Contribution of ADAMTS1 as a tumor suppressor gene in human breast carcinoma. Linking its tumor inhibitory properties to its proteolytic activity on nidogen-1 and nidogen-2

The extracellular protease ADAMTS1 (A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin repeats 1) has been described as an anti-angiogenic molecule and its role as a putative tumor protective molecule has also been suggested. Here, we have used a tumor xenograft model to determine the role of ADAMTS1 in tumor growth and angiogenesis. Increasing levels of the protease led to the complete inhibition of tumor growth. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of action of this protease, we focused our attention on its proteolytic activity on nidogens, one of the main components of the vascular basement membrane. The increased expression of ADAMTS1 was accompanied by increased proteolysis of nidogen-1 and -2 and their almost complete removal from vascular structures, together with major morphological alterations of tumor blood vessels and a decreased vessel density. The clinical relevance of this work is supported by our observations that ADAMTS1 expression is decreased in breast tumor specimens when compared with healthy tissue. Our studies also reveal that the cleavage of nidogen-1 and -2 is partially inhibited in human tumor samples. Moreover, the deposition of both nidogens surrounding vascular structures is drastically altered, implying a possible reduction in the maintenance of vessel integrity. Our studies reflect the requirement to explore the functional interactions between proteases and specific substrates in cancer biology. What's new? The extracellular milieu is a complex and dynamic environment, and certain proteases within it may play a role in tumor suppression. Of particular interest is the protease ADAMTS1, which this study indicates is a key tumor inhibitor in the extracellular matrix. In mice, increased ADAMTS1 was correlated with increased proteolysis of nidogens in the vascular basement membrane and decreased vessel density in tumors. Conversely, the protease was downregulated and nidogen proteolysis partially inhibited, with implications for vessel integrity, in human breast cancer specimens. The findings suggest that protease interactions with specific substrates are of functional importance in the tumor microenvironment.