Defective membrane repair machinery impairs survival of invasive cancer cells

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 21821
• Main Authors: Bouvet, F., Ros, M., Bonedeau, E., Croissant, C., Frelin, L., Saltel, F., Moreau, V., Bouter, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 11-12-2020; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/67/1347; 631/67/322; 631/80; 631/80/2373; 631/80/84; Annexin A5 - metabolism; Annexins; Cancer; Cell death; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell Membrane - pathology; Cell membranes; Cell migration; Cell Survival; Collagen (type I); Fibrils; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Invasiveness; Membranes; Metastases; Metastasis; multidisciplinary; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasms - metabolism; Neoplasms - pathology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Survival
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77902-5

Cancer cells are able to reach distant tissues by migration and invasion processes. Enhanced ability to cope with physical stresses leading to cell membrane damages may offer to cancer cells high survival rate during metastasis. Consequently, down-regulation of the membrane repair machinery may lead to metastasis inhibition. We show that migration of MDA-MB-231 cells on collagen I fibrils induces disruptions of plasma membrane and pullout of membrane fragments in the wake of cells. These cells are able to reseal membrane damages thanks to annexins (Anx) that are highly expressed in invasive cancer cells. In vitro membrane repair assays reveal that MDA-MB-231 cells respond heterogeneously to membrane injury and some of them possess a very efficient repair machinery. Finally, we show that silencing of AnxA5 and AnxA6 leads to the death of migrating MDA-MB-231 cells due to major defect of the membrane repair machinery. Disturbance of the membrane repair process may therefore provide a new avenue for inhibiting cancer metastasis.