Integrative Analysis of EGF, OSM, and TGFB Signaling Pathways Reveals Synergistic Mechanisms Driving Cell Motility Through CXCR2 Chemotactic Signaling and CREB Activation

Abstract

The microenvironment surrounding cells plays a critical role in determining cellular phenotype. Key components of the microenvironment include the diverse milieu of ligands and cytokines bind cell surface receptors to initiate changes in molecular programs. While the responses to extracellular signals have been extensively studied in isolation, little is known about the effects of combinations of signals on phenotypic and transcriptional responses. In this study, we used a coordinated approach to systematically investigate the combinatorial effects of the cytokines Oncostatin M (OSM) and Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (TGFB), and the growth factor Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) on MCF10A mammary epithelial cells. Quantitative analysis of live-cell imaging data revealed a complex array of phenotypic responses after ligand treatment, including changes in proliferation, motility, cell clustering, and cytoplasmic size. We observed that all ligand combinations produce emergent phenotypic responses distinct from the maximal effects of individual ligands, indicating induction of new molecular programs. Companion RNA sequencing studies revealed a synergistic upregulation of a small but specific transcriptional program, including genes involved in cell migration, epithelial differentiation, and chemotactic signaling. Notably, these included chemokines such as CXCL3, CXCL5, and PPBP, which are known drivers of epithelial proliferation and migration. Additionally, transcription factor enrichment analyses and Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) studies highlighted distinct changes in pathway utilization and transcription factor activity following combination treatment, including enhanced activation of MAP kinase and CREB signaling, compared to treatment with either agent alone. Using partial least squares regression, we identified robust transcriptional signatures associated with quantitative cellular phenotypes. We validated these signatures in independent datasets, confirming that they generalize across cellular contexts. Finally, an in-depth functional analysis of cell motility with RNA interference and pathway inhibition revealed that synergistic upregulation of CXCR2 signaling, mediated by CREB transcription factor activation, contributes to increases in cell motility across ligand conditions. These findings underscore the importance of combinatorial signaling in reprogramming epithelial phenotypes and reveal potential therapeutic targets for disrupting synergistic pathways in disease contexts such as cancer progression. Together, this study provides a framework for understanding how complex ligand interactions shape phenotypic and molecular landscapes.