1
|
Alors-Pérez E, Pedraza-Arevalo S, Blázquez-Encinas R, García-Vioque V, Agraz-Doblas A, Yubero-Serrano EM, Sánchez-Frías ME, Serrano-Blanch R, Gálvez-Moreno MÁ, Gracia-Navarro F, Gahete MD, Arjona-Sánchez Á, Luque RM, Ibáñez-Costa A, Castaño JP. Altered CELF4 splicing factor enhances pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors aggressiveness influencing mTOR and everolimus response. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102090. [PMID: 38187140 PMCID: PMC10767201 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.102090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors with growing incidence. Recent molecular analyses provided a precise picture of their genomic and epigenomic landscape. Splicing dysregulation is increasingly regarded as a novel cancer hallmark influencing key tumor features. We have previously demonstrated that splicing machinery is markedly dysregulated in PanNETs. Here, we aimed to elucidate the molecular and functional implications of CUGBP ELAV-like family member 4 (CELF4), one of the most altered splicing factors in PanNETs. CELF4 expression was determined in 20 PanNETs, comparing tumor and non-tumoral adjacent tissue. An RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) dataset was analyzed to explore CELF4-linked interrelations among clinical features, gene expression, and splicing events. Two PanNET cell lines were employed to assess CELF4 function in vitro and in vivo. PanNETs display markedly upregulated CELF4 expression, which is closely associated with malignancy features, altered expression of key tumor players, and distinct splicing event profiles. Modulation of CELF4 influenced proliferation in vitro and reduced in vivo xenograft tumor growth. Interestingly, functional assays and RNA-seq analysis revealed that CELF4 silencing altered mTOR signaling pathway, enhancing the effect of everolimus. We demonstrate that CELF4 is dysregulated in PanNETs, where it influences tumor development and aggressiveness, likely by modulating the mTOR pathway, suggesting its potential as therapeutic target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emilia Alors-Pérez
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Sergio Pedraza-Arevalo
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ricardo Blázquez-Encinas
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Víctor García-Vioque
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Antonio Agraz-Doblas
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Elena M. Yubero-Serrano
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Unidad de Gestión Clinica Medicina Interna, Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Marina E. Sánchez-Frías
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Pathology Service, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Raquel Serrano-Blanch
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Medical Oncology Service, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Gálvez-Moreno
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Service, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Francisco Gracia-Navarro
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Manuel D. Gahete
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Álvaro Arjona-Sánchez
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
- Surgery Service, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Raúl M. Luque
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alejandro Ibáñez-Costa
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Justo P. Castaño
- Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
- CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), Córdoba, Spain
- Reina Sofia University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain
| |
Collapse
|