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Sequera C, Grattarola M, Holczbauer A, Dono R, Pizzimenti S, Barrera G, Wangensteen KJ, Maina F. MYC and MET cooperatively drive hepatocellular carcinoma with distinct molecular traits and vulnerabilities. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:994. [PMID: 36433941 PMCID: PMC9700715 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05411-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Enhanced activation of the transcription factor MYC and of the receptor tyrosine kinase MET are among the events frequently occurring in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both genes individually act as drivers of liver cancer initiation and progression. However, their concomitant alteration in HCC has not been explored, nor functionally documented. Here, we analysed databases of five independent human HCC cohorts and found a subset of patients with high levels of MYC and MET (MYChigh/METhigh) characterised by poor prognosis. This clinical observation drove us to explore the functionality of MYC and MET co-occurrence in vivo, combining hydrodynamic tail vein injection for MYC expression in the R26stopMet genetic setting, in which wild-type MET levels are enhanced following the genetic deletion of a stop cassette. Results showed that increased MYC and MET expression in hepatocytes is sufficient to induce liver tumorigenesis even in the absence of pre-existing injuries associated with a chronic disease state. Intriguingly, ectopic MYC in MET tumours increases expression of the Mki67 proliferation marker, and switches them into loss of Afp, Spp1, Gpc3, Epcam accompanied by an increase in Hgma1, Vim, and Hep-Par1 levels. We additionally found a switch in the expression of specific immune checkpoints, with an increase in the Ctla-4 and Lag3 lymphocyte co-inhibitory responses, and in the Icosl co-stimulatory responses of tumour cells. We provide in vitro evidence on the vulnerability of some human HCC cell lines to combined MYC and MET targeting, which are otherwise resistant to single inhibition. Mechanistically, combined blockage of MYC and MET converts a partial cytostatic effect, triggered by individual blockage of MYC or MET, into a cytotoxic effect. Together, these findings highlight a subgroup of HCC characterised by MYChigh/METhigh, and document functional cooperativity between MYC and MET in liver tumorigenesis. Thus, the MYC-R26Met model is a relevant setting for HCC biology, patient classification and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia Sequera
- grid.462081.90000 0004 0598 4854Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Margherita Grattarola
- grid.462081.90000 0004 0598 4854Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France ,grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Agnes Holczbauer
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, NY USA
| | - Rosanna Dono
- grid.462081.90000 0004 0598 4854Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Stefania Pizzimenti
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Barrera
- grid.7605.40000 0001 2336 6580Department of Clinical and Biological Science, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Kirk J. Wangensteen
- grid.66875.3a0000 0004 0459 167XDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, NY USA
| | - Flavio Maina
- grid.462081.90000 0004 0598 4854Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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Rada P, Lamballe F, Carceller-López E, Hitos AB, Sequera C, Maina F, Valverde ÁM. Enhanced Wild-Type MET Receptor Levels in Mouse Hepatocytes Attenuates Insulin-Mediated Signaling. Cells 2022; 11:cells11050793. [PMID: 35269415 PMCID: PMC8909847 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Compelling evidence points to the MET receptor tyrosine kinase as a key player during liver development and regeneration. Recently, a role of MET in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and obesity is emerging. Herein, we aimed to determine whether MET regulates hepatic insulin sensitivity. To achieve this, mice in which the expression of wild-type MET in hepatocytes is slightly enhanced above endogenous levels (Alb-R26Met mice) were analyzed to document glucose homeostasis, energy balance, and insulin signaling in hepatocytes. We found that Alb-R26Met mice exhibited higher body weight and food intake when compared to R26stopMet control mice. Metabolic analyses revealed that Alb-R26Met mice presented age-related glucose and pyruvate intolerance in comparison to R26stopMet controls. Additionally, in Alb-R26Met mice, high MET levels decreased insulin-induced insulin receptor (IR) and AKT phosphorylation compared to control mice. These results were corroborated in vitro by analyzing IR and AKT phosphorylation in primary mouse hepatocytes from Alb-R26Met and R26stopMet mice upon insulin stimulation. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation assays revealed MET-IR interaction under both basal and insulin stimulation conditions; this effect was enhanced in Alb-R26Met hepatocytes. Altogether, our results indicate that enhanced MET levels alter hepatic glucose homeostasis, which can be an early event for subsequent liver pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Rada
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, CSIC-UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-L.); (A.B.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (P.R.); (F.M.); (Á.M.V.)
| | - Fabienne Lamballe
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, 13009 Marseille, France; (F.L.); (C.S.)
| | - Elena Carceller-López
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, CSIC-UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-L.); (A.B.H.)
| | - Ana B. Hitos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, CSIC-UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-L.); (A.B.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia Sequera
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, 13009 Marseille, France; (F.L.); (C.S.)
| | - Flavio Maina
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Turing Center for Living Systems, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, 13009 Marseille, France; (F.L.); (C.S.)
- Correspondence: (P.R.); (F.M.); (Á.M.V.)
| | - Ángela M. Valverde
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Alberto Sols, CSIC-UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain; (E.C.-L.); (A.B.H.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (P.R.); (F.M.); (Á.M.V.)
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3
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Evaluating the landscape of gene cooperativity with receptor tyrosine kinases in liver tumorigenesis using transposon-mediated mutagenesis. J Hepatol 2019; 70:470-482. [PMID: 30529386 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The variety of alterations found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) makes the identification of functionally relevant genes and their combinatorial actions in tumorigenesis challenging. Deregulation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is frequent in HCC, yet little is known about the molecular events that cooperate with RTKs and whether these cooperative events play an active role at the root of liver tumorigenesis. METHODS A forward genetic screen was performed using Sleeping Beauty transposon insertional mutagenesis to accelerate liver tumour formation in a genetic context in which subtly increased MET RTK levels predispose mice to tumorigenesis. Systematic sequencing of tumours identified common transposon insertion sites, thus uncovering putative RTK cooperators for liver cancer. Bioinformatic analyses were applied to transposon outcomes and human HCC datasets. In vitro and in vivo (through xenografts) functional screens were performed to assess the relevance of distinct cooperative modes to the tumorigenic properties conferred by RTKs. RESULTS We identified 275 genes, most of which are altered in patients with HCC. Unexpectedly, these genes are not restricted to a small set of pathway/cellular processes, but cover a large spectrum of cellular functions, including signalling, metabolism, chromatin remodelling, mRNA degradation, proteasome, ubiquitination, cell cycle regulation, and chromatid segregation. We validated 15 tumour suppressor candidates, as shRNA-mediated targeting confers tumorigenicity to RTK-sensitized cells, but not to cells with basal RTK levels. This demonstrates that the context of enhanced RTK levels is essential for their action in tumour initiation. CONCLUSION Our study identifies unanticipated genetic interactions underlying gene cooperativity with RTKs in HCC. Moreover, these results show how subtly increased levels of wild-type RTKs provide a tumour permissive cellular environment allowing a large spectrum of deregulated mechanisms to initiate liver cancer. LAY SUMMARY Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are among signals frequently deregulated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and their deregulation confers essential biological properties to cancer cells. We have applied a genetic method to randomly mutate large numbers of genes in the context of a mouse model with increased RTK levels, predisposed to develop liver cancer. We identified mechanisms that accelerate tumour formation in cooperation with enhanced RTK levels. The wide array of cellular functions among these cooperators illustrates an extraordinary capability of RTKs to render the liver more vulnerable to additional alterations, by priming cells for tumour initiation.
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Arechederra M, Daian F, Yim A, Bazai SK, Richelme S, Dono R, Saurin AJ, Habermann BH, Maina F. Hypermethylation of gene body CpG islands predicts high dosage of functional oncogenes in liver cancer. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3164. [PMID: 30089774 PMCID: PMC6082886 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05550-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications such as aberrant DNA methylation reshape the gene expression repertoire in cancer. Here, we used a clinically relevant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mouse model (Alb-R26Met) to explore the impact of DNA methylation on transcriptional switches associated with tumorigenesis. We identified a striking enrichment in genes simultaneously hypermethylated in CpG islands (CGIs) and overexpressed. These hypermethylated CGIs are located either in the 5′-UTR or in the gene body region. Remarkably, such CGI hypermethylation accompanied by gene upregulation also occurs in 56% of HCC patients, which belong to the “HCC proliferative-progenitor” subclass. Most of the genes upregulated and with hypermethylated CGIs in the Alb-R26Met HCC model undergo the same change in a large proportion of HCC patients. Among reprogrammed genes, several are well-known oncogenes. For others not previously linked to cancer, we demonstrate here their action together as an “oncogene module”. Thus, hypermethylation of gene body CGIs is predictive of elevated oncogene levels in cancer, offering a novel stratification strategy and perspectives to normalise cancer gene dosages. Changes in the DNA methylation status are commonly observed in cancer but their impact on cancer development is unclear. Here, combining DNA methylation and expression profiles from a murine model of hepatocellular carcinoma with those from human samples, the authors report an epigenetic reprogramming process ensuring increased dosage of an “oncogene module”.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Arechederra
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Fabrice Daian
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Annie Yim
- Computational Biology Group, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Sehrish K Bazai
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Sylvie Richelme
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Rosanna Dono
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Andrew J Saurin
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Bianca H Habermann
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Flavio Maina
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Aix Marseille Univ, 13009, Marseille, France.
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Lamballe F, Toscano S, Conti F, Arechederra M, Baeza N, Figarella-Branger D, Helmbacher F, Maina F. Coordination of signalling networks and tumorigenic properties by ABL in glioblastoma cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:74747-74767. [PMID: 27732969 PMCID: PMC5342699 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase ABL exerts positive or negative effects in solid tumours according to the cellular context, thus functioning as a “switch modulator”. The therapeutic effects of drugs targeting a set of signals encompassing ABL have been explored in several solid tumours. However, the net contribution of ABL inhibition by these agents remains elusive as these drugs also act on other signalling components. Here, using glioblastoma (GBM) as a cellular paradigm, we report that ABL inhibition exacerbates mesenchymal features as highlighted by down-regulation of epithelial markers and up-regulation of mesenchymal markers. Cells with permanent ABL inhibition exhibit enhanced motility and invasive capabilities, while proliferation and tumorigenic properties are reduced. Intriguingly, permanent ABL inhibition also interferes with GBM neurosphere formation and with expression of stemness markers in sphere-cultured GBM cells. Furthermore, we show that the molecular and biological characteristics of GBM cells with impaired ABL are reversible by restoring ABL levels, thus uncovering a remarkable plasticity of GBM cells to ABL threshold. A phospho-signalling screen revealed that loss of tumorigenic and self-renewal properties in GBM cells under permanent ABL inhibition coincide with drastic changes in the expression and/or phosphorylation levels of multiple signalling components. Our findings identify ABL as a crucial player for migration, invasion, proliferation, tumorigenic, and stem-cell like properties of GBM cells. Taken together, this work supports the notion that the oncogenic role of ABL in GBM cells is associated with its capability to coordinate a signalling setting that determines tumorigenic and stem-cell like properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Lamballe
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Sara Toscano
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Filippo Conti
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Maria Arechederra
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Nathalie Baeza
- Aix-Marseille Université, Inserm, CRO2 UMR S911, Marseille, France
| | | | - Françoise Helmbacher
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Flavio Maina
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille (IBDM), Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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Del Barco Barrantes I, Stephan-Otto Attolini C, Slobodnyuk K, Igea A, Gregorio S, Gawrzak S, Gomis RR, Nebreda AR. Regulation of Mammary Luminal Cell Fate and Tumorigenesis by p38α. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 10:257-271. [PMID: 29290625 PMCID: PMC5768988 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammary stem and progenitor cells are essential for mammary gland homeostasis and are also candidates for cells of origin of mammary tumors. Here, we have investigated the function of the protein kinase p38α in the mammary gland using mice that delete this protein in the luminal epithelial cells. We show that p38α regulates the fate of luminal progenitor cells through modulation of the transcription factor RUNX1, an important controller of the estrogen receptor-positive cell lineage. We also provide evidence that the regulation of RUNX1 by p38α probably involves the kinase MSK1, which phosphorylates histone H3 at the RUNX1 promoter. Moreover, using a mouse model for breast cancer initiated by luminal cells, we show that p38α downregulation in mammary epithelial cells reduces tumor burden, which correlates with decreased numbers of tumor-initiating cells. Collectively, our results define a key role for p38α in luminal progenitor cell fate that affects mammary tumor formation. Luminal progenitor cell fate in the mammary gland is regulated by p38α p38α controls the ER transcriptional program by modulating RUNX1 p38α regulates H3 phosphorylation at the RUNX1 promoter through the kinase MSK1 p38α promotes mammary tumorigenesis by maintaining luminal tumor-initiating cells
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Del Barco Barrantes
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Camille Stephan-Otto Attolini
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Konstantin Slobodnyuk
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Igea
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Gregorio
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sylwia Gawrzak
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roger R Gomis
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Passeig de Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain; CIBERONC, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angel R Nebreda
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Passeig de Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
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Golden BO, Griess B, Mir S, Fitzgerald M, Kuperwasser C, Domann F, Teoh-Fitzgerald M. Extracellular superoxide dismutase inhibits hepatocyte growth factor-mediated breast cancer-fibroblast interactions. Oncotarget 2017; 8:107390-107408. [PMID: 29296173 PMCID: PMC5746075 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown tumor suppressive effects of extracellular superoxide dismutase, EcSOD in breast cancer cells. In this study, an RTK signaling array revealed an inhibitory effect of EcSOD on c-Met phosphorylation and its downstream kinase c-Abl in MDA-MB231 cells. Moreover, an extracellular protein array showed that thrombospondin 1 (TSP-1), a scavenger of the c-Met ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is significantly up-regulated in EcSOD overexpressing cells (Ec.20). We further determined the effects of EcSOD on HGF/c-Met-mediated cancer-fibroblast interactions by co-culturing normal fibroblasts (RMF) or RMF which overexpresses HGF (RMF-HGF) with MDA-MB231 cells. We observed that while RMF-HGF significantly promoted Matrigel growth of MDA-MB231, overexpression of EcSOD inhibited the HGF-stimulated growth. Similarly, a SOD mimetic, MnTE-2-PyP, inhibited HGF-induced growth and invasion of MDA-MB231. In addition, a long-term heterotypic co-culture study not only showed that Ec.20 cells are resistant to RMF-HGF-induced invasive stimulation but RMF-HGF that were co-cultured with Ec.20 cells showed an attenuated phenotype, suggesting an oxidative-mediated reciprocal interaction between the two cell types. In addition, we demonstrated that RMF-HGF showed an up-regulation of an ROS-generating enzyme, NADPH oxidase 4 (Nox4). Targeting this pro-oxidant significantly suppressed the activated phenotype of RMF-HGF in a collagen contraction assay, suggesting that RMF-HGF contributes to the oxidative tumor microenvironment. We have further shown that scavenging ROS with EcSOD significantly inhibited RMF-HGF-stimulated orthotopic tumor growth of MDA-MB231. This study suggests the loss of EcSOD in breast cancer plays a pivotal role in promoting the HGF/c-Met-mediated cancer-fibroblast interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana Ormsbee Golden
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Brandon Griess
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Shakeel Mir
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Matthew Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery-General Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Charlotte Kuperwasser
- Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Frederick Domann
- Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52241, USA
| | - Melissa Teoh-Fitzgerald
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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8
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Fan Y, Arechederra M, Richelme S, Daian F, Novello C, Calderaro J, Di Tommaso L, Morcrette G, Rebouissou S, Donadon M, Morenghi E, Zucman-Rossi J, Roncalli M, Dono R, Maina F. A phosphokinome-based screen uncovers new drug synergies for cancer driven by liver-specific gain of nononcogenic receptor tyrosine kinases. Hepatology 2017; 66:1644-1661. [PMID: 28586114 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Genetic mutations leading to oncogenic variants of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are frequent events during tumorigenesis; however, the cellular vulnerability to nononcogenic RTK fluctuations has not been characterized. Here, we demonstrated genetically that in the liver subtle increases in wild-type Met RTK levels are sufficient for spontaneous tumors in mice (Alb-R26Met ), conceptually illustrating how the shift from physiological to pathological conditions results from slight perturbations in signaling dosage. By analyzing 96 different genes in a panel of tumor samples, we demonstrated that liver tumorigenesis modeled by Alb-R26Met mice corresponds to a subset of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, thus establishing the clinical relevance of this HCC mouse model. We elucidated the regulatory networks underlying tumorigenesis by combining a phosphokinome screen with bioinformatics analysis. We then used the signaling diversity results obtained from Alb-R26Met HCC versus control livers to design an "educated guess" drug screen, which led to the identification of new, deleterious synthetic lethal interactions. In particular, we report synergistic effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, ribosomal S6 kinase, and cyclin-dependent kinase 1/2 in combination with Bcl-XL inhibition on a panel of liver cancer cells. Focusing on mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase and Bcl-XL targeting, we mechanistically demonstrated concomitant down-regulation of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase and myeloid cell leukemia 1 levels. Of note, a phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase+/BCL-XL+ /myeloid cell leukemia 1+ signature, deregulated in Alb-R26Met tumors, characterizes a subgroup of HCC patients with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION Our genetic studies highlight the heightened vulnerability of liver cells to subtle changes in nononcogenic RTK levels, allowing them to acquire a molecular profile that facilitates the full tumorigenic program; furthermore, our outcomes uncover new synthetic lethal interactions as potential therapies for a cluster of HCC patients. (Hepatology 2017;66:1644-1661).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannan Fan
- Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Maria Arechederra
- Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Sylvie Richelme
- Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Fabrice Daian
- Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Chiara Novello
- Pathology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Julien Calderaro
- Département de Pathologie, APHP, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor.,INSERM U955, Team 18, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France
| | - Luca Di Tommaso
- Pathology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Guillaume Morcrette
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMR674, Génomique Fonctionnelle des Tumeurs Solides, Institut Universitaire d'Hematologie, Paris, France
| | - Sandra Rebouissou
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMR674, Génomique Fonctionnelle des Tumeurs Solides, Institut Universitaire d'Hematologie, Paris, France
| | - Matteo Donadon
- Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Morenghi
- Biostatistics Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), UMR674, Génomique Fonctionnelle des Tumeurs Solides, Institut Universitaire d'Hematologie, Paris, France
| | - Massimo Roncalli
- Pathology Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosanna Dono
- Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Flavio Maina
- Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Institute of Developmental Biology of Marseille, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Marseille, France
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Saba-El-Leil MK, Frémin C, Meloche S. Redundancy in the World of MAP Kinases: All for One. Front Cell Dev Biol 2016; 4:67. [PMID: 27446918 PMCID: PMC4921452 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2016.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein kinases ERK1 and ERK2 are the effector components of the prototypical ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. This signaling pathway regulates cell proliferation, differentiation and survival, and is essential for embryonic development and cellular homeostasis. ERK1 and ERK2 homologs share similar biochemical properties but whether they exert specific physiological functions or act redundantly has been a matter of controversy. However, recent studies now provide compelling evidence in support of functionally redundant roles of ERK1 and ERK2 in embryonic development and physiology. In this review, we present a critical assessment of the evidence for the functional specificity or redundancy of MAP kinase isoforms. We focus on the ERK1/ERK2 pathway but also discuss the case of JNK and p38 isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc K Saba-El-Leil
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Christophe Frémin
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de MontréalMontréal, QC, Canada; Institute for Research in Cancer of MontpellierMontpellier, France
| | - Sylvain Meloche
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de MontréalMontréal, QC, Canada; Molecular Biology Program, Université de MontréalMontréal, QC, Canada; Department of Pharmacology, Université de MontréalMontréal, QC, Canada
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10
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SOCS1 in cancer: An oncogene and a tumor suppressor. Cytokine 2016; 82:87-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2016.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Fan Y, Richelme S, Avazeri E, Audebert S, Helmbacher F, Dono R, Maina F. Tissue-Specific Gain of RTK Signalling Uncovers Selective Cell Vulnerability during Embryogenesis. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005533. [PMID: 26393505 PMCID: PMC4579069 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The successive events that cells experience throughout development shape their intrinsic capacity to respond and integrate RTK inputs. Cellular responses to RTKs rely on different mechanisms of regulation that establish proper levels of RTK activation, define duration of RTK action, and exert quantitative/qualitative signalling outcomes. The extent to which cells are competent to deal with fluctuations in RTK signalling is incompletely understood. Here, we employ a genetic system to enhance RTK signalling in a tissue-specific manner. The chosen RTK is the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor Met, an appropriate model due to its pleiotropic requirement in distinct developmental events. Ubiquitously enhanced Met in Cre/loxP-based Rosa26stopMet knock-in context (Del-R26Met) reveals that most tissues are capable of buffering enhanced Met-RTK signalling thus avoiding perturbation of developmental programs. Nevertheless, this ubiquitous increase of Met does compromise selected programs such as myoblast migration. Using cell-type specific Cre drivers, we genetically showed that altered myoblast migration results from ectopic Met expression in limb mesenchyme rather than in migrating myoblasts themselves. qRT-PCR analyses show that ectopic Met in limbs causes molecular changes such as downregulation in the expression levels of Notum and Syndecan4, two known regulators of morphogen gradients. Molecular and functional studies revealed that ectopic Met expression in limb mesenchyme does not alter HGF expression patterns and levels, but impairs HGF bioavailability. Together, our findings show that myoblasts, in which Met is endogenously expressed, are capable of buffering increased RTK levels, and identify mesenchymal cells as a cell type vulnerable to ectopic Met-RTK signalling. These results illustrate that embryonic cells are sensitive to alterations in the spatial distribution of RTK action, yet resilient to fluctuations in signalling levels of an RTK when occurring in its endogenous domain of activity. The need to achieve precise control of RTK activation is highlighted by human pathologies such as congenital malformations and cancers caused by aberrant RTK signalling. Identifying strategies to restrain RTK activity in cancer and/or to reactivate RTKs for counteracting degenerative processes is the focus of intense research efforts. We designed a genetic system to enhance RTK signalling during mouse embryogenesis in order to examine the competence of cells to deal with changes in RTK inputs. Our data reveal that most embryonic cells are capable of: 1) handling moderate perturbations in Met-RTK expression levels, 2) imposing a threshold of intracellular signalling activation despite elevated Met-RTK inputs, and/or 3) integrating variable quantitative levels of Met-RTK signalling within biological responses. Our results also establish that certain cell types, such as limb mesenchyme, are particularly vulnerable to alterations of the spatial distribution of RTK expression. The vulnerability of limb mesenchyme to enhanced Met levels is illustrated by gene expression changes, by interference with HGF chemoattractant effects, and by loss of accessibility to incoming myoblasts, leading to limb muscle defects. These findings highlight how resilience versus vulnerability to RTK fluctuation is strictly linked to cell competence and to the robustness of the developmental programs they undergo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannan Fan
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM UMR 7288, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Sylvie Richelme
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM UMR 7288, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Emilie Avazeri
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM UMR 7288, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Stéphane Audebert
- Aix-Marseille Université UM 105, CNRS UMR7258, Inserm U1068, CRCM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Françoise Helmbacher
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM UMR 7288, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Rosanna Dono
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM UMR 7288, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 907, Marseille, France
| | - Flavio Maina
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, IBDM UMR 7288, Parc Scientifique de Luminy, Case 907, Marseille, France
- * E-mail:
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12
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Kherrouche Z, Monte D, Werkmeister E, Stoven L, De Launoit Y, Cortot AB, Tulasne D, Chotteau-Lelievre A. PEA3 transcription factors are downstream effectors of Met signaling involved in migration and invasiveness of Met-addicted tumor cells. Mol Oncol 2015; 9:1852-67. [PMID: 26238631 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Various solid tumors including lung or gastric carcinomas display aberrant activation of the Met receptor which correlates with aggressive phenotypes and poor prognosis. Although downstream signaling of Met is well described, its integration at the transcriptional level is poorly understood. We demonstrate here that in cancer cells harboring met gene amplification, inhibition of Met activity with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or specific siRNA drastically decreased expression of ETV1, ETV4 and ETV5, three transcription factors constituting the PEA3 subgroup of the ETS family, while expression of the other members of the family were less or not affected. Similar link between Met activity and PEA3 factors expression was found in lung cancer cells displaying resistance to EGFR targeted therapy involving met gene amplification. Using silencing experiments, we demonstrate that the PEA3 factors are required for efficient migration and invasion mediated by Met, while other biological responses such as proliferation or unanchored growth remain unaffected. PEA3 overexpression or silencing revealed that they participated in the regulation of the MMP2 target gene involved in extracellular matrix remodeling. Our results demonstrated that PEA3-subgroup transcription factors are key players of the Met signaling integration involved in regulation of migration and invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoulika Kherrouche
- CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille, SIRIC ONCOLille, Lille 59021, France
| | - Didier Monte
- CNRS USR 3078, Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire, Université de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq 59658, France
| | - Elisabeth Werkmeister
- CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille, SIRIC ONCOLille, Lille 59021, France; BioImaging Center Lille Nord de France, Lille 59021, France
| | - Luc Stoven
- CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille, SIRIC ONCOLille, Lille 59021, France
| | - Yvan De Launoit
- CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille, SIRIC ONCOLille, Lille 59021, France
| | - Alexis B Cortot
- CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille, SIRIC ONCOLille, Lille 59021, France; Thoracic Oncology Department, Lille University Hospital, Université de Lille, France
| | - David Tulasne
- CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille, SIRIC ONCOLille, Lille 59021, France.
| | - Anne Chotteau-Lelievre
- CNRS UMR 8161, Institut de Biologie de Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Université de Lille, SIRIC ONCOLille, Lille 59021, France
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Tsai MY, Lu YF, Liu YH, Lien HW, Huang CJ, Wu JL, Hwang SPL. Modulation of p53 and met expression by Krüppel-like factor 8 regulates zebrafish cerebellar development. Dev Neurobiol 2014; 75:908-26. [PMID: 25528982 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Krüppel-like factor 8 (Klf8) is a zinc-finger transcription factor implicated in cell proliferation, and cancer cell survival and invasion; however, little is known about its role in normal embryonic development. Here, we show that Klf8 is required for normal cerebellar development in zebrafish embryos. Morpholino knockdown of klf8 resulted in abnormal cerebellar primordium morphology and the induction of p53 in the brain region at 24 hours post-fertilization (hpf). Both p53-dependent reduction of cell proliferation and augmentation of apoptosis were observed in the cerebellar anlage of 24 hpf-klf8 morphants. In klf8 morphants, expression of ptf1a in the ventricular zone was decreased from 48 to 72 hpf; on the other hand, expression of atohla in the upper rhombic lip was unaffected. Consistent with this finding, Purkinje cell development was perturbed and granule cell number was reduced in 72 hpf-klf8 morphants; co-injection of p53 MO(sp) or klf8 mRNA substantially rescued development of cerebellar Purkinje cells in klf8 morphants. Hepatocyte growth factor/Met signaling is known to regulate cerebellar development in zebrafish and mouse. We observed decreased met expression in the tectum and rhombomere 1 of 24 hpf-klf8 morphants, which was largely rescued by co-injection with klf8 mRNA. Moreover, co-injection of met mRNA substantially rescued formation of Purkinje cells in klf8 morphants at 72 hpf. Together, these results demonstrate that Klf8 modulates expression of p53 and met to maintain ptf1a-expressing neuronal progenitors, which are required for the appropriate development of cerebellar Purkinje and granule cells in zebrafish embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yuan Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan, 114, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Fen Lu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, 115, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Hsiu Liu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, 115, Republic of China.,Institute of Zoology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, 10617, Republic of China
| | - Huang-Wei Lien
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, 115, Republic of China
| | - Chang-Jen Huang
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan, 114, Republic of China.,Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, 115, Republic of China
| | - Jen-Leih Wu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, 115, Republic of China
| | - Sheng-Ping L Hwang
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Neihu, Taipei, Taiwan, 114, Republic of China.,Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan, 115, Republic of China
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Plasticity versus specificity in RTK signalling modalities for distinct biological outcomes in motor neurons. BMC Biol 2014; 12:56. [PMID: 25124859 PMCID: PMC4169644 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-014-0056-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple growth factors are known to control several aspects of neuronal biology, consecutively acting as morphogens to diversify neuronal fates, as guidance cues for axonal growth, and as modulators of survival or death to regulate neuronal numbers. The multiplicity of neuronal types is permitted by the combinatorial usage of growth factor receptors, each of which is expressed in distinct and overlapping subsets of neurons, and by the multitasking role of growth factor receptors, which recruit multiple signalling cascades differentially required for distinct biological outcomes. We have explored signalling robustness in cells where a given receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) elicits qualitatively distinct outcomes. As the HGF/Met system regulates several biological responses in motor neurons (MN) during neuromuscular development, we have investigated the signalling modalities through which the HGF/Met system impacts on MN biology, and the degree of robustness of each of these functions, when challenged with substitutions of signalling pathways. RESULTS Using a set of mouse lines carrying signalling mutations that change the Met phosphotyrosine binding preferences, we have asked whether distinct functions of Met in several MN subtypes require specific signalling pathways, and to which extent signalling plasticity allows a pleiotropic system to exert distinct developmental outcomes. The differential ability of signalling mutants to promote muscle migration versus axonal growth allowed us to uncouple an indirect effect of HGF/Met signalling on nerve growth through the regulation of muscle size from a direct regulation of motor growth via the PI3 kinase (PI3K), but not Src kinase, pathway. Furthermore, we found that HGF/Met-triggered expansion of Pea3 expression domain in the spinal cord can be accomplished through several alternative signalling cascades, differentially sensitive to the Pea3 dosage. Finally, we show that the regulation of MN survival by HGF/Met can equally be achieved in vitro and in vivo by alternative signalling cascades involving either PI3K-Akt or Src and Mek pathways. CONCLUSIONS Our findings distinguish MN survival and fate specification, as RTK-triggered responses allowing substitutions of the downstream signalling routes, from nerve growth patterning, which depends on a selective, non-substitutable pathway.
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Arechederra M, Carmona R, González-Nuñez M, Gutiérrez-Uzquiza A, Bragado P, Cruz-González I, Cano E, Guerrero C, Sánchez A, López-Novoa JM, Schneider MD, Maina F, Muñoz-Chápuli R, Porras A. Met signaling in cardiomyocytes is required for normal cardiac function in adult mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:2204-15. [PMID: 23994610 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2013] [Revised: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, Met, are key determinants of distinct developmental processes. Although HGF exerts cardio-protective effects in a number of cardiac pathologies, it remains unknown whether HGF/Met signaling is essential for myocardial development and/or physiological function in adulthood. We therefore investigated the requirement of HGF/Met signaling in cardiomyocyte for embryonic and postnatal heart development and function by conditional inactivation of the Met receptor in cardiomyocytes using the Cre-α-MHC mouse line (referred to as α-MHCMet-KO). Although α-MHCMet-KO mice showed normal heart development and were viable and fertile, by 6 months of age, males developed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, associated with interstitial fibrosis. A significant upregulation in markers of myocardial damage, such as β-MHC and ANF, was also observed. By the age of 9 months, α-MHCMet-KO males displayed systolic cardiac dysfunction. Mechanistically, we provide evidence of a severe imbalance in the antioxidant defenses in α-MHCMet-KO hearts involving a reduced expression and activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase, with consequent reactive oxygen species accumulation. Similar anomalies were observed in females, although with a slower kinetics. We also found that Met signaling down-regulation leads to an increase in TGF-β production and a decrease in p38MAPK activation, which may contribute to phenotypic alterations displayed in α-MHCMet-KO mice. Consistently, we show that HGF acts through p38α to upregulate antioxidant enzymes in cardiomyocytes. Our results highlight that HGF/Met signaling in cardiomyocytes plays a physiological cardio-protective role in adult mice by acting as an endogenous regulator of heart function through oxidative stress control.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Arechederra
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Combined drug action of 2-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives on cancer cells according to their oncogenic molecular signatures. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46738. [PMID: 23071625 PMCID: PMC3465283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of targeted molecular therapies has provided remarkable advances into the treatment of human cancers. However, in most tumors the selective pressure triggered by anticancer agents encourages cancer cells to acquire resistance mechanisms. The generation of new rationally designed targeting agents acting on the oncogenic path(s) at multiple levels is a promising approach for molecular therapies. 2-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives have been highlighted for their properties of targeting oncogenic Met receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling. In this study, we evaluated the mechanism of action of one of the most active imidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazol-2-ylphenyl moiety-based agents, Triflorcas, on a panel of cancer cells with distinct features. We show that Triflorcas impairs in vitro and in vivo tumorigenesis of cancer cells carrying Met mutations. Moreover, Triflorcas hampers survival and anchorage-independent growth of cancer cells characterized by "RTK swapping" by interfering with PDGFRβ phosphorylation. A restrained effect of Triflorcas on metabolic genes correlates with the absence of major side effects in vivo. Mechanistically, in addition to targeting Met, Triflorcas alters phosphorylation levels of the PI3K-Akt pathway, mediating oncogenic dependency to Met, in addition to Retinoblastoma and nucleophosmin/B23, resulting in altered cell cycle progression and mitotic failure. Our findings show how the unusual binding plasticity of the Met active site towards structurally different inhibitors can be exploited to generate drugs able to target Met oncogenic dependency at distinct levels. Moreover, the disease-oriented NCI Anticancer Drug Screen revealed that Triflorcas elicits a unique profile of growth inhibitory-responses on cancer cell lines, indicating a novel mechanism of drug action. The anti-tumor activity elicited by 2-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]benzothiazole derivatives through combined inhibition of distinct effectors in cancer cells reveal them to be promising anticancer agents for further investigation.
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