Inward Outward Signaling in Ovarian Cancer: Morpho-Phospho-Proteomic Profiling Upon Application of Hypoxia and Shear Stress Characterizes the Adaptive Plasticity of OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 Cells

Andrea Bileck; Patricia Bortel; Michelle Kriz; Lukas Janker; Endre Kiss; Christopher Gerner; Giorgia Del Favero

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.746411

Inward Outward Signaling in Ovarian Cancer: Morpho-Phospho-Proteomic Profiling Upon Application of Hypoxia and Shear Stress Characterizes the Adaptive Plasticity of OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 Cells

Front Oncol. 2022 Feb 14:11:746411. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.746411. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Andrea Bileck^{1

2}, Patricia Bortel¹, Michelle Kriz^{1

3}, Lukas Janker¹, Endre Kiss⁴, Christopher Gerner^{1

2

4}, Giorgia Del Favero^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
² Joint Metabolome Facility, University of Vienna and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
³ Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
⁴ Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, Faculty of Chemistry University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

With the onset of resistance, ovarian cancer cells display almost unpredictable adaptive potential. This may derive from the tumor genetic ancestry and can be additionally tailored by post translational protein modifications (PTMs). In this study, we took advantage of high-end (phospho)-proteome analysis combined with multiparametric morphometric profiling in high-grade serous (OVCAR-3) and non-serous (SKOV-3) ovarian carcinoma cells. For functional experiments, we applied two different protocols, representing typical conditions of the abdominal cavity and of the growing tumor tissue: on the one side hypoxia (oxygen 1%) which develops within the tumor mass or is experienced during migration/extravasation in non-vascularized areas. On the other hand, fluid shear stress (250 rpm, 2.8 dyn/cm²) which affects tumor surface in the peritoneum or metastases in the bloodstream. After 3 hours incubation, treatment groups were clearly distinguishable by PCA analysis. Whereas basal proteome profiles of OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3 cells appeared almost unchanged, phosphoproteome analysis revealed multiple regulatory events. These affected primarily cellular structure and proliferative potential and consolidated in the proteome signature after 24h treatment. Upon oxygen reduction, metabolism switched toward glycolysis (e.g. upregulation hexokinase-2; HK2) and cell size increased, in concerted regulation of pathways related to Rho-GTPases and/or cytoskeletal elements, resembling a vasculogenic mimicry response. Shear stress regulated proteins governing cell cycle and structure, as well as the lipid metabolism machinery including the delta(14)-sterol reductase, kinesin-like proteins (KIF-22/20A) and the actin-related protein 2/3 complex. Independent microscopy-based validation experiments confirmed cell-type specific morphometric responses. In conclusion, we established a robust workflow enabling the description of the adaptive potential of ovarian cancer cells to physical and chemical stressors typical for the abdominal cavity and supporting the identification of novel molecular mechanisms sustaining tumor plasticity and pharmacologic resistance.

Keywords: fluid shear stress (FSS); hypoxia; morpho-metabolic plasticity; ovarian cancer; vasculogenic mimicry (VM).