1
|
Wirtz TH, Saal A, Bergmann I, Fischer P, Heinrichs D, Brandt EF, Koenen MT, Djudjaj S, Schneider KM, Boor P, Bucala R, Weiskirchen R, Bernhagen J, Trautwein C, Berres ML. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor exerts pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects via CD74 in murine hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:4452-4467. [PMID: 34250589 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an inflammatory and chemokine-like protein expressed in different inflammatory diseases as well as solid tumours. CD74-as the cognate MIF receptor-was identified as an important target of MIF. We here analysed the role of MIF and CD74 in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Multilocular HCC was induced using the diethylnitrosamine/carbon tetrachloride (DEN/CCl4 ) model in hepatocyte-specific Mif knockout (Mif Δhep ), Cd74-deficient, and control mice. Tumour burden was compared between the genotypes. MIF, CD74 and Ki67 expression were investigated in tumour and surrounding tissue. In vitro, the effects of the MIF/CD74 axis on the proliferative and apoptotic behaviour of hepatoma cells and respective signalling pathways were assessed after treatment with MIF and anti-CD74 antibodies. KEY RESULTS DEN/CCl4 treatment of Mif Δhep mice resulted in reduced tumour burden and diminished proliferation capacity within tumour tissue. In vitro, MIF stimulated proliferation of Hepa 1-6 and HepG2 cells, inhibited therapy-induced cell death and induced ERK activation. The investigated effects could be reversed using a neutralizing anti-CD74 antibody, and Cd74-/- mice developed fewer tumours associated with decreased proliferation rates. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS We identified a pro-tumorigenic role of MIF during proliferation and therapy-induced apoptosis of HCC cells. These effects were mediated via the MIF cognate receptor CD74. Thus, inhibition of the MIF/CD74 axis could represent a promising target with regard to new pharmacological therapies aimed at HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa H Wirtz
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alena Saal
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Irina Bergmann
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Petra Fischer
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Daniel Heinrichs
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Elisa F Brandt
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maria T Koenen
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sonja Djudjaj
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kai M Schneider
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Peter Boor
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Nephrology and Immunology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Richard Bucala
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bernhagen
- Division of Vascular Biology, Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD), Ludwig Maximilian-University (LMU) and LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (EXC 2145 SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Trautwein
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Berres
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Targeting the heat shock protein 90: a rational way to inhibit macrophage migration inhibitory factor function in cancer. Curr Opin Oncol 2014; 26:108-13. [PMID: 24225413 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), originally identified as a proinflammatory cytokine, is highly elevated in many human cancer types, independent of their histological origin. MIF's tumour promoting activities correlate with tumour aggressiveness and poor clinical prognosis. Genetic depletion of MIF in mouse cancer models results in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis, making it an attractive target for anticancer therapies. Here, we summarize the current possibilities to inhibit MIF function in cancer. RECENT FINDINGS All known small molecule MIF inhibitors antagonize MIF's enzymatic function. However, a recent knockin mouse model suggested that protein interactions play a bigger biological role in tumour cell growth regulation than MIF's enzymatic activity. Thus, alternative strategies are important for targeting MIF. Recently, we identified that MIF in cancer cells is highly stabilized through the heat shock protein 90 machinery (HSP90). Thus, MIF is an HSP90 client. Pharmacological inhibition of the Hsp90 ATPase activity results in MIF degradation in several types of cancer cells. This provides a new way to inhibit MIF function independent of its enzymatic activity. SUMMARY Targeting the HSP90 machinery is a promising way to inhibit MIF function in cancer. Along with MIF and dependent on the molecular make-up of the tumour, a large number of other critical tumourigenic proteins are also destabilized by HSP90 inhibition, overall resulting in a profound block of tumour growth.
Collapse
|
3
|
HER2/ErbB2 activates HSF1 and thereby controls HSP90 clients including MIF in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e980. [PMID: 24384723 PMCID: PMC4040658 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2013.508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Revised: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) in breast cancer strongly correlates with aggressive tumors and poor prognosis. Recently, a positive correlation between HER2 and MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor, a tumor-promoting protein and heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) client) protein levels was shown in cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanistic link remained unknown. Here we show that overexpressed HER2 constitutively activates heat-shock factor 1 (HSF1), the master transcriptional regulator of the inducible proteotoxic stress response of heat-shock chaperones, including HSP90, and a crucial factor in initiation and maintenance of the malignant state. Inhibiting HER2 pharmacologically by Lapatinib (a dual HER2/epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor) or CP724.714 (a specific HER2 inhibitor), or by knockdown via siRNA leads to inhibition of phosphoactivated Ser326 HSF1, and subsequently blocks the activity of the HSP90 chaperone machinery in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer lines. Consequently, HSP90 clients, including MIF, AKT, mutant p53 and HSF1 itself, become destabilized, which in turn inhibits tumor proliferation. Mechanistically, HER2 signals via the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)–AKT– mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) axis to induce activated pSer326 HSF1. Heat-shock stress experiments confirm this functional link between HER2 and HSF1, as HER2 (and PI3K) inhibition attenuate the HSF1-mediated heat-shock response. Importantly, we confirmed this axis in vivo. In the mouse model of HER2-driven breast cancer, ErbB2 inhibition by Lapatinib strongly suppresses tumor progression, and this is associated with inactivation of the HSF1 pathway. Moreover, ErbB2-overexpressing cancer cells derived from a primary mouse ErbB2 tumor also show HSF1 inactivation and HSP90 client destabilization in response to ErbB2 inhibition. Furthermore, in HER2-positive human breast cancers HER2 levels strongly correlate with pSer326 HSF1 activity. Our results show for the first time that HER2/ErbB2 overexpression controls HSF1 activity, with subsequent stabilization of numerous tumor-promoting HSP90 clients such as MIF, AKT and HSF1 itself, thereby causing a robust promotion in tumor growth in HER2-positive breast cancer.
Collapse
|
4
|
Schulz R, Marchenko ND, Holembowski L, Fingerle-Rowson G, Pesic M, Zender L, Dobbelstein M, Moll UM. Inhibiting the HSP90 chaperone destabilizes macrophage migration inhibitory factor and thereby inhibits breast tumor progression. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 209:275-89. [PMID: 22271573 PMCID: PMC3280870 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20111117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In several human cancer cell lines, HSP90 inhibitors destabilize macrophage inhibitory factor protein; systemic treatment with an HSP90 inhibitor slows tumor growth and extends overall survival in a mouse model of HER2-positive human breast cancer. Intracellular macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) often becomes stabilized in human cancer cells. MIF can promote tumor cell survival, and elevated MIF protein correlates with tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. However, the molecular mechanism facilitating MIF stabilization in tumors is not understood. We show that the tumor-activated HSP90 chaperone complex protects MIF from degradation. Pharmacological inhibition of HSP90 activity, or siRNA-mediated knockdown of HSP90 or HDAC6, destabilizes MIF in a variety of human cancer cells. The HSP90-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP mediates the ensuing proteasome-dependent MIF degradation. Cancer cells contain constitutive endogenous MIF–HSP90 complexes. siRNA-mediated MIF knockdown inhibits proliferation and triggers apoptosis of cultured human cancer cells, whereas HSP90 inhibitor-induced apoptosis is overridden by ectopic MIF expression. In the ErbB2 transgenic model of human HER2-positive breast cancer, genetic ablation of MIF delays tumor progression and prolongs overall survival of mice. Systemic treatment with the HSP90 inhibitor 17AAG reduces MIF expression and blocks growth of MIF-expressing, but not MIF-deficient, tumors. Together, these findings identify MIF as a novel HSP90 client and suggest that HSP90 inhibitors inhibit ErbB2-driven breast tumor growth at least in part by destabilizing MIF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramona Schulz
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Göttingen Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|