Expression and clinicopathological significance of Nck1 in human astrocytoma progression

STAT3-induced NCK1 elevation promotes migration of triple-negative breast cancer cells via regulating ERK1/2 signaling

BACKGROUND

Noncatalytic region of tyrosine kinase 1 (NCK1) plays a key role in extracellular matrix degradation, which is required for the metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the role NCK1 plays in the metastatic progression of TNBC is unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Based on online databases, NCK1 was found to be highly expressed in TNBC as compared to normal breast-like subjects, which was also confirmed using TNBC cells and a tissue microarray. NCK1 expression gradually decreased with increased tumor stage. High NCK1 expression displayed a poor prognosis in lymph node-positive metastatic TNBC patients, but not in lymph node-negative patients. Using transwell assays and immunoblotting, we confirmed that NCK1 overexpression promoted, while NCK1 downregulation inhibited migration capabilities, as well as the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2/9), uridylyl phosphate adenosine, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in TNBC cells. Mechanistically, NCK1 upregulation mediated the activation of MMP2/9 through ERK1/2 activity. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) was positively correlated with NCK1. STAT3 could directly bind to the promoter region of NCK1 to promote its expression and was accompanied by the elevation of MMP2/9 and ERK1/2 signaling, which were partially abolished by the knockdown of NCK1 in TNBC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

NCK1 may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of metastatic TNBC. STAT3 upregulation promoted the expression of NCK1, which subsequently induced the migration and activity of MMPs in a ERK1/2 signaling-dependent manner in TNBC cells. NCK1 is a promising target for improving TNBC migration.

Sinner or Saint?: Nck Adaptor Proteins in Vascular Biology

The Nck family of modular adaptor proteins, including Nck1 and Nck2, link phosphotyrosine signaling to changes in cytoskeletal dynamics and gene expression that critically modulate cellular phenotype. The Nck SH2 domain interacts with phosphotyrosine at dynamic signaling hubs, such as activated growth factor receptors and sites of cell adhesion. The Nck SH3 domains interact with signaling effectors containing proline-rich regions that mediate their activation by upstream kinases. In vascular biology, Nck1 and Nck2 play redundant roles in vascular development and postnatal angiogenesis. However, recent studies suggest that Nck1 and Nck2 differentially regulate cell phenotype in the adult vasculature. Domain-specific interactions likely mediate these isoform-selective effects, and these isolated domains may serve as therapeutic targets to limit specific protein-protein interactions. In this review, we highlight the function of the Nck adaptor proteins, the known differences in domain-selective interactions, and discuss the role of individual Nck isoforms in vascular remodeling and function.

NCK1 Regulates Amygdala Activity to Control Context-dependent Stress Responses and Anxiety in Male Mice

Anxiety disorder (AD) is characterized by the development of maladaptive neuronal circuits and changes to the excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance of the central nervous system. Although AD is considered to be heritable, specific genetic markers remain elusive. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) studies have identified non-catalytic region of tyrosine kinase adaptor protein 1 (NCK1), a gene that codes for an intracellular adaptor protein involved in actin dynamics, as an important gene in the regulation of mood. Using a murine model in which NCK1 is inactivated, we show that male, but not female, mice display increased levels of context-dependent anxiety-like behaviors along with an increase in circulating serum corticosterone relative to control. Treatment of male NCK1 mutant mice with a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA_A receptor rescued the anxiety-like behaviors implicating NCK1 in regulating neuronal excitability. These defects are not attributable to apparent defects in gross brain structure or in axon guidance. However, when challenged in an approach-avoidance conflict paradigm, male NCK1-deficient mice have decreased neuronal activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), as well as decreased activation of inhibitory interneurons in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Finally, NCK1 deficiency results in loss of dendritic spine density in principal neurons of the BLA. Taken together, these data implicate NCK1 in the control of E/I balance in BLA. Our work identifies a novel role for NCK1 in the regulation of sex-specific neuronal circuitry necessary for controlling anxiety-like behaviors. Further, our work points to this animal model as a useful preclinical tool for the study of novel anxiolytics and its significance towards understanding sex differences in anxiolytic function.