2007), we investigated the role of fibroblast-Cav1 in stroma assembly.

We show that Cav1 regulates Rho GTPase activity by modulating membrane partitioning of p190 and thereby its phosphorylation. Fibroblast expression of Cav1 in vitro and in vivo favors an organized 3D stromal architecture that promotes spindle morphology, facilitates TC invasion and increases p190-dependent metastatic potency. These findings correlate with increased numbers of Cav1-expressing CAFs in the stroma of human tumor samples. Cav1 silencing in human CAFs decreases their contractility, identifying a novel role for Cav1 in normal tissue homeostasis and pathological scenarios.

RESULTS

Cav1 regulates matrix-induced cell morphology and reciprocal interaction with the 3D microenvironment through contraction

For a physiologically realistic culture substrate, we generated cell-free 3D matrices from confluent 8-day fibroblasts cultured in the presence of ascorbic acid; the resulting fibroblast-derived 3D matrices (FDMs) are rich in fibronectin (FN) and closely resemble in vivo mesenchymal matrices (Figs.1A, S1A and Video1). We seeded FDMs with Cav1 wild type (Cav1WT) and Cav1 knockout (Cav1KO) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and analyzed cell morphology. Growth in FDMs doubled the cell length:breadth ratio (elliptical factor/EF) of Cav1WT MEFs (Figs.1B and S1B) and almost halved their surface area compared with growth on 2D FN (Fig.S1C). In contrast, FDM culture only mildly affected the morphology of Cav1KO MEFs, though it increased the number of cell protrusions (Figs.1B,C). Similar results were obtained when cells were grown in collagen-I (Col-I) gels (Fig.1D and Videos 2 and 3).

Figure 1

Cav1 regulated contractility controls matrix-induced cell morphology and reciprocal interaction with the 3D microenvironment

Consistent with Cav1-dependent Rac regulation (Grande-Garcia et al., 2007), Cav1-deficiency increased PM targeting of Rac1 and its downstream effector phospho-S141-Pak1 (Fig.1E and S1D). In contrast, phosphorylation of myosin light chain-2 (pMLC) was decreased (not shown), suggesting that Cav1 influences cell-induced matrix contractility. Consistently, Cav1WT MEFs contracted Col-I gels more effectively than Cav1KO MEFS at all cell concentrations tested (Fig.1F and S1E). Re-expression of unmodified Cav1, but not its non-phosphorylable mutant Cav1Y14F, rescued Rac1 localization, cell elongation, gel contraction and pMLC levels in Cav1KO MEFs (Fig.1G and data not shown). Cav1 thus regulates features of fibroblasts that influence mechanical 3D microenvironment remodeling.

Cav1-dependent microenvironment regulates cell shape, protrusion number, Rac1 activity and morphology of integrin-dependent adhesion structures

To test the role of Cav1 in 3D microenvironment formation, we compared culture in FDMs produced from immortalized Cav1WT and Cav1KO MEFs with 2D culture. 3D growth raised SMA expression preferentially in WT MEFs close to levels in primary cultures (pMEFs) (Fig.S2A). When these FDMs were re-seeded with Cav1WT or Cav1KO MEFs, cells of both genotypes were more elongated when grown in FDMs generated by WT MEFs (Fig.2B and Fig.S2B). These results suggest that lack of Cav1 alters FDM structure and composition; the most elongated cells were obtained when Cav1WT MEFs were plated in Cav1WT FDMs. Reexpression of Cav1 in Cav1KO MEFs rescued the ability to generate pro-elongation 3D matrices, whereas reexpression of Cav1Y14F had no effect (Fig.2C,D). Thus Cav1, through residue Tyr14, favors fibroblast elongation directly through endogenous expression and indirectly through cell-dependent 3D microenvironment remodeling, indicating that endogenous Cav1 and the Cav1-dependent microenvironment cooperate to enhance cell polarity. Cav1WT FDMs also reduced the number of cell protrusions (Fig.2E and S2C) and Rac-GTPase activity (Fig.2F) independently of Cav1 expression by seeded cells, confirming the ability of Cav1-dependent ECM to favor in vivo-like spindle morphology.

Figure 2

Cav1-dependent extracellular environment regulates cell shape, protrusion number, Rac1 activity and maturation of integrin-dependent adhesions

We next assessed the impact of the Cav1-dependent microenvironment on the formation of 3D-matrix adhesions. Integrin-dependent 3D-matrix adhesions differ from regular FA in molecular composition (lower pY397FAK levels), and are longer (up to 19μm) and thinner (Cukierman et al., 2001). Cav1WT and Cav1KO FDMs both decreased adhesion-targeted pY397FAK levels compared to a 2D-FN substrate (Fig.S2D). The longest 3D-matrix adhesions were obtained when Cav1WT MEFs were plated in Cav1WT FDMs (11.14±0.48μm) (Fig.2G and S2E) indicating that both matrix and cells are important for determining adhesion length. The matrix adhesion marker vinculin localizes to 3D-matrix adhesions and its recruitment is force-dependent (Cukierman et al., 2001), and the mobile vinculin fraction, determined by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), is an index of adhesion-dependent force increase (Bershadsky et al., 2003). Cav1KO FDMs increased the mobile vinculin fraction (Fig.2Ha–c), indicating that these matrices slow the maturation of adhesion structures and the generation of adhesion-dependent forces. Endogenous Cav1 expression contributes little to the maturation of 3D-matrix adhesions (Fig.2Hb,c), contrasting the strong influence of the assorted FDMs.

Cav1 promotes patterning and stiffness of 3D matrices thus regulating normal tissue architecture

To assess the impact of Cav1 expression on microenvironment organization, compliance and composition, we measured FN fiber orientation in FDMs. FN fibers in Cav1WT-derived FDMs were more parallel than in Cav1KO FDMs (Fig.3A,B). The level of Cav1WT FDM organization was consistent with published results for normal fibroblasts (Amatangelo et al., 2005). A similar level of parallelism was obtained in FDMs generated by Cav1KO MEFs reexpressing Cav1WT, but not Cav1Y14F (Fig.3C,D). Therefore, Cav1, via Tyr14, plays an important role in the topographical organization of 3D microenvironments.

Figure 3

Cav1 promotes patterning and stiffness of 3D matrices, and favors normal tissue architecture

Higher-than-normal parallelism is characteristic of tumor stromal collagen fibers and matrices generated by CAFs (Amatangelo et al., 2005; Provenzano et al., 2008). Moreover, a stiff and ordered 3D microenvironment is essential for TC invasiveness and highly aligned and organized collagen fibers increase matrix strength and stiffness in vivo (Gaggioli et al., 2007; Levental et al., 2009; Provenzano et al., 2008). Evaluation of FDM stiffness by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed that the Young Modulus of Cav1WT-derived FDM is 40% larger and has a wider standard deviation than that of Cav1KO FDM (Fig.3E and S3A). Lack of Cav1 in MEFs thus makes the self-derived ECM less stiff and unifies its mechanical response. Cav1WT- and Cav1KO-derived FDMs were of equal thickness, and there were no significant differences in cell density before extraction (Fig.S3B). Proteomic analysis revealed only slight, non significant differences in the relative abundance of ECM proteins in WT and Cav1KO FDMs (Fig.S3C).

Examination of tissue architecture in Cav1KO mice by Masson's trichrome and picrosirius red (PR) staining revealed a thicker and less organized collagen-rich dermis, in both adult and young mice (Fig.3F and S3D). We next studied tissue organization at the mammary gland epithelial-stroma interface, using multiphoton excitation microscopy coupled to second harmomic generation (MPE-SHG) imaging. SHG signal intensity was higher in Cav1WT mammary glands, both in the gland vicinity (Fig.3G) and neighboring stroma (Fig.S3E), indicating greater collagen fiber organization. Tissues also contained collagen fibers devoid of SHG signal, which were often kinked in Cav1KO mammary glands but almost all straight in Cav1WT (Fig.3Ga and S3E). PR staining confirmed disturbed collagen fiber organization in Cav1KO mammary glands, highlighting deficiency in fibrillar collagen around the acinus (Fig.3Gb).

Cav1 promotes force-dependent remodeling of the surrounding environment via Rho-GTPase activation

FN fibrillogenesis relies on RhoGTPase-dependent cell contractility, which generates tensile forces that expose cryptic self-assembly sites in stretched FN molecules (Zhong et al., 1998). Although their fibrillogenesis was delayed, Cav1KO MEFs were able to remodel the FN coating at later time points (Fig.S4A) with similar FN expression levels as Cav1WT MEFs (Fig.S4B). Absence of Cav1 thus delays but does not negate FN remodeling. Re-expression of Cav1 in Cav1KO MEFs restored cell-mediated FN fibrillogenesis (Fig.4A); re-expression of Cav1Y14F had no effect (Fig.S4C). Cav1 deficiency decreases Rho activity via the endogenous inhibitor p190 (Grande-Garcia et al., 2007). Constitutive activation of Rho-GTPase in Cav1KO MEFs rescued the FN remodeling phenotype but had no effect on Cav1WT MEFs (Fig.4A). Defective FN remodeling in Cav1KO MEFs was also reversed by stable silencing of p190 (Fig.4B and S4Da), which decreased Rac activity and PM localization (Fig.4C and S4Db). p190 knockdown (KD) also increased pMLC levels (not shown) and rescued cell contractility (Fig.4D). Moreover, p190 KD in Cav1KO MEFs increased the parallel fiber organization of derived matrix (Fig.4E) and this matrix increased the EF and decreased the number of protrusions of seeded Cav1WT MEFs (Fig.4F). Off-target effects were excluded with additional shRNAs (Fig.S4E,F).

Figure 4

Cav1 promotes force-dependent microenvironment remodeling via Rho-GTPase activation

p190 activation is associated with its phosphorylation and partitioning into PM ordered domains, where it inhibits Rho activity (Mammoto et al., 2007a; Sordella et al., 2003). We reported mildly increased p190 expression and phosphorylation in the absence of Cav1 (Grande-Garcia et al., 2007). In contrast to Rac1 and pPAK, p190 PM targeting was independent of Cav1 expression (Fig.4G). However, p190 phosphorylation at the PM was higher in the absence of Cav1 (Fig.4H). Cav1 absence also promoted p190 partitioning into PM ordered domains, an effect reversed by Cav1 re-expression (Fig.4I). Cav1 thus appears to remodel the 3D microenvironment by stimulating Rho-dependent cell contractility, and to regulate Rho activity by controlling the phosphorylation and partitioning of p190 into membrane ordered domains.

Stroma of human breast, kidney and colon carcinoma and melanoma metastases are enriched in Cav1-expressing fibroblasts

Fibroblasts generate and remodel the stroma surrounding tumors. Microenvironments generated by CAFs display Rho-dependent parallelism (Amatangelo et al., 2005; Provenzano et al., 2008) suggesting that stromal Cav1 and its remodeling activity might affect tumor progression. We therefore analyzed tumor-associated stroma of various carcinomas.

Since Cav1 expression modifies mammary tissue architecture, we immunostained for Cav1 and SMA in a tissue microarray of 132 primary breast tumors and 35 normal breast tissues, scoring specifically for expression level in fibroblastic stroma (Fig.5A–D and supplemental Table 1). Expression levels of Cav1 and SMA were significantly higher in tumor stroma (p<0.0001) and showed a mild statistical correlation (r=0.54) (Fig.5B). Mean and median SMA values were marginally higher in high than in low stage disease (Wilcoxon p=0.064). Moreover, Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that patients with stromal Cav1 expression were 2.5 times more likely to die (Fig.5C,D). In vitro assessments showed that Cav1 expression was significantly higher in breast CAFs than in normal fibroblasts (NFs) (Fig.5E). Stromal Cav1 expression is thus a potential indicator of breast carcinoma progression.

Figure 5

Stroma of human breast, kidney and colon carcinomas and melanoma metastases are enriched in Cav1-expressing fibroblasts

Tissue sections from five patients with renal carcinoma showed high tumor stromal Cav1 expression localized to blood vessels and CAFs (Fig.5F and S5A,B). In contrast Cav1 expression was low in healthy tissue and was mostly restricted to blood vessels and glomerular tubules. Stromal Cav1 expression in tumor sections was accompanied by a clear stromal reaction shown by positive SMA staining and collagen deposition (Fig.5F and S5A). Next, NFs and CAFs harvested from patient #2 (Cav1 homogeneously stained the tumor-associated stroma) were induced to secrete and organize their own 3D in vivo-like matrices. 3D CAF cultures showed strong Cav1 and characteristic myofibroblast SMA expression (Fig.5G). We tested the effect of Cav1 KD on the ability of CAFs to contract Col-I gels. Similar infection efficiencies were obtained, but Cav1 KD was more efficient in NFs (Fig.5H). As reported (Orimo et al., 2005), CAFs retracted Col-I gels more efficiently than NFs (Fig.5I). Mild Cav1 KD in CAFs was sufficient to decrease contraction to NF levels (Fig.5I). Similar results were obtained with a different Cav1 siRNA (Fig.S5C). Cav1 thus contributes to the contractile phenotype of CAFs, and its stromal expression might indicate renal carcinoma progression.

We next explored fibroblast Cav1 expression in colorectal cancer stroma, since this is one of the most common causes of cancer death in Western countries and its outcome is determined by the occurrence of metastatic dissemination. In normal tissue, Cav1 is expressed in smooth muscle cells of the muscularis mucosae, in blood vessels, and to a lower extent in the stroma underlying the epithelium (Fig.5J). Analysis of a tissue microarray of 84 colorectal carcinomas detected Cav1 expression in tumor-associated stroma but not in the epithelial TCs (~98% of cases). Cav1 staining intensity scores revealed strong expression in 75% of tumor-associated stroma (Fig.5J).

Cav1 was also expressed in the peritumoral stroma of all metastatic foci examined in a set of human melanoma metastatic explants, with >80% of fibroblasts Cav1 positive (Fig.5K). Cav1 was found in 79% of fibroblasts expressing SMA and 82% expressing CD90, a marker of human CAFs (Fig.5K). Cav1 expression was detected in very few metastatic (Hmb-45⁺) TCs, and in only 36% of infiltrated (CD45⁺) leukocytes (Fig.5K and Fig.S5D). Cav1-expressing CAFs were excluded from tumor nests but were accompanied by heavy collagen and light FN deposits in the immediate peritumoral stroma (Fig.S5E). Fibroblasts positive for CD90 and Cav1 were detected in distant tumor-associated stroma, but were absent from normal connective or muscle tissue (not shown). Cav1 in non-tumor tissue was localized exclusively in blood vessels. Stroma of metastatic foci is thus enriched in Cav1-positive CAFs, suggesting that stromal Cav1 might be instrumental in both primary and secondary tumor niches.

Cav1-dependent 3D microenvironment stimulates in vitro tumor cell migration and invasion

To investigate the mechanism by which microenvironment remodeling by stromal Cav1 affects TC behavior, we used three metastatic cell lines as representative models: MDA-MB-231 parental breast cancer cells (here called ATCC-231) and derived lines selected for in vivo tropism to lung (LM-4175) and bone (BM-1833) (Minn et al., 2005). All three lines express high levels of Cav1 (not shown). Metastatic cells seeded in FDMs generated by Cav1WT MEFs had a higher EF than when seeded in Cav1KO FDMs (Fig.6A). Cav1WT matrices also supported higher directionality and velocity of migration by TCs (Fig.6B, Videos 4–5).

Figure 6

Cav1-dependent 3D microenvironment stimulates TC migration and invasion in vitro

While co-culture with Cav1WT MEFs in Col-I gels only slightly increased TC EF (Fig.S6A), it clearly favored TC invasion of the surrounding gel (Fig.6C and S6C). Invading Cav1WT fibroblasts and TCs were both highly polarized and oriented perpendicular to the `tumor boundary' (Fig.S6B). In an alternative matrigel-based 3D invasion assay, Cav1WT MEFs similarly promoted invasion by PC3 prostate TCs without displaying any differences in proliferation rate (Fig.6D and S6C–E), suggesting that fibroblast Cav1 is a general promoter of TC invasion. In both models Cav1WT MEFs invaded significantly faster than Cav1KO MEFs and preceded TCs, as previously reported (Gaggioli et al., 2007). Similar results were obtained when fibroblasts were spatially separated from TCs by a thin matrigel layer in order to mimic tumor-stroma topography (Fig.S6E). p190 KD in Cav1KO MEFs restored Cav1WT fibroblast-induced tumor cell invasiveness (Fig.6D and S6C).

Cav1-dependent 3D microenvironment stimulates in vivo tumor cell invasion and increases metastatic potency

The contribution of fibroblastic Cav1 to stroma-dependent tumorigenesis in vivo was explored in a luminescence-based orthotopic mammary gland tumor formation assay, in which luminescent and GFP-expressing cells from mammary adenocarcinoma E0771 were injected into mammary glands of syngenic WT and Cav1KO mice (Fig.7A). Absence of host Cav1 slightly decreased primary mammary tumor growth (Fig.7Ab and S7Aa) and metastasis formation (Fig.S7Ab). No significant differences were observed when cells were injected in tail vein; in fact Cav1KOs appeared to have a slight advantage over WTs (Fig.S7D). We next studied tissue architecture at the tumor-stroma interface by MPE-SHG. Tumors grown in Cav1KO mice were minimally invasive: TCs were localized in regions surrounded by few kinked and disorganized collagen fibers (Fig. 7Ac,d). In contrast, tumors grown in Cav1WT mice were collagen-rich, with invading TCs in intimate contact with aligned straight and curly collagen fibers (Fig.7Ac,b). Consistent with pro-invasion radial alignment of collagen fibers relative to tumor boundary (Provenzano et al., 2006), the angle of collagen fibers was significantly more perpendicular in a WT than in Cav1KO hosts (Fig.7Ad) suggesting higher invasivity in WT environment.

Figure 7

Cav1-dependent 3D microenvironment stimulates in vivo tumor cell invasion and increases metastatic potency

Since Cav1 is implicated in tumor angiogenesis, vessel leakiness and extravasation (Gratton et al., 2003), we conducted experiments to rule out effects derived from these actions. Orthotopic mammary gland tumors were obtained by injecting LM475 human TCs into lethally irradiated Cav1WT or Cav1KO mice (Fig.7B). After nine days, equalsize tumors were either processed or transplanted together with their surrounding stroma into nude mice (Fig.7Ba). In this system, Cav1-dependent stroma is the only variable likely to affect TC invasiveness and metastatic potency. Using MPE-SHG imaging and histology, we evaluated Cav1-dependent matrix remodeling at the tumor-stroma interface of early tumors (8 days). Tumors grown in Cav1KO mice were minimally invasive. Collagen fibers were stretched and distributed tangentially along the tumor boundary, probably constraining tumor growth and consistent with previously described TACS-2 (Tumor-associated collagen signature-2) (Provenzano et al., 2006) (Fig.S7Ba,b). Indeed, tumors generated in Cav1KO mammary glands grew slower before (not shown) and after transplantation into nude mice (Fig.S7Bc). In contrast, WT tumors had an invasive morphology, with both TCs and collagen fibers aligned in the direction of invasion (~90° to the tumor boundary), typical of TACS-3. After transplant, such tumors generated significantly more metastases in most organs analyzed (Fig.7Bb). These tumors moreover displayed significantly increased matrix fiber parallelism and alignment and elongation of SMA-positive CAFs (Fig.7Bc,d and S7Bd). Interestingly, alignment of intratumoral FN fibers correlated with the number of metastasis (n=10, Fig.7Bd). These results indicate that Cav1-positive surrounding stroma regulates primary tumor growth and favors invasion and metastasis.

Since Cav1 was absent in all tissues, neither of the approaches described tests the effect of specific lack of Cav1 in the tumoral stroma associated with the orthotopic xenograft. To overcome this and to test the role of p190 in metastatic potency in vivo, we designed a luminescence-based subcutaneous tumor formation assay in which Matrigel-embedded luminescent TCs (LM-4175) were mixed with pMEFs (Cav1WT, Cav1KO MEFs or p190-silenced Cav1KO) (Fig.7Ca) and injected subcutaneously into nude nice (Fig.7C). The microenvironment remodeling properties of pMEFs are similar to those of their immortalized counterparts (not shown). p190 was stably silenced in Cav1KO pMEFs and Cav1 was expressed only in Cav1WT pMEFs (Fig.7Ca). There was no difference in primary tumor growth (Fig.S7Ca and 7Cc); but Cav1WT pMEFs were more potent stimulators of metastasis formation than Cav1KO pMEFs (Fig.7Cb,c), confirming the results obtained in orthotopic mammary assays and validating this assay for studying the mechanism of stroma-dependent tumor invasion and metastasis. Deficiency in metastasis deposition was rescued by p190 KD in Cav1KO pMEFs (Fig.7Cb–d). Study of intratumoral stroma remodeling in tumor explants revealed an increase in FN fiber alignment when injected pMEFs expressed Cav1. Deficient alignment was rescued by p190 KD in Cav1KO MEFs (Fig.7Cc and S7Cb,c). Intratumoral FN fiber alignment and metastatic potency were statistically correlated (n=30, Fig.7Cd). Additionally, rescue of normal Rho activity (in p190-silenced-Cav1KO pMEFs) increased alignment and elongation of SMA-positive fibroblasts (Fig.S7Cb).

Together these results demonstrate that stromal Cav1, through p190-dependent regulation of Rho-mediated cell contractility, remodels peri- and intratumoral microenvironments to facilitate TC invasion and metastasis. These data identify an important role for stromal-expressed Cav1 in tumor progression, consistent with the human tumor histology data, and highlight the importance of mechanical remodeling of the microenvironment in tumor metastatic potency.

DISCUSSION

Our results show that intrinsic fibroblast Cav1 and the Cav1-regulated microenvironment cooperate to enhance cell elongation, migration and invasion through force-dependent organization of the surrounding 3D environment. Cav1 mediates these effects by regulating Rho activity via changes in p190 localization and phosphorylation. Our data suggest that this Cav1-dependent bidirectional cell/matrix mechanical crosstalk is critical for normal tissue homeostasis and architecture, and for tumor invasion and metastasis.

Cav1 in tumor-associated stroma

Our study identifies Cav1 as a regulator of ECM remodeling and desmoplastic processes. CAFs, the main cell component of the desmoplastic stroma of solid cancers and their metastases (Bhowmick et al., 2004), influence TC growth through paracrine secretion of growth factors and recruit endothelial progenitors to promote angiogenesis (Karnoub et al., 2007; Orimo et al., 2005). CAFs deposit ECM and remodel the tumor stroma. ECM fiber tracks align at the tumor margin, and force- and protease-mediated ECM remodeling by fibroblasts favors TC invasion (Gaggioli et al., 2007; Provenzano et al., 2006; Provenzano et al., 2008). Here we show that the stroma of breast, renal and colon carcinoma and melanoma metastases is enriched in Cav1-expressing CAFs, and contractility of renal CAFs is reduced by lowering Cav1 levels. Cell-free 3D matrices generated by Cav1WT fibroblasts are stiffer and more aligned than matrices derived from Cav1KO fibroblast, thus better stimulating TC elongation, velocity and directional migration. Orthotopic implantation in Cav1KO mice impairs tumor invasiveness and metastatic potency. In co-cultures fibroblast Cav1 favors TC invasion, and co-injection of these cells into nude mice increases metastasis. Both effects depend on Cav1-regulated p190 activity. Results from the experimental metastasis assay suggest an important role of fibroblast Cav1 in events before intravasation. Thus CAF expression of Cav1 favors tumor progression via biomechanical remodeling of the primary tumor-associated stroma. These findings may help explain the somewhat contentious role of Cav1 in tumorigenesis, since the pro-tumorigenic action of Cav1 may depend on expression by stromal fibroblasts.

Our results indicate that evaluation of tumorigenic protential requires examination of both tumor and stroma, especially for Cav1 expression. Cav1 was enriched in the stroma of various tumors, and stromal Cav1 was linked to poor survival. We found a positive correlation between Cav1 and the CAF marker SMA, similar to that described in pancreatic cancer (Witkiewicz et al., 2008). This appears to conflict with reports proposing stromal Cav1 expression as a positive prognostic indicator in breast cancer; however, these studies did not link Cav1 expression to a positive CAF marker, and loss of stromal Cav1 did not correlate with metastasis (Sloan et al., 2009; Witkiewicz et al., 2009). Cav1 thus appears to have a complex role in tumor stroma, and further work is needed to justify the potential use of Cav1 for prognosis. Our findings with orthotopic grafts and the stroma-dependent tumorigenicity assay suggest that increased fibroblast Cav1 would promote local invasiveness and metastasis via remodeling of the stromal ECM. Cav1 could also regulate other (non fibroblast) tumor-associated stromal components.

Stromal Cav1 in normal and pathological tissue architecture

Through reciprocal cell-ECM interactions, the stroma provides environmental cues essential for tissue architecture. The ability of fibroblast-Cav1 to modulate cell morphology via force-dependent ECM remodeling suggests that its absence could disturb normal tissue architecture. Consistently, Cav1 loss in stromal cells produces benign stromal lesions causing abnormal epithelium growth and differentiation (Yang et al., 2008). Disturbed fibroblast function might underlie pulmonary fibrosis, hypertension and cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy in Cav1KO mice (Drab, 2001; Razani et al., 2001; Zhao et al., 2002). The observed overproduction of disorganized fibrous connective tissue in Cav1KO mice might be responsible for delayed wound-healing in Cav1KO mice (Grande-Garcia et al., 2007). We also report that Cav1WT mammary glands show markedly higher SHG signal intensity and numbers of straight collagen fibers. Disorganization of collagen-rich mammary stroma in Cav1KO mice could account for mammary dysplasia and ductal thickening (Williams et al., 2006). The correlation between disorganized mammary stroma and impaired growth, invasion and metastatic potency of orthotopic grafts suggests that Cav1-positive stroma is permissive for tumor progression, consistent with retarded growth of subcutaneous grafts in Cav1KO mice (Chang et al., 2009). Together, this suggests that Cav1-dependent impaired architecture of native stroma might also affect tumor progression.

Concerted regulation of cell shape by Cav1-dependent microenvironment and endogenously expressed Cav1

The FDMs generated in our study model the physiological microenvironment of cell interactions, and reveal that matrix generated by Cav1-fibroblasts increases cell elongation. Morphology of all cells tested was more strongly influenced by the surrounding 3D architectural organization than by its `intrinsic' shape in 2D. Earlier in vitro 2D studies showed that Cav1 phosphorylation at Tyr14 coordinates Rho GTPases activity (Grande-Garcia et al., 2007). We now show that Cav1 regulates p190 phosphorylation and partitioning into ordered domains, where it is known to inhibit Rho (Mammoto et al., 2007a; Sordella et al., 2003). We further show that lack of Cav1 generates Rac binding sites in ordered domains and could thereby mediate p190 recruitment (Bustos et al., 2008; Mammoto et al., 2007b). The Cav1-dependent 3D microenvironment cooperates with intrinsic Cav1 to enhance cell elongation by reducing Rac activity and the number of protrusions. Cav1-dependent Rho activity also potentiates the force-dependent ability of fibroblasts to contract the surrounding matrix. Increased matrix contractility is linked to elevated pMLC (Gaggioli et al., 2007), which is consistent with p190-dependent pMLC expression and contractility of Cav1 expressing cells, favoring microenvironment-dependent cell elongation. Fibroblast contractility is linked to SMA expression (Hinz, 2010), and SMA levels are increased in Cav1WT MEFs grown in 3D. Interestingly, force, via Rho/Rhokinase, promotes activation of the SMA promoter (Zhao et al., 2007) suggesting that Cav1-mediated increased rigidity of WT FDMs might promote SMA expression.

Cav1 and microenvironment anisotropy

Contact guidance implies that structural organization of ECM provides directional cues to cells and directs morphology and motility via anisotropy of the microenvironment. Thus, intrinsic cell properties and the surrounding microenvironment can both drive cell behavior. Our results show that Cav1-expressing fibroblasts increase alignment of ECM fibers through Rho and force dependent matrix reorganization. In turn these matrices enhance cell elongation, mature integrin-adhesions, and reduce cell protrusions. Contact guidance also occurs at the tumor-stroma interface, where disregulation generates a more parallel than normal matrix, guiding local invasion (Gaggioli et al., 2007; Provenzano et al., 2006; Provenzano et al., 2008). Our finding that tumor cell elongation, velocity and migration directionality are enhanced by Cav1-FDMs is relevant here. Co-culture with Cav1-fibroblasts favors TC elongation and invasiveness in vivo and in vitro. The tumor-stroma interface of mammary tumors in Cav1-expressing mice is more pro-invasive than in their Cav1KO counterparts, with increased collagen fiber alignment. Recent reports propose quantification of collagen alignment at the tumor boundary as a novel predictor of breast cancer survival (Conklin et al., 2011). We observed a strong correlation between metastatic potency and intratumoral matrix alignment, which might be used as a prognostic marker of carcinoma progression. Our findings may also be related to the increased Cav1 expression in metastatic lesions (Goetz et al., 2008b), where mesenchymal Cav1 might be required to produce an invasion-permissive environment and parenchymal Cav1 might promote directional migration and invasion.

Cav1 and matrix stiffness

Matrix stiffness disrupts tissue morphogenesis (Paszek et al., 2005), drives differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (Engler et al., 2006) and fosters tumor progression (Levental et al., 2009). Rho-dependent cell contractility is also closely related to matrix stiffness and orientation (Paszek et al., 2005; Provenzano et al., 2008). The ability of AFM to probe mechanical properties of synthetic, near-physiological matrices is well-established (Engler et al., 2006) but had not been applied before to FDMs. Our AFM studies revealed 40% higher rigidity in FDMs produced by Cav1-cells. Since no major difference was observed in ECM protein content between Cav1WT and Cav1KO FDMs, ECM remodeling or cross-linking might be solely responsible for the observed differential rigidity. Artificial increase of fibroblast-dependent collagen crosslinking in mouse mammary stroma stiffens the tissue and promotes growth and invasion by normally noninvasive mammary epithelial cells (Levental et al., 2009). Together these findings suggest that the impact of Cav1 on directional TC invasion results from increases in ECM anisotropy and stiffness.

A growing body of work suggests that environment remodeling is essential for normal tissue architecture and for tumor progression. Our study identifies a critical role for Cav1 in these processes, highlighting a novel function of Cav1 in the regulation of matrix-dependent cell behavior. Elucidation of further proteins and mechanisms responsible for this function will provide fertile ground for future research.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

Antibodies and reagents

Ascorbic acid, ammonium hydroxide and Triton X-100 were from Sigma. Primary antibodies: Rac and p190RhoGAP (Upstate Biotechnology); Rho-GDI (Santa Cruz), Cav1, CD90, GM130, CD45 and activated β1integrin (9EG7) (BD); γ-tubulin, SMA, FN and Col-I (Sigma); Hmb45 (Dako), pY397FAK and PAK1/2/3[pS141] (Biosource); GADPH and 4G10 (Millipore). Secondary antibodies were from Molecular Probes and from Jackson. FN was purified from human plasma.

Cell culture

pMEFs and 3T3-immortalized MEFs from WT and Cav1KO mice were cultured as described (Cerezo et al., 2009). ATCC-231, LM-4175 and BM-1833 were cultured as described (Minn et al., 2005). PC3 and E0771 TCs were cultured as recommended.

Mice

Cav1-deficient mice (STOCK Cav1^tm1Mls/J; Razani et al., 2001) and WT B6129SF2/J controls were from The Jackson Laboratory (USA). Cav1-deficient mice and WT littermates (B6.Cg-CAV1^tm1mls/J; Drab, 2001) were used for in vivo experiments. Female athymic nude mice were obtained from Harlan.

3D cell culture and assays

FDM production and the Matrigel-invasion assay are described in Supplemental Experimental Procedures. The spheroid invasion assay was adapted from Gaggioli et al. (2007). After 6 days, invaded gels were fixed, labeled with fluorescently-conjugated phalloidin, imaged and analyzed. Invasiveness was quantified as the area invaded by tumor cells.

Col-I gel contraction assays were performed as published (Orimo et al., 2005). Four or five fibroblast-containing gels were assayed for each condition. Gel contraction index was calculated with Metamorph software from the gel surface area measured on acquired images, and reported as the percentage of contraction of the initial surface area.

Tumorigenicity assays and bioluminescent imaging

Mammary gland grafts and experimental metastasis assays are described in Supplemental Experimental Procedures. Alternatively, LM-4175, alone or mixed with pMEFs, were subcutaneously injected following Karnoub et al. (2007). Tumor growth and metastasis were assessed by bioluminescence with the IVIS™ Imaging System. Briefly, mice were injected with luciferin (17.5 mg/ml), and after 20 min were placed in the IVIS™ Imaging System and ventral views captured. Tumor growth and metastasis formation were monitored at regular intervals. Exposure time for photon flux quantification was 0.2 s, but ranged from 0.2 s to 2 min for metastasis detection. At the end of the in vivo analysis, luciferin-injected mice were killed and the organs extracted and reimaged ex vivo to detect metastatic foci. Images acquired from multiple exposure times were used to manually quantify every visible metastatic focus. Small metastatic foci could be detected by adjusting the scale of photon flux in Living Image 3.2. Extracted primary tumors were frozen in tissue-Tec and prepared for histology. Alternatively, tumor architecture was analyzed by SHG imaging.

Image analysis of immunofluorescence labeled cells and matrices

Images were captured with Leica confocal microscopes. EF was determined with MetaMorph (Universal Imaging Corp).

RNA interference

Silencing of p190 was as described in (Grande-Garcia et al., 2007). Cav1 siRNA was as described (Gonzalez-Munoz et al., 2009). Alternative Cav1-siRNA sequences are shown in Supplemental Experimental Procedures.

Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

FDMs were extracted, labeled with iTRAQ™ reagents and identified by LC-MS/MS as described in Supplemental Experimental Procedures.

Microscopy techniques

For 3D time-lapse video microscopy, cells were seeded in FDMs and imaged for 12h (supplemental videos 1–6). Centroids were tracked with MetaMorph. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was performed as described (Goetz et al., 2008a). MPE-SHG imaging on formalin-fixed, intact, non-stained mammary glands and mammary tumors was as described (Provenzano et al., 2006). AFM is described in Supplemental Experimental Procedures.

Tissue samples, cell isolation and tumor microarrays (TMA)

Primary fibroblasts from paired normal human kidney and tumor samples and breast TMAs were obtained from Fox Chase Cancer Center's Biosample Repository (Philadephia, PA). Samples were blindly scored by a certified pathologist. Colon carcinoma and normal colon tissues were from the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Madrid. Human melanoma tissue was taken with informed consent from patients undergoing surgery at the Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid. Tissue processing is described in Supplemental Experimental Procedures.

Membrane fractionation

Detergent-resistant and PM-fractions were purified by standard procedures. p190 immunoprecipitation and biochemistry is described in Supplemental Experimental Procedures.

Statistics

Error bars depict SEM. Statistical significance was determined with GraphPad Prism by unpaired Student's t test or Mann-Whitney test as indicated; * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001.

Table 1

Descriptive statistical representations in the patient cohort (N = 140)

Supplementary Material

Supplemental Figure 1

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video 3

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video 4

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video 5

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Supplemental Figure 2

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Supplemental Figure 3

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Supplemental Figure 4

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Supplemental Figure 5

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Supplemental Figure 6

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Supplemental Figure 7

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video 1

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video 2

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank J.Massagué and R.Gomis for luciferase-expressing TCs; F.Sirotnak, M.Kolonin and A.Schrum for E0771 cells; M.Morente, the CNIO Tumor Bank and the Spanish National Tumor Bank Network for colon carcinoma TMA; the CNIC Viral Vector Unit for lentivirus; P.Martin and R.Mota for i.v injection; I.Treviño for help with immunohistochemistry; K.Devarajan for breast TMA statistical analysis; V.Gupta, R.Castello-Cros and D.Bassi for renal and breast CAF harvesting and immunohistochemistry; A.Alfranca for luciferase vector and advice; M. Montoya for advice on SHG and helpful discussion; F.Sanchez-Cabo for help with statistical analysis; A.U. for brainstorming; X.Bustelo, I.R.Nabi, G.Scita and P.P di Fiore for critical reading of the manuscript; and S.Bartlett for editing. This work was supported by grants from the MICINN (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) to MADP (SAF2008-02100, RTICC RD06/0020/1033 and CSD2009-00016), PSM (SAF2010-1602) and RG (MAT2009-08650 and CSD2010-00024); by EMBO, the European Heads Of Research Councils and the ESF through a European Young Investigator award to MADP; and by NIH/NCI CA113451 and FCCC Kidney Keystone Program grants to EC. JGG and TP are CNIC postdoctoral fellows. SM and AE are Ramón y Cajal fellows. AC is a AECC (Spanish Association against Cancer) fellow. The CNIC is supported by the MICINN and the Pro-CNIC Foundation.

Footnotes

CONTRIBUTIONS JGG and MADP designed and supervised the study and wrote the paper with input from ECu and SM; JGG performed experiments and analyzed data; MADP analyzed data. SM contributed to the design of in vivo experiments, and conducted and analyzed experiments; INL did the biochemistry experiments and cloning; JJL and AC performed mouse experiments; RS and PSM analyzed melanoma, colocarcinoma and mouse grafts; ECa did proteomic analysis; MT and RG did AFM studies; TOI contributed technically to various experiments; TP performed the matrigel invasion assay; AE did cloning; AJPKS analyzed breast TMA; PJK did 2HG analysis; ECu provided and analyzed kidney and breast CAFs and TMA. ECu, SM, RS, RG, PJK and PSM also provided intellectual insight.

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