Functional antagonism of β-arrestin isoforms balance IGF-1R expression and signalling with distinct cancer-related biological outcomes

The receptor tyrosine kinase IGF1R and its associated GPCRs are co-regulated by the noncoding RNA NEAT1 in Alzheimer's disease

The study is based on the complexity of Insulin like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) signaling and its regulation by noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs). IGF1R signaling is an important cascade in Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, its regulation and roles are poorly understood. Due to the presence of β-arrestin and GPCR Receptor Kinase binding sites, this protein has been termed a 'functional hybrid', as it can take part in both kinase and GPCR signaling pathways, further adding to its complexity. The objective of this study is to understand the underlying ncRNA regulation controlling IGF1R and GPCRs in AD to find commonalities in the network. We found through data mining that 45 GPCRs were reportedly deregulated in AD and built clusters based on GO/KEGG pathways to show shared functionality with IGF1R. Eight miRs were further discovered that could coregulate IGF1R and GPCRs. We validated their expression in an AD cell model and probed for common lncRNAs downstream that could regulate these miRs. Seven such candidates were identified and further validated. A combined network comprising IGF1R with nine GPCRs, eight miRs, and seven lncRNAs was created to visualize the interconnectivity within pathways. Betweenness centrality analysis showed a cluster of NEAT1, hsa-miR-15a-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, and IGF1R to be crucial form a competitive endogenous RNA-based (ceRNA) tetrad that could relay information within the network, which was further validated by cell-based studies. NEAT1 emerged as a master regulator that could alter the levels of IGF1R and associated GPCRs. This combined bioinformatics and experimental study for the first time explored the regulation of IGF1R through ncRNAs from the perspective of neurodegeneration.

EGFR signaling and pharmacology in oncology revealed with innovative BRET-based biosensors

Mutations of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are associated with the development of many cancers by modifying receptor signaling and contributing to drug resistance in clinical settings. We present enhanced bystander bioluminescence resonance energy transfer-based biosensors providing new insights into RTK biology and pharmacology critical for the development of more effective RTK-targeting drugs. Distinct SH2-specific effector biosensors allow for real-time and spatiotemporal monitoring of signal transduction pathways engaged upon RTK activation. Using EGFR as a model, we demonstrate the capacity of these biosensors to differentiate unique signaling signatures, with EGF and Epiregulin ligands displaying differences in efficacy, potency, and responses within different cellular compartments. We further demonstrate that EGFR single point mutations found in Glioblastoma or non-small cell lung cancer, impact the constitutive activity of EGFR and response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The BRET-based biosensors are compatible with microscopy, and more importantly characterize the next generation of therapeutics directed against RTKs.

Competing Engagement of β-arrestin Isoforms Balances IGF1R/p53 Signaling and Controls Melanoma Cell Chemotherapeutic Responsiveness

Constraints on the p53 tumor suppressor pathway have long been associated with the progression, therapeutic resistance, and poor prognosis of melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Likewise, the insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF1R) is recognized as an essential coordinator of transformation, proliferation, survival, and migration of melanoma cells. Given that β-arrestin (β-arr) system critically governs the anti/pro-tumorigenic p53/IGF1R signaling pathways through their common E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase MDM2, we explore whether unbalancing this system downstream of IGF1R can enhance the response of melanoma cells to chemotherapy. Altering β-arr expression demonstrated that both β-arr1-silencing and β-arr2-overexpression (-β-arr1/+β-arr2) facilitated nuclear-to-cytosolic MDM2 translocation accompanied by decreased IGF1R expression, while increasing p53 levels, resulting in reduced cell proliferation/survival. Imbalance towards β-arr2 (-β-arr1/+β-arr2) synergizes with the chemotherapeutic agent, dacarbazine, in promoting melanoma cell toxicity. In both 3D spheroid models and in vivo in zebrafish models, this combination strategy, through dual IGF1R downregulation/p53 activation, limits melanoma cell growth, survival and metastatic spread. In clinical settings, analysis of the TCGA-SKCM patient cohort confirms β-arr1-/β-arr2+ imbalance as a metastatic melanoma vulnerability that may enhance therapeutic benefit. Our findings suggest that under steady-state conditions, IGF1R/p53-tumor promotion/suppression status-quo is preserved by β-arr1/2 homeostasis. Biasing this balance towards β-arr2 can limit the protumorigenic IGF1R activities while enhancing p53 activity, thus reducing multiple cancer-sustaining mechanisms. Combined with other therapeutics, this strategy improves patient responses and outcomes to therapies relying on p53 or IGF1R pathways.

IMPLICATIONS

Altogether, β-arrestin system bias downstream IGF1R is an important metastatic melanoma vulnerability that may be conductive for therapeutic benefit.

It Takes Two to Tango: IGF-I and TSH Receptors in Thyroid Eye Disease

CONTEXT

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a complex autoimmune disease process. Orbital fibroblasts represent the central orbital immune target. Involvement of the TSH receptor (TSHR) in TED is not fully understood. IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) is overexpressed in several cell types in TED, including fibrocytes and orbital fibroblasts. IGF-IR may form a physical and functional complex with TSHR.

OBJECTIVE

Review literature relevant to autoantibody generation in TED and whether these induce orbital fibroblast responses directly through TSHR, IGF-IR, or both.

EVIDENCE

IGF-IR has traditionally been considered a typical tyrosine kinase receptor in which tyrosine residues become phosphorylated following IGF-I binding. Evidence has emerged that IGF-IR possesses kinase-independent activities and can be considered a functional receptor tyrosine kinase/G-protein-coupled receptor hybrid, using the G-protein receptor kinase/β-arrestin system. Teprotumumab, a monoclonal IGF-IR antibody, effectively reduces TED disease activity, proptosis, and diplopia. In addition, the drug attenuates in vitro actions of both IGF-I and TSH in fibrocytes and orbital fibroblasts, including induction of proinflammatory cytokines by TSH and TED IgGs.

CONCLUSIONS

Although teprotumumab has been proven effective and relatively safe in the treatment of TED, many questions remain pertaining to IGF-IR, its relationship with TSHR, and how the drug might be disrupting these receptor protein/protein interactions. Here, we propose 4 possible IGF-IR activation models that could underlie clinical responses to teprotumumab observed in patients with TED. Teprotumumab is associated with several adverse events, including hyperglycemia and hearing abnormalities. Underpinning mechanisms of these are being investigated. Patients undergoing treatment with drug must be monitored for these and managed with best medical practices.

IGF-1R is a molecular determinant for response to p53 reactivation therapy in conjunctival melanoma

As the p53 tumor suppressor is rarely mutated in conjunctival melanoma (CM), we investigated its activation as a potential therapeutic strategy. Preventing p53/Mdm2 interaction by Nutlin-3, the prototypical Mdm2 antagonist, or via direct siRNA Mdm2 depletion, increased p53 and inhibited viability in CM cell lines. The sensitivity to Nutlin-3 p53 reactivation with concomitant Mdm2 stabilization was higher than that achieved by siRNA, indicative of effects on alternative Mdm2 targets, identified as the cancer-protective IGF-1R. Nutlin-3 treatment increased the association between IGF-1R and β-arrestin1, the adaptor protein that brings Mdm2 to the IGF-1R, initiating receptor degradation in a ligand-dependent manner. Controlled expression of β-arrestin1 augmented inhibitory Nutlin-3 effects on CM survival through enhanced IGF-1R degradation. Yet, the effect of IGF-1R downregulation on cell proliferation is balanced by β-arrestin1-induced p53 inhibition. As mitomycin (MMC) is a well-established adjuvant treatment for CM, and it triggers p53 activation through genotoxic stress, we evaluated how these alternative p53-targeting strategies alter the cancer-relevant bioactivities of CM. In 2D and 3D in vitro models, Nutlin-3 or MMC alone, or in combination, reduces the overall cell tumor growth ~30%, with double treatment inhibition rate only marginally higher than single-drug regimens. However, histopathological evaluation of the 3D models revealed that Nutlin-3 was the most effective, causing necrotic areas inside spheroids and complete loss of nuclear staining for the proliferative marker Ki67. These findings were further validated in vivo; zebrafish xenografts demonstrate that Nutlin-3 alone has higher efficacy in restraining CM tumor cell growth and preventing metastasis. Combined, these results reveal that β-arrestin1 directs Mdm2 toward different substrates, thus balancing IGF-1R pro-tumorigenic and p53-tumor suppressive signals. This study defines a potent dual-hit strategy: simultaneous control of a tumor-promoter (IGF-1R) and tumor-suppressor (p53), which ultimately mitigates recurrent and metastatic potential, thus opening up targeted therapy to CM.

The Release of Nitric Oxide Is Involved in the β-Arrestin1-Induced Antihypertensive Effect in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla

β-Arrestin1 is a multifunctional scaffold protein with the ability to interact with diverse signaling molecules independent of G protein-coupled receptors. We previously reported that overexpression of β-arrestin1 in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) decreased blood pressure (BP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Nitric oxide (NO) is widely reported to be involved in central cardiovascular regulation. The goal of this study was to investigate whether NO signaling contributes to the β-arrestin1-mediated antihypertensive effect in the RVLM. It was found that bilateral injection of adeno-associated virus containing Arrb1 gene (AAV-Arrb1) into the RVLM of SHRs significantly increased NO production and NO synthase (NOS) activity. Microinjection of the non-selective NOS inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10 nmol) into the RVLM prevented the β-arrestin1-induced cardiovascular inhibitory effect. Furthermore, β-arrestin1 overexpression in the RVLM significantly upregulated the expression of phosphorylated neuronal NOS (nNOS) by 3.8-fold and extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) by 5.6-fold in SHRs. The β-arrestin1-induced decrease in BP and RSNA was significantly abolished by treatment with ERK1/2 small interfering RNA (ERK1/2 siRNA). Moreover, ERK1/2 siRNA attenuated the β-arrestin1-induced NO production, NOS activity, and nNOS phosphorylation in the RVLM. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the antihypertensive effect of β-arrestin1 in the RVLM is mediated by nNOS-derived NO release, which is associated with ERK1/2 activation.

Overexpression of β-Arrestins inhibits proliferation and motility in triple negative breast cancer cells

β-Arrestins (βArrs) are intracellular signal regulating proteins. Their expression level varies in some cancers and they have a significant impact on cancer cell function. In general, the significance of βArrs in cancer research comes from studies examining GPCR signalling. Given the diversity of different GPCR signals in cancer cell regulation, contradictory results are inevitable regarding the role of βArrs. Our approach examines the direct influence of βArrs on cellular function and gene expression profiles by changing their expression levels in breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468. Reducing expression of βArr1 or βArr2 tended to increase cell proliferation and invasion whereas increasing their expression levels inhibited them. The overexpression of βArrs caused cell cycle S-phase arrest and differential expression of cell cycle genes, CDC45, BUB1, CCNB1, CCNB2, CDKN2C and reduced HER3, IGF-1R, and Snail. Regarding to the clinical relevance of our results, low expression levels of βArr1 were inversely correlated with CDC45, BUB1, CCNB1, and CCNB2 genes compared to normal tissue samples while positively correlated with poorer prognosis in breast tumours. These results indicate that βArr1 and βArr2 are significantly involved in cell cycle and anticancer signalling pathways through their influence on cell cycle genes and HER3, IGF-1R, and Snail in TNBC cells.

YAP and endothelin-1 signaling: an emerging alliance in cancer

The rational making the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) the centerpiece of targeted therapies is fueled by the awareness that GPCR-initiated signaling acts as pivotal driver of the early stages of progression in a broad landscape of human malignancies. The endothelin-1 (ET-1) receptors (ET-1R), known as ET_A receptor (ET_AR) and ET_B receptor (ET_BR) that belong to the GPCR superfamily, affect both cancer initiation and progression in a variety of cancer types. By the cross-talking with multiple signaling pathways mainly through the scaffold protein β-arrestin1 (β-arr1), ET-1R axis cooperates with an array of molecular determinants, including transcription factors and co-factors, strongly affecting tumor cell fate and behavior. In this scenario, recent findings shed light on the interplay between ET-1 and the Hippo pathway. In ET_AR highly expressing tumors ET-1 axis induces the de-phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of the Hippo pathway downstream effectors, the paralogous transcriptional cofactors Yes-associated protein (YAP) and Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Recent evidence have discovered that ET-1R/β-arr1 axis instigates a transcriptional interplay involving YAP and mutant p53 proteins, which share a common gene signature and cooperate in a oncogenic signaling network. Mechanistically, YAP and mutp53 are enrolled in nuclear complexes that turn on a highly selective YAP/mutp53-dependent transcriptional response. Notably, ET-1R blockade by the FDA approved dual ET-1 receptor antagonist macitentan interferes with ET-1R/YAP/mutp53 signaling interplay, through the simultaneous suppression of YAP and mutp53 functions, hampering metastasis and therapy resistance. Based on these evidences, we aim to review the recent findings linking the GPCR signaling, as for ET-1R, to YAP/TAZ signaling, underlining the clinical relevance of the blockade of such signaling network in the tumor and microenvironmental contexts. In particular, we debate the clinical implications regarding the use of dual ET-1R antagonists to blunt gain of function activity of mutant p53 proteins and thereby considering them as a potential therapeutic option for mutant p53 cancers. The identification of ET-1R/β-arr1-intertwined and bi-directional signaling pathways as targetable vulnerabilities, may open new therapeutic approaches able to disable the ET-1R-orchestrated YAP/mutp53 signaling network in both tumor and stromal cells and concurrently sensitizes to high-efficacy combined therapeutics.

Inhibition of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 Promotes Unbiased Downregulation of IGF1 Receptor and Restrains Malignant Cell Growth

The ability of a receptor to preferentially activate only a subset of available downstream signal cascades is termed biased signaling. Although comprehensively recognized for the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), this process is scarcely explored downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), including the cancer-relevant insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R). Successful IGF1R targeting requires receptor downregulation, yet therapy-mediated removal from the cell surface activates cancer-protective β-arrestin-biased signaling (β-arr-BS). As these overlapping processes are initiated by the β-arr/IGF1R interaction and controlled by GPCR-kinases (GRK), we explored GRKs as potential anticancer therapeutic targets to disconnect IGF1R downregulation and β-arr-BS. Transgenic modulation demonstrated that GRK2 inhibition or GRK6 overexpression enhanced degradation of IGF1R, but both scenarios sustained IGF1-induced β-arr-BS. Pharmacologic inhibition of GRK2 by the clinically approved antidepressant, serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetine (PX), recapitulated the effects of GRK2 silencing with dose- and time-dependent IGF1R downregulation without associated β-arr-BS. In vivo, PX treatment caused substantial downregulation of IGF1R, suppressing the growth of Ewing's sarcoma xenografts. Functional studies reveal that PX exploits the antagonism between β-arrestin isoforms; in low ligand conditions, PX favored β-arrestin1/Mdm2-mediated ubiquitination/degradation of IGF1R, a scenario usually exclusive to ligand abundancy, making PX more effective than antibody-mediated IGF1R downregulation. This study provides the rationale, molecular mechanism, and validation of a clinically feasible concept for "system bias" targeting of the IGF1R to uncouple downregulation from signaling. Demonstrating system bias as an effective anticancer approach, our study reveals a novel strategy for the rational design or repurposing of therapeutics to selectively cross-target the IGF1R or other RTK. SIGNIFICANCE: This work provides insight into the molecular and biological roles of biased signaling downstream RTK and provides a novel "system bias" strategy to increase the efficacy of anti-IGF1R-targeted therapy in cancer.

The cytoskeleton actin binding protein filamin A impairs both IGF2 mitogenic effects and the efficacy of IGF1R inhibitors in adrenocortical cancer cells

Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) overexpress insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2), that drives a proliferative autocrine loop by binding to IGF1R and IR, but IGF1R/IR-targeted therapies failed in ACC patients. The cytoskeleton actin-binding protein filamin A (FLNA) impairs IR signalling in melanoma cells. Aims of this study were to test FLNA involvement in regulating IGF1R and IR responsiveness to both IGF2 and inhibitors in ACC. In ACC cells H295R and SW13 and primary cultures (1ACC, 4 adenomas) we found that IGF1R and IR interacted with FLNA, and FLNA silencing increased IGF1R and reduced IR expression, with a downstream effect of increased cell proliferation and ERK phosphorylation. In addition, FLNA knockdown potentiated antiproliferative effects of IGF1R/IR inhibitor Linsitinib and IGF1R inhibitor NVP-ADW742 in H295R. Finally, Western blot showed lower FLNA expression in ACCs (n = 10) than in ACAs (n = 10) and an inverse correlation of FLNA/IGF1R ratio with ERK phosphorylation in ACCs only. In conclusion, we demonstrated that low FLNA levels enhance both IGF2 proliferative effects and IGF1R/IR inhibitors efficacy in ACC cells, suggesting FLNA as a new factor influencing tumor clinical behavior and the response to the therapy with IGF1R/IR-targeted drugs.

A functional antagonism between RhoJ and Cdc42 regulates fibronectin remodelling during angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. Angiogenesis requires endothelial cells to change shape and polarity, as well as acquire the ability to directionally migrate ‒ processes that are classically regulated by the Rho family of GTPases. RhoJ (previously TCL) is an endothelium enriched Rho GTPase with a 78% amino acid similarity to the ubiquitously expressed Cdc42. In our recent publication, we demonstrate that α5β1 integrin co-traffics with RhoJ. RhoJ specifically represses the internalization of the active α5β1 conformer, leading to a reduced ability of endothelial cells to form fibronectin fibrils. Surprisingly, this function of RhoJ is in opposition to the role of Cdc42, a known driver of fibrillogenesis. Intriguingly, we discovered that the competition for limiting amounts of the shared effector, PAK3, could explain the ability of these two Rho GTPases to regulate fibrillogenesis in opposing directions. Consequently, RhoJ null mice show excessive fibronectin deposition around retinal vessels, possibly due to the unopposed action of Cdc42. Our work suggests that the functional antagonism between RhoJ and Cdc42 could restrict fibronectin remodelling to sites of active angiogenesis to form a provisional matrix for vessel growth. One correlate of our findings is that RhoJ dependent repression of fibronectin remodelling could be atheroprotective in quiescent vessels.

Endothelin-1 axis fosters YAP-induced chemotherapy escape in ovarian cancer

The majority of ovarian cancer (OC) patients recur with a platinum-resistant disease. OC cells activate adaptive resistance mechanisms that are only partially described. Here we show that OC cells can adapt to chemotherapy through a positive-feedback loop that favors chemoresistance. In platinum-resistant OC cells we document that the endothelin-1 (ET-1)/endothelin A receptor axis intercepts the YAP pathway. This cross-talk occurs through the LATS/RhoA/actin-dependent pathway and contributes to prevent the chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Mechanistically, β-arrestin1 (β-arr1) and YAP form a complex shaping TEAD-dependent transcriptional activity on the promoters of YAP target genes, including EDN1, which fuels a feed-forward signaling circuit that sustains a platinum-tolerant state. The FDA approved dual ET-1 receptor antagonist macitentan in co-therapy with cisplatin sensitizes resistant cells to the platinum-based therapy, reducing their metastatic potential. Furthermore, high ET_AR/YAP gene expression signature is associated with a poor platinum-response in OC patients. Collectively, our findings identify in the networking between ET-1 and YAP pathways an escape strategy from chemotherapy. ET-1 receptor blockade interferes with such adaptive network and enhances platinum-induced apoptosis, representing a promising therapeutic opportunity to restore drug sensitivity in OC patients.

The tale of a tail: The secret behind IGF-1R's oncogenic power

The C-terminal tail of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) has long been appreciated to drive much of this receptor's oncogenic power. In this issue of Science Signaling, Rieger et al. have shown that Tyr¹²⁵⁰ and Tyr¹²⁵¹ of IGF-1R are autophosphorylated in a cell adhesion-dependent manner, uncovering a previously unknown plasma membrane-Golgi trafficking route for IGF-1R in migratory cells, an integral part of the malignant phenotype.

β-arrestin 2 Is a Prognostic Factor for Survival of Ovarian Cancer Patients Upregulating Cell Proliferation

Establishing reliable prognostic factors as well as specific targets for new therapeutic approaches is an urgent requirement in advanced ovarian cancer. For several tumor entities, the ubiquitously spread scaffold protein β-arrestin 2, a multifunctional scaffold protein regulating signal transduction and internalization of activated G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), has been considered with rising interest for carcinogenesis. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the prognostic impact of β-arrestin 2 and its functional role in ovarian cancer. β-arrestin 2 expression was analyzed in a subset of 156 samples of ovarian cancer patients by immunohistochemistry. Cytoplasmic expression levels were correlated with clinical as well as pathological characteristics and with prognosis. The biologic impact of β-arrestin 2 on cell proliferation and survival was evaluated, in vitro. Following transient transfection by increasing concentrations of plasmid encoding β-arrestin 2, different cell lines were evaluated in cell viability and death. β-arrestin 2 was detected in all histological ovarian cancer subtypes with highest intensity in clear cell histology. High β-arrestin 2 expression levels correlated with high-grade serous histology and the expression of the gonadotropin receptors FSHR and LHCGR, as well as the membrane estrogen receptor GPER and hCGβ. Higher cytoplasmic β-arrestin 2 expression was associated with a significantly impaired prognosis (median 29.88 vs. 50.64 months; P = 0.025). Clinical data were confirmed in transfected HEK293 cells, human immortalized granulosa cell line (hGL5) and the ovarian cancer cell line A2780 in vitro, where the induction of β-arrestin 2 cDNA expression enhanced cell viability, while the depletion of the molecule by siRNA resulted in cell death. Reflecting the role of β-arrestin 2 in modulating GPCR-induced proliferative and anti-apoptotic signals, we propose β-arrestin 2 as an important prognostic factor and also as a promising target for new therapeutic approaches in advanced ovarian cancer.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 3 Regulates Endothelial Function Through β-Arrestin 1

BACKGROUND

Receptor signaling is central to vascular endothelial function and is dysregulated in vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Signaling pathways involved in endothelial function include vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs) and G protein-coupled receptors, which classically activate distinct intracellular signaling pathways and responses. The mechanisms that regulate these signaling pathways have not been fully elucidated and it is unclear what nodes for cross talk exist between these diverse signaling pathways. For example, multifunctional β-arrestin (ARRB) adapter proteins are best known as regulators of G protein-coupled receptor signaling, but their role at other receptors and their physiological importance in the setting of vascular disease are unclear.

METHODS

We used a combination of human samples from PAH, human microvascular endothelial cells from lung, and Arrb knockout mice to determine the role of ARRB1 in endothelial VEGFR3 signaling. In addition, a number of biochemical analyses were performed to determine the interaction between ARRB1 and VEGFR3, signaling mediators downstream of VEGFR3, and the internalization of VEGFR3.

RESULTS

Expression of ARRB1 and VEGFR3 was reduced in human PAH, and the deletion of Arrb1 in mice exposed to hypoxia led to worse PAH with a loss of VEGFR3 signaling. Knockdown of ARRB1 inhibited VEGF-C-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation, along with reduced VEGFR3, Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylation. This regulation was mediated by direct ARRB1 binding to the VEGFR3 kinase domain and resulted in decreased VEGFR3 internalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate a novel role for ARRB1 in VEGFR regulation and suggest a mechanism for cross talk between G protein-coupled receptors and VEGFRs in PAH. These findings also suggest that strategies to promote ARRB1-mediated VEGFR3 signaling could be useful in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension and other vascular disease.

Non-Coding RNAs in IGF-1R Signaling Regulation: The Underlying Pathophysiological Link between Diabetes and Cancer

The intricate molecular network shared between diabetes mellitus (DM) and cancer has been broadly understood. DM has been associated with several hormone-dependent malignancies, including breast, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer (CRC). Insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and inflammation are the main pathophysiological mechanisms linking DM to cancer. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), particularly microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), are widely appreciated as pervasive regulators of gene expression, governing the evolution of metabolic disorders, including DM and cancer. The ways ncRNAs affect the development of DM complicated with cancer have only started to be revealed in recent years. Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) signaling is a master regulator of pathophysiological processes directing DM and cancer. In this review, we briefly summarize a number of well-known miRNAs and lncRNAs that regulate the IGF-1R in DM and cancer, respectively, and further discuss the potential underlying molecular pathogenesis of this disease association.

Below the Surface: IGF-1R Therapeutic Targeting and Its Endocytic Journey

Ligand-activated plasma membrane receptors follow pathways of endocytosis through the endosomal sorting apparatus. Receptors cluster in clathrin-coated pits that bud inwards and enter the cell as clathrin-coated vesicles. These vesicles travel through the acidic endosome whereby receptors and ligands are sorted to be either recycled or degraded. The traditional paradigm postulated that the endocytosis role lay in signal termination through the removal of the receptor from the cell surface. It is now becoming clear that the internalization process governs more than receptor signal cessation and instead reigns over the entire spatial and temporal wiring of receptor signaling. Governing the localization, the post-translational modifications, and the scaffolding of receptors and downstream signal components established the endosomal platform as the master regulator of receptor function. Confinement of components within or between distinct organelles means that the endosome instructs the cell on how to interpret and translate the signal emanating from any given receptor complex into biological effects. This review explores this emerging paradigm with respect to the cancer-relevant insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R) and discusses how this perspective could inform future targeting strategies.

Decrypting noncoding RNA interactions, structures, and functional networks

The world of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) is composed of an enormous and growing number of transcripts, ranging in length from tens of bases to tens of kilobases, involved in all biological processes and altered in expression and/or function in many types of human disorders. The premise of this review is the concept that ncRNAs, like many large proteins, have a multidomain architecture that organizes them spatially and functionally. As ncRNAs are beginning to be imprecisely classified into functional families, we review here how their structural properties might inform their functions with focus on structural architecture–function relationships. We will describe the properties of “interactor elements” (IEs) involved in direct physical interaction with nucleic acids, proteins, or lipids and of “structural elements” (SEs) directing their wiring within the “ncRNA interactor networks” through the emergence of secondary and/or tertiary structures. We suggest that spectrums of “letters” (ncRNA elements) are assembled into “words” (ncRNA domains) that are further organized into “phrases” (complete ncRNA structures) with functional meaning (signaling output) through complex “sentences” (the ncRNA interactor networks). This semiotic analogy can guide the exploitation of ncRNAs as new therapeutic targets through the development of IE-blockers and/or SE-lockers that will change the interactor partners’ spectrum of proteins, RNAs, DNAs, or lipids and consequently influence disease phenotypes.

Arrestin-β-1 Physically Scaffolds TSH and IGF1 Receptors to Enable Crosstalk

Endogenously expressed TSH receptors (TSHRs) on orbital fibroblasts of patients with Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) use crosstalk with IGF1 receptors (IGF1R) to synergistically stimulate secretion of hyaluronan (HA), a major component of GO pathology. We previously showed crosstalk occurred upstream of mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK) phosphorylation. Because other G protein-coupled receptors engage arrestin-β-1 (ARRB1) and ERK, we tested whether ARRB1 was a necessary component of TSHR/IGF1R crosstalk. HA secretion was stimulated by the TSHR-stimulating monoclonal antibodies M22 and KSAb1, or immunoglobulins from patients with GO (GO-Igs). Treatment with M22, as previously shown, resulted in biphasic dose-response stimulation of HA secretion. The high-potency phase was IGF1R dependent, and the low-potency phase was partly IGF1R independent. KSAb1 produced a monophasic dose-response stimulation of HA secretion, whose potency was lowered >20-fold after IGF1R knockdown. ARRB1 knockdown abolished M22's high-potency phase and lowered KSAb1's potency and efficacy. ARRB1 knockdown inhibited GO-Ig stimulation of HA secretion and of ERK phosphorylation. Last, ARRB1 was shown to be necessary for TSHR/IGF1R proximity. In contrast, ARRB2 knockdowns did not show these effects. Thus, TSHR must neighbor IGF1R for crosstalk in GO fibroblasts to occur, and this depends on ARRB1 acting as a scaffold. Similar scaffolding of TSHR and IGF1R by ARRB1 was found in human osteoblast-like cells and human thyrocytes. These findings support a model of TSHR/IGF1R crosstalk that may be a general mechanism for G-protein-coupled receptor/receptor tyrosine kinase crosstalk dependent on ARRB1.

β-Arrestin1 alleviates acute pancreatitis via repression of NF-κBp65 activation

BACKGROUND AND AIM

β-Arrestins (β-arrs) are regulators and mediators of G protein-coupled receptor signaling that are functionally involved in inflammation. Nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κBp65) activation has been observed early in the onset of pancreatitis. However, the effect of β-arrs in acute pancreatitis (AP) is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate whether β-arrs are involved in AP through activation of NF-κBp65.

METHODS

Acute pancreatitis was induced by either caerulein injection or choline-deficient supplemented with ethionine diet (CDE). β-arr1 wild-type and β-arr1 knockout mice were used in the experiment. The survival rate was calculated in the CDE model mice. Histological and western blot analyses were performed in the caerulein model. Inflammatory mediators were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction in the caerulein-induced AP mice. Furthermore, AR42J and PANC-1 cell lines were used to further study the effects of β-arr1 in caerulein-induced pancreatic cells.

RESULTS

β-Arr1 but not β-arr2 is significantly downregulated in caerulein-induced AP in mice. Targeted deletion of β-arr1 notably upregulated expression of the pancreatic inflammatory mediators including tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β as well as interleukin 6 and aggravated AP in caerulein-induced mice. β-Arr1 deficiency increased mortality in mice with CDE-induced AP. Further, β-arr1 deficiency enhanced caerulein-induced phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 both in vivo and in vitro.

CONCLUSION

β-Arr1 alleviates AP via repression of NF-κBp65 activation, and it is a potentially therapeutic target for AP.

GPCRs in Cancer: Protease-Activated Receptors, Endocytic Adaptors and Signaling

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large diverse family of cell surface signaling receptors implicated in various types of cancers. Several studies indicate that GPCRs control many aspects of cancer progression including tumor growth, invasion, migration, survival and metastasis. While it is known that GPCR activity can be altered in cancer through aberrant overexpression, gain-of-function activating mutations, and increased production and secretion of agonists, the precise mechanisms of how GPCRs contribute to cancer progression remains elusive. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are a unique class of GPCRs implicated in cancer. PARs are a subfamily of GPCRs comprised of four members that are irreversibly activated by proteolytic cleavage induced by various proteases generated in the tumor microenvironment. Given the unusual proteolytic irreversible activation of PARs, expression of receptors at the cell surface is a key feature that influences signaling responses and is exquisitely controlled by endocytic adaptor proteins. Here, we discuss new survey data from the Cancer Genome Atlas and the Genotype-Tissue Expression projects analysis of expression of all PAR family member expression in human tumor samples as well as the role and function of the endocytic sorting machinery that controls PAR expression and signaling of PARs in normal cells and in cancer.

Personalized Medicine in Malignant Melanoma: Towards Patient Tailored Treatment

Despite enormous international efforts, skin melanoma is still a major clinical challenge. Melanoma takes a top place among the most common cancer types and it has one of the most rapidly increasing incidences in many countries around the world. Until recent years, there have been limited options for effective systemic treatment of disseminated melanoma. However, lately, we have experienced a rapid advancement in the understanding of the biology and molecular background of the disease. This has led to new molecular classifications and the development of more effective targeted therapies adapted to distinct melanoma subtypes. Not only are these treatments more effective but they can be rationally prescribed to the patients standing to benefit. As such, melanoma management has now become one of the most developed for personalized medicine. The aim of the present paper is to summarize the current knowledge on melanoma molecular classification, predictive markers, combination therapies, as well as emerging new treatments.

Up-regulation of INSR/IGF1R by C-myc promotes TSCC tumorigenesis and metastasis through the NF-κB pathway

The insulin receptor (INSR) and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) have been reported to be involved in the tumorigenesis and metastasis of various malignancies. The aim of our study was to investigate and compare the effects of INSR and IGF1R on the tumorigenesis and metastasis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and explore the possible mechanism(s) involved. We found that INSR had the same up-regulated expression pattern as IGF1R in TSCC tissues. INSR and IGF1R up-regulation were correlated with each other and associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Functional studies established that knocking down either INSR or IGF1R dramatically impeded TSCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and tumorigenesis and tumor metastasis in vivo, whereas ectopic overexpression of INSR or IGF1R enhanced these activities. Both INSR and IGF1R directly targeted p65 and activated the NF-κB pathway; furthermore, C-myc was observed to directly bind to the INSR and IGF1R promoters and up-regulates INSR and IGF1R expression in TSCC. Thus, our current data demonstrate that both INSR and IGF1R are directly targeted by C-myc and exert similar effects to promote the tumorigenesis and metastasis of TSCC through the NF-κB pathway. Therefore, INSR and IGF1R may be therapeutic target genes and potential prognostic factors for TSCC.

Enhanced response of melanoma cells to MEK inhibitors following unbiased IGF-1R down-regulation

Due to its ability to compensate for signals lost following therapeutic MAPK-inhibition, insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R) co-targeting is a rational approach for melanoma treatment. However IGF-1R conformational changes associated with its inhibition can preferentially activate MAPK-pathway in a kinase-independent manner, through a process known as biased signaling. We explored the impact of biased IGF-1R signaling, on response to MAPK inhibition in a panel of skin melanoma cell lines with differing MAPK and p53 mutation statuses. Specific siRNA towards IGF-1R down-regulates the receptor and all its signaling in a balanced manner, whilst IGF-1R targeting by small molecule Nutlin-3 parallels receptor degradation with a transient biased pERK1/2 activity, with both strategies synergizing with MEK1/2 inhibition. On the other hand, IGF-1R down-regulation by a targeted antibody (Figitumumab) induces a biased receptor conformation, preserved even when the receptor is exposed to the balanced natural ligand IGF-1. This process sustains MAPK activity and competes with the MEK1/2 inhibition. Our results indicate that IGF-1R down-regulation offers an approach to increase the sensitivity of melanoma cells to MAPK inhibition, and highlights that controlling biased signaling could provide greater specificity and precision required for multi-hit therapy.