The mechanosensitive TRPV2 calcium channel promotes human melanoma invasiveness and metastatic potential

Melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer endowed with a unique capacity of rapidly metastasizing, which is fundamentally driven by aberrant cell motility behaviors. Discovering "migrastatics" targets, specifically controlling invasion and dissemination of melanoma cells during metastasis, is therefore of primary importance. Here, we uncover the prominent expression of the plasma membrane TRPV2 calcium channel as a distinctive feature of melanoma tumors, directly related to melanoma metastatic dissemination. In vitro as well as in vivo, TRPV2 activity is sufficient to confer both migratory and invasive potentials, while conversely TRPV2 silencing in highly metastatic melanoma cells prevents aggressive behavior. In invasive melanoma cells, TRPV2 channel localizes at the leading edge, in dynamic nascent adhesions, and regulates calcium-mediated activation of calpain and the ensuing cleavage of the adhesive protein talin, along with F-actin organization. In human melanoma tissues, TRPV2 overexpression correlates with advanced malignancy and poor prognosis, evoking a biomarker potential. Hence, by regulating adhesion and motility, the mechanosensitive TRPV2 channel controls melanoma cell invasiveness, highlighting a new therapeutic option for migrastatics in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Role of extracellular matrix architecture and signaling in melanoma therapeutic resistance

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is critical for maintaining tissue homeostasis therefore its production, assembly and mechanical stiffness are highly regulated in normal tissues. However, in solid tumors, increased stiffness resulting from abnormal ECM structural changes is associated with disease progression, an increased risk of metastasis and poor survival. As a dynamic and key component of the tumor microenvironment, the ECM is becoming increasingly recognized as an important feature of tumors, as it has been shown to promote several hallmarks of cancer via biochemical and biomechanical signaling. In this regard, melanoma cells are highly sensitive to ECM composition, stiffness and fiber alignment because they interact directly with the ECM in the tumor microenvironment via cell surface receptors, secreted factors or enzymes. Importantly, seeing as the ECM is predominantly deposited and remodeled by myofibroblastic stromal fibroblasts, it is a key avenue facilitating their paracrine interactions with melanoma cells. This review gives an overview of melanoma and further describes the critical roles that ECM properties such as ECM remodeling, ECM-related proteins and stiffness play in cutaneous melanoma progression, tumor cell plasticity and therapeutic resistance. Finally, given the emerging importance of ECM dynamics in melanoma, future perspectives on therapeutic strategies to normalize the ECM in tumors are discussed.

Secretion of IL1 by Dedifferentiated Melanoma Cells Inhibits JAK1-STAT3-Driven Actomyosin Contractility of Lymph Node Fibroblastic Reticular Cells

Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRC) are immunologically specialized myofibroblasts that control the elasticity of the lymph node, in part through their contractile properties. Swelling of tumor-draining lymph nodes is a hallmark of lymphophilic cancers such as cutaneous melanoma. Melanoma displays high intratumoral heterogeneity with the coexistence of melanoma cells with variable differentiation phenotypes from melanocytic to dedifferentiated states. Factors secreted by melanoma cells promote premetastatic lymph node reprograming and tumor spreading. Elucidating the impact of the melanoma secretome on FRC could help identify approaches to prevent metastasis. Here we show that melanocytic and dedifferentiated melanoma cells differentially impact the FRC contractile phenotype. Factors secreted by dedifferentiated cells, but not by melanocytic cells, strongly inhibited actomyosin-dependent contractile forces of FRC by decreasing the activity of the RHOA-RHO-kinase (ROCK) pathway and the mechano-responsive transcriptional coactivator Yes1 associated transcriptional regulator (YAP). Transcriptional profiling and biochemical analyses indicated that actomyosin cytoskeleton relaxation in FRC is driven by inhibition of the JAK1-STAT3 pathway. This FRC relaxation was associated with increased FRC proliferation and activation and with elevated tumor invasion in vitro. The secretome of dedifferentiated melanoma cells also modulated the biomechanical properties of distant lymph node in premetastatic mouse models. Finally, IL1 produced by dedifferentiated cells was involved in the inhibition of FRC contractility. These data highlight the role of the JAK1-STAT3 and YAP pathways in spontaneous contractility of resting FRC. They also suggest that dedifferentiated melanoma cells specifically target FRC biomechanical properties to favor tumor spreading in the premetastatic lymph node niche. Targeting this remote communication could be an effective strategy to prevent metastatic spread of the disease.

SIGNIFICANCE

Communication between dedifferentiated melanoma cells and lymph node fibroblasts reprograms the biomechanical properties of the premetastatic lymph node niche to promote tumor invasion. See related commentary by Lund, p. 1692.

Blockade of the pro-fibrotic reaction mediated by the miR-143/-145 cluster enhances the responses to targeted therapy in melanoma

Lineage dedifferentiation toward a mesenchymal‐like state displaying myofibroblast and fibrotic features is a common mechanism of adaptive and acquired resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma. Here, we show that the anti‐fibrotic drug nintedanib is active to normalize the fibrous ECM network, enhance the efficacy of MAPK‐targeted therapy, and delay tumor relapse in a preclinical model of melanoma. Acquisition of this resistant phenotype and its reversion by nintedanib pointed to miR‐143/‐145 pro‐fibrotic cluster as a driver of this mesenchymal‐like phenotype. Upregulation of the miR‐143/‐145 cluster under BRAFi/MAPKi therapy was observed in melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo and was associated with an invasive/undifferentiated profile. The 2 mature miRNAs generated from this cluster, miR‐143‐3p and miR‐145‐5p, collaborated to mediate transition toward a drug‐resistant undifferentiated mesenchymal‐like state by targeting Fascin actin‐bundling protein 1 (FSCN1), modulating the dynamic crosstalk between the actin cytoskeleton and the ECM through the regulation of focal adhesion dynamics and mechanotransduction pathways. Our study brings insights into a novel miRNA‐mediated regulatory network that contributes to non‐genetic adaptive drug resistance and provides proof of principle that preventing MAPKi‐induced pro‐fibrotic stromal response is a viable therapeutic opportunity for patients on targeted therapy.

Deubiquitinase Inhibitors Impair Leukemic Cell Migration Through Cofilin Oxidation and Alteration of Actin Reorganization

Actin networks are dynamically regulated through constant depolymerization and polymerization cycles. Although the fundamental mechanisms that govern these processes have been identified, the nature and role of post-translational modifications (PTMs) of actin and actin regulatory proteins are not completely understood. Here, we employed Actin CytoFRET, a method that we developed for real time detection of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signals generated by actin dynamics, to screen a small library of PTM-interfering compounds on a biosensor leukemic T cell line. This strategy led to the identification of small molecule inhibitors of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) as potent inducers of actin polymerization and blockers of chemotactic cell migration. The examination of the underlying mechanism further revealed that the actin depolymerizing protein cofilin represents a major effector of DUB inhibitor (DUBi)-induced actin reorganization. We found that DUB blockade results in the accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and ROS production, associated with cofilin oxidation and dephosphorylation on serine 3, which provokes uncontrolled actin polymerization impairing cell migration. Together, our study highlights DUBs as novel regulators of actin dynamics through ROS-dependent cofilin modulation, and shows that DUBi represent attractive novel tools to impede leukemic cell migration.

Targeting Discoidin Domain Receptors DDR1 and DDR2 overcomes matrix-mediated tumor cell adaptation and tolerance to BRAF-targeted therapy in melanoma

Resistance to BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy in BRAF^V600‐mutated advanced melanoma remains a major obstacle that limits patient benefit. Microenvironment components including the extracellular matrix (ECM) can support tumor cell adaptation and tolerance to targeted therapy; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the process of matrix‐mediated drug resistance (MMDR) in response to BRAF^V600 pathway inhibition in melanoma. We demonstrate that physical and structural cues from fibroblast‐derived ECM abrogate anti‐proliferative responses to BRAF/MEK inhibition. MMDR is mediated by drug‐induced linear clustering of phosphorylated DDR1 and DDR2, two tyrosine kinase collagen receptors. Depletion and pharmacological targeting of DDR1 and DDR2 overcome ECM‐mediated resistance to BRAF‐targeted therapy. In xenografts, targeting DDR with imatinib enhances BRAF inhibitor efficacy, counteracts drug‐induced collagen remodeling, and delays tumor relapse. Mechanistically, DDR‐dependent MMDR fosters a targetable pro‐survival NIK/IKKα/NF‐κB2 pathway. These findings reveal a novel role for a collagen‐rich matrix and DDR in tumor cell adaptation and resistance. They also provide important insights into environment‐mediated drug resistance and a preclinical rationale for targeting DDR signaling in combination with targeted therapy in melanoma.

A 9-kDa matricellular SPARC fragment released by cathepsin D exhibits pro-tumor activity in the triple-negative breast cancer microenvironment

Rationale: Alternative therapeutic strategies based on tumor-specific molecular targets are urgently needed for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The protease cathepsin D (cath-D) is a marker of poor prognosis in TNBC and a tumor-specific extracellular target for antibody-based therapy. The identification of cath-D substrates is crucial for the mechanistic understanding of its role in the TNBC microenvironment and future therapeutic developments.

Methods: The cath-D substrate repertoire was investigated by N-Terminal Amine Isotopic Labeling of Substrates (TAILS)-based degradome analysis in a co-culture assay of TNBC cells and breast fibroblasts. Substrates were validated by amino-terminal oriented mass spectrometry of substrates (ATOMS). Cath-D and SPARC expression in TNBC was examined using an online transcriptomic survival analysis, tissue micro-arrays, TNBC cell lines, patient-derived xenografts (PDX), human TNBC samples, and mammary tumors from MMTV-PyMT Ctsd^-/-knock-out mice. The biological role of SPARC and its fragments in TNBC were studied using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analysis, gene expression knockdown, co-culture assays, western blot analysis, RT-quantitative PCR, adhesion assays, Transwell motility, trans-endothelial migration and invasion assays.

Results: TAILS analysis showed that the matricellular protein SPARC is a substrate of extracellular cath-D. In vitro, cath-D induced limited proteolysis of SPARC C-terminal extracellular Ca²⁺ binding domain at acidic pH, leading to the production of SPARC fragments (34-, 27-, 16-, 9-, and 6-kDa). Similarly, cath-D secreted by TNBC cells cleaved fibroblast- and cancer cell-derived SPARC at the tumor pericellular acidic pH. SPARC cleavage also occurred in TNBC tumors. Among these fragments, only the 9-kDa SPARC fragment inhibited TNBC cell adhesion and spreading on fibronectin, and stimulated their migration, endothelial transmigration, and invasion.

Conclusions: Our study establishes a novel crosstalk between proteases and matricellular proteins in the tumor microenvironment through limited SPARC proteolysis, revealing a novel targetable 9-kDa bioactive SPARC fragment for new TNBC treatments. Our study will pave the way for the development of strategies for targeting bioactive fragments from matricellular proteins in TNBC.

Bad Neighborhood: Fibrotic Stroma as a New Player in Melanoma Resistance to Targeted Therapies

Current treatments for metastatic cutaneous melanoma include immunotherapies and drugs targeting key molecules of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which is often activated by BRAF driver mutations. Overall responses from patients with metastatic BRAF mutant melanoma are better with therapies combining BRAF and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors. However, most patients that initially respond to therapies develop drug resistance within months. Acquired resistance to targeted therapies can be due to additional genetic alterations in melanoma cells and to non-genetic events frequently associated with transcriptional reprogramming and a dedifferentiated cell state. In this second scenario, it is possible to identify pro-fibrotic responses induced by targeted therapies that contribute to the alteration of the melanoma tumor microenvironment. A close interrelationship between chronic fibrosis and cancer has been established for several malignancies including breast and pancreatic cancers. In this context, the contribution of fibrosis to drug adaptation and therapy resistance in melanoma is rapidly emerging. In this review, we summarize recent evidence underlining the hallmarks of fibrotic diseases in drug-exposed and resistant melanoma, including increased remodeling of the extracellular matrix, enhanced actin cytoskeleton plasticity, high sensitivity to mechanical cues, and the establishment of an inflammatory microenvironment. We also discuss several potential therapeutic options for manipulating this fibrotic-like response to combat drug-resistant and invasive melanoma.

A Feed-Forward Mechanosignaling Loop Confers Resistance to Therapies Targeting the MAPK Pathway in BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

Aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and stiffening is a physical hallmark of several solid cancers and is associated with therapy failure. BRAF-mutant melanomas treated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors almost invariably develop resistance that is frequently associated with transcriptional reprogramming and a de-differentiated cell state. Melanoma cells secrete their own ECM proteins, an event that is promoted by oncogenic BRAF inhibition. Yet, the contribution of cancer cell-derived ECM and tumor mechanics to drug adaptation and therapy resistance remains poorly understood. Here, we show that melanoma cells can adapt to targeted therapies through a mechanosignaling loop involving the autocrine remodeling of a drug-protective ECM. Analyses revealed that therapy-resistant cells associated with a mesenchymal dedifferentiated state displayed elevated responsiveness to collagen stiffening and force-mediated ECM remodeling through activation of actin-dependent mechanosensors Yes-associated protein (YAP) and myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF). Short-term inhibition of MAPK pathway also induced mechanosignaling associated with deposition and remodeling of an aligned fibrillar matrix. This provided a favored ECM reorganization that promoted tolerance to BRAF inhibition in a YAP- and MRTF-dependent manner. Matrix remodeling and tumor stiffening were also observed in vivo upon exposure of BRAF-mutant melanoma cell lines or patient-derived xenograft models to MAPK pathway inhibition. Importantly, pharmacologic targeting of YAP reversed treatment-induced excessive collagen deposition, leading to enhancement of BRAF inhibitor efficacy. We conclude that MAPK pathway targeting therapies mechanically reprogram melanoma cells to confer a drug-protective matrix environment. Preventing melanoma cell mechanical reprogramming might be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients on targeted therapies. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings reveal a biomechanical adaptation of melanoma cells to oncogenic BRAF pathway inhibition, which fuels a YAP/MRTF-dependent feed-forward loop associated with tumor stiffening, mechanosensing, and therapy resistance. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/10/1927/F1.large.jpg.

Cancer cell-derived long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) promotes melanoma migration through a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/NF-κB signaling pathway

Cutaneous melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers characterized by a high plasticity, a propensity for metastasis, and drug resistance. Melanomas are composed of phenotypically diverse subpopulations of tumor cells with heterogeneous molecular profiles that reflect intrinsic invasive abilities. In an attempt to identify novel factors of the melanoma invasive cell state, we previously investigated the nature of the invasive secretome by using a comparative proteomic approach. Here, we have extended this analysis to show that PTX3, an acute phase inflammatory glycoprotein, is one such factor secreted by invasive melanoma to promote tumor cell invasiveness. Elevated PTX3 production was observed in the population of MITFlow invasive cells but not in the population of MITFhigh differentiated melanoma cells. Consistently, MITF knockdown increased PTX3 expression in MITFhigh proliferative and poorly invasive cells. High levels of PTX3 were found in tissues and blood of metastatic melanoma patients, and in BRAF inhibitor-resistant melanoma cells displaying a mesenchymal invasive MITFlow phenotype. Genetic silencing of PTX3 in invasive melanoma cells dramatically impaired migration and invasion in vitro and in experimental lung extravasation assay in xenografted mice. In contrast, addition of melanoma-derived or recombinant PTX3, or expression of PTX3 enhanced motility of low migratory cells. Mechanistically, autocrine production of PTX3 by melanoma cells triggered an IKK/NFκB signaling pathway that promotes migration, invasion, and expression of the EMT factor TWIST1. Finally, we found that TLR4 and MYD88 knockdown inhibited PTX3-induced melanoma cell migration, suggesting that PTX3 functions through a TLR4-dependent pathway. Our work reveals that tumor-derived PTX3 contributes to melanoma cell invasion via targetable inflammation-related pathways. In addition to providing new insights into the biology of melanoma invasive behavior, this study underscores the notion that secreted PTX3 represents a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in a subpopulation of MITFlow invasive and/or refractory melanoma.

Targeting the Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Axis Exerts Potent Antitumor Activity in BRAFi-Resistant Melanomas

BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) are used to treat patients with melanoma harboring the V600E mutation. However, resistance to BRAFi is inevitable. Here, we identified sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptors as regulators of BRAF^V600E-mutant melanoma cell-autonomous resistance to BRAFi. Moreover, our results reveal a distinct sphingolipid profile, that is, a tendency for increased very long-chain ceramide species, in the plasma of patients with melanoma who achieve a response to BRAFi therapy as compared with patients with progressive disease. Treatment with BRAFi resulted in a strong decrease in S1PR1/3 expression in sensitive but not in resistant cells. Genetic and pharmacologic interventions, that increase ceramide/S1P ratio, downregulated S1PR expression and blocked BRAFi-resistant melanoma cell growth. This effect was associated with a decreased expression of MITF and Bcl-2. Moreover, the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 improved the antitumor activity of approaches targeting S1P-metabolizing enzymes in BRAFi-resistant melanoma cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that targeting the S1P/S1PR axis could provide effective therapeutic options for patients with melanoma who relapse after BRAFi therapy.

Targeting the Proteasome-Associated Deubiquitinating Enzyme USP14 Impairs Melanoma Cell Survival and Overcomes Resistance to MAPK-Targeting Therapies

Advanced cutaneous melanoma is one of the most challenging cancers to treat because of its high plasticity, metastatic potential, and resistance to treatment. New targeted therapies and immunotherapies have shown remarkable clinical efficacy. However, such treatments are limited to a subset of patients and relapses often occur, warranting validation of novel targeted therapies. Posttranslational modification of proteins by ubiquitin coordinates essential cellular functions, including ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) function and protein homeostasis. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUB) have been associated to multiple diseases, including cancer. However, their exact involvement in melanoma development and therapeutic resistance remains poorly understood. Using a DUB trap assay to label cellular active DUBs, we have observed an increased activity of the proteasome-associated DUB, USP14 (Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 14) in melanoma cells compared with melanocytes. Our survey of public gene expression databases indicates that high expression of USP14 correlates with melanoma progression and with a poorer survival rate in metastatic melanoma patients. Knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition of USP14 dramatically impairs viability of melanoma cells irrespective of the mutational status of BRAF, NRAS, or TP53 and their transcriptional cell state, and overcomes resistance to MAPK-targeting therapies both in vitro and in human melanoma xenografted mice. At the molecular level, we find that inhibition of USP14 rapidly triggers accumulation of poly-ubiquitinated proteins and chaperones, mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, and a ROS production leading to a caspase-independent cell death. Our results provide a rationale for targeting the proteasome-associated DUB USP14 to treat and combat melanomas. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(7); 1416-29. ©2018 AACR.

Abstract 3048: A noncoding function of TYRP1 mRNA promotes melanoma growth

RNAs competition to bind miRNA has been proposed to influence biological systems whether these RNAs are implicated in diseases onset is unclear. Here, we report that TYRP1 mRNA, in addition to encoding tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), indirectly governs cell proliferation by sequestering miR-16 on non-canonical miRNA response elements (MREs). Consequently, sequestered miR-16 is no longer able to repress its mRNA targets such as RAB17, which we show is involved in melanoma cell proliferation and invasion. Restoration of miR-16 tumor suppressor function can be achieved in vitro by silencing TYRP1 or increasing miR-16 expression levels. Importantly, TYRP1-dependent miR-16 sequestration can also be overcome in vivo using small oligonucleotides that mask miR-16 binding sites on TYRP1 mRNA. Together, our findings assign a pathogenic noncoding function to TYRP1 mRNA and underscore miRNA displacement as a new antimelanoma targeted therapeutic approach.

Citation Format: Marie-Dominique Galibert, David Gilot, Mélodie Migault, Laura Bachelot, Fabrice Journé, Aljosja Rogiers, Emmanuelle Donnou-Fournet, Ariane Mogha, Nicolas Mouchet, Marie-Laure Pinel-Marie, Bernard Mari, Tristan Montier, Sébastien Corre, Arthur Gautron, Florian Rambow, Petra El Hajj, Rania Ben Jouira, Sophie Tartare-Deckert, Jean-Christophe Marine, Brice Felden, Ghanem Ghanem. A noncoding function of TYRP1 mRNA promotes melanoma growth [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3048. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-3048

Comparative oncogenomics identifies tyrosine kinase FES as a tumor suppressor in melanoma

Identification and functional validation of oncogenic drivers are essential steps toward advancing cancer precision medicine. Here, we have presented a comprehensive analysis of the somatic genomic landscape of the widely used BRAFV600E- and NRASQ61K-driven mouse models of melanoma. By integrating the data with publically available genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic information from human clinical samples, we confirmed the importance of several genes and pathways previously implicated in human melanoma, including the tumor-suppressor genes phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), LKB1, and others. Importantly, this approach also identified additional putative melanoma drivers with prognostic and therapeutic relevance. Surprisingly, one of these genes encodes the tyrosine kinase FES. Whereas FES is highly expressed in normal human melanocytes, FES expression is strongly decreased in over 30% of human melanomas. This downregulation correlates with poor overall survival. Correspondingly, engineered deletion of Fes accelerated tumor progression in a BRAFV600E-driven mouse model of melanoma. Together, these data implicate FES as a driver of melanoma progression and demonstrate the potential of cross-species oncogenomic approaches combined with mouse modeling to uncover impactful mutations and oncogenic driver alleles with clinical importance in the treatment of human cancer.

SIGMAR1 Regulates Membrane Electrical Activity in Response to Extracellular Matrix Stimulation to Drive Cancer Cell Invasiveness

The sigma 1 receptor (Sig1R) is a stress-activated chaperone that regulates ion channels and is associated with pathologic conditions, such as stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, and addiction. Aberrant expression levels of ion channels and Sig1R have been detected in tumors and cancer cells, such as myeloid leukemia and colorectal cancer, but the link between ion channel regulation and Sig1R overexpression during malignancy has not been established. In this study, we found that Sig1R dynamically controls the membrane expression of the human voltage-dependent K(+) channel human ether-à-go-go-related gene (hERG) in myeloid leukemia and colorectal cancer cell lines. Sig1R promoted the formation of hERG/β1-integrin signaling complexes upon extracellular matrix stimulation, triggering the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Consequently, the presence of Sig1R in cancer cells increased motility and VEGF secretion. In vivo, Sig1R expression enhanced the aggressiveness of tumor cells by potentiating invasion and angiogenesis, leading to poor survival. Collectively, our findings highlight a novel function for Sig1R in mediating cross-talk between cancer cells and their microenvironment, thus driving oncogenesis by shaping cellular electrical activity in response to extracellular signals. Given the involvement of ion channels in promoting several hallmarks of cancer, our study also offers a potential strategy to therapeutically target ion channel function through Sig1R inhibition.

Tumour-derived SPARC drives vascular permeability and extravasation through endothelial VCAM1 signalling to promote metastasis

Disruption of the endothelial barrier by tumour-derived secreted factors is a critical step in cancer cell extravasation and metastasis. Here, by comparative proteomic analysis of melanoma secretomes, we identify the matricellular protein SPARC as a novel tumour-derived vascular permeability factor. SPARC deficiency abrogates tumour-initiated permeability of lung capillaries and prevents extravasation, whereas SPARC overexpression enhances vascular leakiness, extravasation and lung metastasis. SPARC-induced paracellular permeability is dependent on the endothelial VCAM1 receptor and p38 MAPK signalling. Blocking VCAM1 impedes melanoma-induced endothelial permeability and extravasation. The clinical relevance of our findings is highlighted by high levels of SPARC detected in tumour from human pulmonary melanoma lesions. Our study establishes tumour-produced SPARC and VCAM1 as regulators of cancer extravasation, revealing a novel targetable interaction for prevention of metastasis.

Cherubism allele heterozygosity amplifies microbe-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages

Cherubism is a rare autoinflammatory bone disorder that is associated with point mutations in the SH3-domain binding protein 2 (SH3BP2) gene, which encodes the adapter protein 3BP2. Individuals with cherubism present with symmetrical fibro-osseous lesions of the jaw, which are attributed to exacerbated osteoclast activation and defective osteoblast differentiation. Although it is a dominant trait in humans, cherubism appears to be recessively transmitted in mice, suggesting the existence of additional factors in the pathogenesis of cherubism. Here, we report that macrophages from 3BP2-deficient mice exhibited dramatically reduced inflammatory responses to microbial challenge and reduced phagocytosis. 3BP2 was necessary for LPS-induced activation of signaling pathways involved in macrophage function, including SRC, VAV1, p38MAPK, IKKα/β, RAC, and actin polymerization pathways. Conversely, we demonstrated that the presence of a single Sh3bp2 cherubic allele and pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) stimulation had a strong cooperative effect on macrophage activation and inflammatory responses in mice. Together, the results from our study in murine genetic models support the notion that infection may represent a driver event in the etiology of cherubism in humans and suggest limiting inflammation in affected individuals may reduce manifestation of cherubic lesions.

LIF mediates proinvasive activation of stromal fibroblasts in cancer

Signaling crosstalk between tumor cells and fibroblasts confers proinvasive properties to the tumor microenvironment. Here, we identify leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) as a tumor promoter that mediates proinvasive activation of stromal fibroblasts independent of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression. We demonstrate that a pulse of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) establishes stable proinvasive fibroblast activation by inducing LIF production in both fibroblasts and tumor cells. In fibroblasts, LIF mediates TGF-β-dependent actomyosin contractility and extracellular matrix remodeling, which results in collective carcinoma cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, carcinomas from multiple origins and melanomas display strong LIF upregulation, which correlates with dense collagen fiber organization, cancer cell collective invasion, and poor clinical outcome. Blockade of JAK activity by Ruxolitinib (JAK inhibitor) counteracts fibroblast-dependent carcinoma cell invasion in vitro and in vivo. These findings establish LIF as a proinvasive fibroblast producer independent of α-SMA and may open novel therapeutic perspectives for patients with aggressive primary tumors.

Simalikalactone E (SkE), a new weapon in the armamentarium of drugs targeting cancers that exhibit constitutive activation of the ERK pathway

Simalikalactone E (SkE) is a quassinoid extracted from a widely used Amazonian antimalarial remedy. Although SkE has previously been shown to have cytostatic and/or cytotoxic activities in some tumor cell lines, its mechanism of action has not yet been characterized. We show here that SkE in the high nanomolar range inhibited the growth of various leukemic and solid tumor cell lines. Importantly, SkE was highly efficient at inhibiting chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells that exhibit constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway and, accordingly, it impaired the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. SkE also abrogated MEK1/2 and B-Raf phosphorylation but had no effect on Ras activity. Moreover, SkE was particularly effective against melanoma cell lines carrying the B-Raf-V600E mutation. Importantly, SkE resensitized the PLX-4032-resistant 451Lu melanoma cell line (451Lu-R) and was more efficient than U0126, a MEK inhibitor, and PLX-4032 (PLX) at inducing the apoptosis of two Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) patient samples carrying the B-Raf-V600E mutation. Finally, SkE was as efficient as imatinib at inhibiting tumor formation in a xenograft model of CML cells in athymic mice. In conclusion, we show that SkE, a very potent inhibitor of B-Raf-V600E, is highly effective against cancer cell lines that exhibit constitutive activation of the ERK1/2 pathway.

Technical advance: actin CytoFRET, a novel FRET flow cytometry method for detection of actin dynamics in resting and activated T cell

Actin cytoskeleton plays a critical role in regulating T cell motility and activation. However, the lack of a real-time quantitative method to analyze actin assembly has limited the progress toward understanding actin regulation. Here, we describe a novel approach to probe actin dynamics on living T cells using FRET combined with flow cytometry. We have first generated a Jurkat T cell line stably coexpressing EGFP and mOrange FPs fused to actin. The real-time variation of actin monomer assembly or disassembly into filaments was quantified using a ratiometric flow cytometry method measuring changes in the mOrange/EGFP emission ratio. The method was validated on resting T cells by using chemical compounds with known effects on actin filaments and comparison with conventional microscopy imaging. Our method also detected the rapid and transient actin assembly in T cells stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28-coated beads, demonstrating its robustness and high sensitivity. Finally, we provide evidence that lentiviral-mediated transduction of shRNAs in engineered Jurkat cells could be used as a strategy to identify regulators of actin remodeling. In conclusion, the flow cytometric FRET analysis of actin polymerization represents a new technical advance to study the dynamics of actin regulation in intact cells.

Metformin blocks melanoma invasion and metastasis development in AMPK/p53-dependent manner

Metformin was reported to inhibit the proliferation of many cancer cells, including melanoma cells. In this report, we investigated the effect of metformin on melanoma invasion and metastasis development. Using different in vitro approaches, we found that metformin inhibits cell invasion without affecting cell migration and independently of antiproliferation action. This inhibition is correlated with modulation of expression of proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition such as Slug, Snail, SPARC, fibronectin, and N-cadherin and with inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activation. Furthermore, our data indicate that this process is dependent on activation of AMPK and tumor suppressor protein p53. Finally, we showed that metformin inhibits melanoma metastasis development in mice using extravasation and metastasis models. The presented data reinforce the fact that metformin might be a good candidate for clinical trial in melanoma treatment.

Hypoxia and MITF control metastatic behaviour in mouse and human melanoma cells

Melanomas are very aggressive neoplasms with notorious resistance to therapeutics. It was recently proposed that the remarkable phenotypic plasticity of melanoma cells allows for the rapid development of both resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and invasive properties. Indeed, the capacity of melanoma cells to form distant metastases is the main cause of mortality in melanoma patients. Therefore, the identification of the mechanism controlling melanoma phenotype is of paramount importance. In the present report, we show that deletion of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), the master gene in melanocyte differentiation, is sufficient to increase the metastatic potential of mouse and human melanoma cells. MITF silencing also increases fibronectin and Snail, two mesenchymal markers that might explain the increased invasiveness in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ablation of this population by Forskolin-induced differentiation or MITF-forced expression significantly decreases tumour and metastasis formation, suggesting that eradication of low-MITF cells might improve melanoma treatment. Moreover, we demonstrate that a hypoxic microenvironment decreases MITF expression through an indirect, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF1)α-dependant transcriptional mechanism, and increases the tumourigenic and metastatic properties of melanoma cells. We identified Bhlhb2, a new factor in melanoma biology, as the mediator of hypoxia/HIF1α inhibitory effect on MITF expression. Our results reveal a hypoxia-HIF1α-BHLHB2-MITF cascade controlling the phenotypic plasticity in melanoma cells and favouring metastasis development. Targeting this pathway might be helpful in the design of new anti-melanoma therapies.

The p53/p21Cip1/ Waf1 pathway mediates the effects of SPARC on melanoma cell cycle progression

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), or osteonectin, belongs to the family of matricellular proteins that modulate cell-matrix interactions and cellular functions. SPARC is highly expressed in melanoma, and we reported that SPARC promotes epithelial/mesenchymal-like changes and cell migration. Here, we used siRNA and conditional shRNA to investigate the contribution of tumor-derived SPARC to melanoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo. We found that depletion of SPARC induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and tumor growth inhibition with activation of p53 and induction of p21(Cip1/Waf1) acting as a checkpoint, preventing efficient mitotic progression. In addition, we demonstrate that reduced mesenchymal features and the invasive potential of SPARC-silenced cells are independent of p21(Cip1/Waf1) induction and cell cycle arrest. Importantly, overexpression of SPARC reduces p53 protein levels and leads to an increase in cell number during exponential growth. Our findings indicate that in addition to its well-known function as a mediator of melanoma cell migration and tumor-host interactions, SPARC regulates, in a cell-autonomous manner, cell cycle progression and proliferation through the p53/p21(Cip1/Waf1) pathway.

Ciglitazone negatively regulates CXCL1 signaling through MITF to suppress melanoma growth

We have previously demonstrated that the thiazolidinedione ciglitazone inhibited, independently of PPARγ activation, melanoma cell growth. Further investigations now show that ciglitazone effects are mediated through the regulation of secreted factors. Q-PCR screening of several genes involved in melanoma biology reveals that ciglitazone inhibits expression of the CXCL1 chemokine gene. CXCL1 is overexpressed in melanoma and contributes to tumorigenicity. We show that ciglitazone induces a diminution of CXCL1 level in different human melanoma cell lines. This effect is mediated by the downregulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, MITF, the master gene in melanocyte differentiation and involved in melanoma development. Further, recombinant CXCL1 protein is sufficient to abrogate thiazolidinedione effects such as apoptosis induction, whereas extinction of the CXCL1 pathway mimics phenotypic changes observed in response to ciglitazone. Finally, inhibition of human melanoma tumor development in nude mice treated with ciglitazone is associated with a strong decrease in MITF and CXCL1 levels. Our results show that anti-melanoma effects of thiazolidinediones involve an inhibition of the MITF/CXCL1 axis and highlight the key role of this specific pathway in melanoma malignancy.

The tyrosine kinase Syk regulates survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells through PKCδ phosphorylation and proteasome-dependent regulation of Mcl-1 expression (88.22)

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of mature monoclonal CD5+ B cells. The disease results mainly from a failure of cells to undergo apoptosis, a process largely influenced by the existence of constitutively activated components of BCR signaling and the deregulated expression of anti-apoptotic molecules. Recent evidence pointing to a critical role of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) in ligand-independent BCR signaling prompted us to examine its role in CLL cells survival. Using primary leukemic cells, we show that pharmacologic inhibition of constitutive Syk activity and depletion of its expression by siRNAs led to a dramatic decrease of cell viability in all tested CLL samples (n=44/44), regardless of clinical and biological status, and induced typical apoptotic cell death, with mitochondrial failure followed by caspase 3-dependent cell death. These events were accompanied by a decreased phosphorylation of PKCδ, but not PKCα/β, and by a down-regulation of Mcl-1, but not XIAP. Moreover, the degradation of Mcl-1 following Syk inhibition relied on a caspase-independent, but proteasome-dependent process, and was rescued by the expression of a proteasome-resistant Mcl-1 mutant. Together, our results show that Syk is a key regulator of B-CLL cell viability, and represents an attractive therapeutic target.

Spleen tyrosine kinase functions as a tumor suppressor in melanoma cells by inducing senescence-like growth arrest

Loss of tumor-suppressive pathways that control cellular senescence is a crucial step in malignant transformation. Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase that has been recently implicated in tumor suppression of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer derived from pigment-producing melanocytes. However, the mechanism by which Syk suppresses melanoma growth remains unclear. Here, we report that reexpression of Syk in melanoma cells induces a p53-dependent expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor p21 and a senescence program. We first observed that Syk expression is lost in a subset of melanoma cell lines, primarily by DNA methylation-mediated gene silencing and restored after treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine. We analyzed the significance of epigenetic inactivation of Syk and found that reintroduction of Syk in melanoma cells dramatically reduces clonogenic survival and three-dimensional tumor spheroid growth and invasion. Remarkably, melanoma cells reexpressing Syk display hallmarks of senescent cells, including reduction of proliferative activity and DNA synthesis, large and flattened morphology, senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, and heterochromatic foci. This phenotype is accompanied by hypophosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (Rb) and accumulation of p21, which depends on functional p53. Our results highlight a new role for Syk tyrosine kinase in regulating cellular senescence and identify Syk-mediated senescence as a novel tumor suppressor pathway the inactivation of which may contribute to melanoma tumorigenicity.

In vitro and in vivo anti-melanoma effects of ciglitazone

Activation of PPARgamma by synthetic ligands, thiazolidinediones, inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells. In this report, focusing our attention on ciglitazone, we show that ciglitazone inhibits melanoma growth by inducing apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, whereas normal melanocytes are resistant to ciglitazone. In melanoma cells, ciglitazone-induced apoptosis is associated with caspase activations and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Induction of cell-cycle arrest by ciglitazone is associated with changes in expression of key cell-cycle regulators such as p21, cyclin D1, and pRB hypophosphorylation. Cell-cycle arrest occurs at low ciglitazone concentrations and through a PPARgamma-dependent pathway, whereas the induction of apoptosis is caused by higher ciglitazone concentrations and independently of PPARgamma. These results allow an effective molecular dissociation between proapoptotic effects and growth inhibition evoked by ciglitazone in melanoma cells. Finally, we show that in vivo treatment of nude mice by ciglitazone dramatically inhibits human melanoma xenograft development. The data presented suggest that ciglitazone might be a better candidate for clinical trials in melanoma treatment than the thiazolidinediones currently used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, such as rosiglitazone, which is devoid of a proapoptotic PPARgamma-independent function.

Regulation of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine during adipose conversion and adipose tissue hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE

To explore the regulation of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) expression and its role in adipose tissue.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

We studied the regulation of SPARC expression in transgenic mice expressing the human beta3 and alpha2 adrenergic receptors on a murine beta3 adrenergic receptor null background that became obese under a high-fat diet mainly as a result of adipose tissue hyperplasia. Furthermore, we analyzed its expression in human adipose tissue and its regulation during adipocyte differentiation.

RESULTS

SPARC protein in adipose tissue was increased in obese transgenic mice compared with control mice, indicating that SPARC expression was associated with adipose tissue hyperplasia. Both SPARC mRNA and protein were detected in human adipose tissue. Comparing adipocytes and vascular stroma, we found that SPARC expression was mainly associated with the adipocyte fraction. Consistent with this, SPARC transcript increased during differentiation of human primary preadipocytes. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes showed an increase in SPARC expression in differentiated cells but with biphasic expression during the process. After induction in committed cells, SPARC mRNA and protein levels declined as differentiation began and returned to elevated levels in fully differentiated adipocytes.

DISCUSSION

SPARC expression correlated with adipose tissue hyperplasia and adipogenesis. Therefore, SPARC seems to play a role in adipose tissue physiology as it is involved in growth and differentiation.

Tumor-derived fibronectin is involved in melanoma cell invasion and regulated by V600E B-Raf signaling pathway

Melanomas are malignant tumors of melanocytes that, if not detected early, are highly aggressive and poorly treatable. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling is commonly found in melanomas mainly through oncogenic mutations of B-Raf. We previously reported that activation of ERK/MAP kinase stimulates synthesis of fibronectin by upregulating the transcription factor early growth response-1 (Egr-1). To further analyze the link between ERK/MAP kinase pathway and fibronectin in melanoma, we have studied the regulation and role of fibronectin produced by melanoma cells bearing oncogenic B-Raf mutation. We show that fibronectin is expressed in situ during tumor progression and that high fibronectin and Egr-1 levels are found in cells expressing this mutation. Expression of active mutants of B-Raf induces fibronectin, whereas endogenous fibronectin is inhibited by small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of B-Raf or Egr-1. In contrast, stimulation of ERK pathway is insufficient to promote fibronectin upregulation in normal melanocytes. Finally, we show that suppression of fibronectin by siRNA leads to decreased melanoma cell invasiveness in vitro. These results reveal a tumor-specific regulation of fibronectin by constitutive ERK/MAP kinase signaling and indicate that self-production of fibronectin may play a role in melanoma tumorigenesis, by promoting tumor cell invasion.

SPARC represses E-cadherin and induces mesenchymal transition during melanoma development

During progression of melanoma, loss of the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin contributes to uncontrolled growth and invasive behavior of transformed melanocytes. Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a nonstructural matricellular protein that regulates cell-matrix interactions leading to alterations in cell adhesion and proliferation. Overexpression of SPARC has been associated with progression of various cancers, including melanoma; however, its role in primary tumor development is not well defined. We show that normal human melanocytes overexpressing SPARC adopt a fibroblast-like morphology, concomitant with loss of E-cadherin and P-cadherin expression, and increased expression of mesenchymal markers. Concurrent with these changes, SPARC expression stimulates melanocyte motility and melanoma cell invasion. Expression of SPARC results in transcriptional down-regulation of E-cadherin that correlates with induction of Snail, a repressor of E-cadherin. Conversely, SPARC depletion leads to up-regulation of E-cadherin and reduces Snail levels, and SPARC-null cells exhibit a marked change in their mesenchymal phenotype. Finally, analysis of SPARC, Snail, and E-cadherin levels in melanocytes and malignant melanoma cell lines further supports the functional relationship among these proteins during melanoma progression. Our findings provide evidence for the role of SPARC in early transformation of melanocytes and identify a novel mechanism, whereby tumor-derived SPARC promotes tumorigenesis by mediating Snail induction and E-cadherin suppression.

PI3K mediates protection against TRAIL-induced apoptosis in primary human melanocytes

Melanocytes are cells of the epidermis that synthesize melanin, which is responsible for skin pigmentation. Transformation of melanocytes leads to melanoma, a highly aggressive neoplasm, which displays resistance to apoptosis. In this report, we demonstrate that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which was thought to kill only transformed cells, promotes very efficiently apoptosis of primary human melanocytes, leading to activation of caspases 8, 9 and 3, and the cleavage of vital proteins. Further, we show that stem cell factor (SCF), a physiologic melanocyte growth factor that activates both the phosphatidyl-inositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathways, strongly protects melanocytes from TRAIL and staurosporine killing. Interestingly, inhibition of PI3K or its downstream target AKT completely blocks the antiapoptotic effect of SCF, while inhibition of ERK has only a moderate effect. Our data indicate that protection evoked by SCF/PI3K/AKT cascade is not mediated by an increase in the intracellular level of FLIP. Further, only a sustained PI3K activity can protect melanocytes from apoptosis, thereby indicating that the PI3K/AKT pathway plays a pivotal role in melanocyte survival. The results gathered in this report bring new information on the molecular mechanisms involved in primary melanocyte apoptosis and survival that would help to better understand the process by which melanomas acquire their resistance to apoptosis.

HGF induces fibronectin matrix synthesis in melanoma cells through MAP kinase-dependent signaling pathway and induction of Egr-1

The matrix fibronectin protein is a multifunctional adhesive molecule that promotes migration and invasiveness of many tumors including melanomas. Increased fibronectin synthesis has been associated with the metastatic potential of melanoma cells; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying fibronectin overexpression during melanoma development are poorly understood. We report that hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF) induces fibronectin expression and its extracellular assembly on the surface of melanoma cells through activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway, and induction and transcriptional activation of Early growth response-1 (Egr-1). Inhibition of B-RAF/MAP kinase pathway by dominant-negative mutants and by U0126-abrogated HGF-induced Egr-1, and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that Egr-1 is bound to the fibronectin promoter in response to HGF. Exogenously expressed Egr-1 increased fibronectin levels, while blockage of Egr-1 activation by expression of the Egr-1 corepressor NAB2 interfered with the upregulation of fibronectin synthesis induced by HGF, indicating that Egr-1 exerts a significant role in fibronectin expression in response to HGF. Finally, analysis of the expression pattern of fibronectin in melanoma cells demonstrated that fibronectin levels are correlated with constitutive MAP kinase signaling. Our data define a novel mechanism that might have important implications in regulation of melanoma progression by autocrine HGF signaling or by constitutive activation of MAP kinase pathway.

Pathological Prion Protein Exposure Switches on Neuronal Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway Resulting in Microglia Recruitment

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are accompanied by the recruitment of microglial cells in the vicinity of amyloid aggregates of the pathological prion protein (PrPres). We previously showed that PrPres itself triggered the recruitment of microglia by interacting with neurons leading to the up-regulation of the expression level of chemokines, mainly RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted). The intracellular mechanisms underlying the PrPres-inducible expression of chemokines in this setting are not clear. Here we demonstrate that the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is switched on shortly after PrPres exposure to neurons leading to the expression of early growth response factor-1 (Egr-1), a transcription factor initially linked to differentiation and growth and to up-regulation of RANTES mRNA expression. PD98059, a selective inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 activation, resulted in a decrease of RANTES mRNA expression and as a consequence to the lowering of microglial cell migration. Neuronal overexpression of Nab2, a corepressor of Egr-1, produced similar effects. PrPres-induced chemoattraction is independent of the presence of PrPc and the laminin receptor on the neuronal cell surface. Our report is the first demonstration that PrPres exposure on neurons results in the activation of the MAP kinase signaling pathway that acts as a master switch to trigger neuronal expression of regulators of chemoattraction.

Gene expression profiling of normal human pulmonary fibroblasts following coculture with non-small-cell lung cancer cells reveals alterations related to matrix degradation, angiogenesis, cell growth and survival

Increasing evidence supports a major role for the microenvironment in carcinoma formation and progression. The influence of the stroma is partly mediated by signalling between epithelial tumor cells and neighboring fibroblasts. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions are largely unknown. To mimic the initial steps of invasive carcinoma in which tumor cells come in contact with normal stromal cells, we used a coculture model of non-small-cell lung cancer tumor cells and normal pulmonary fibroblasts. Using DNA filter arrays, we first analysed the overall modification of gene expression profile after a 24 h period of coculture. Next, we focused our interest on the transcriptome of the purified fibroblastic fraction of coculture using both DNA filter arrays and a laboratory-made DNA microarray. These experiments allowed the identification of a set of modulated genes coding for growth and survival factors, angiogenic factors, proteases and protease inhibitors, transmembrane receptors, kinases and transcription regulators that can potentially affect the regulation of matrix degradation, angiogenesis, invasion, cell growth and survival. This study represents to our knowledge the first attempt to dissect early global gene transcription occurring in a tumor-stroma coculture model and should help to understand better some of the molecular mechanisms involved in heterotypic signalling between epithelial tumor cells and fibroblasts.

Matrix metalloproteinases are differentially expressed in adipose tissue during obesity and modulate adipocyte differentiation

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are essential for proper extracellular matrix remodeling, a process that takes place during obesity-mediated adipose tissue formation. Here, we examine expression profiles and the potential role of MMPs and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) in adipose tissue remodeling during obesity. Expression patterns are studied by Northern blot and real-time PCR in two genetic models of obesity (ob/ob and db/db mice) and in a diet-induced model of obesity (AKR mice). Of the MMPs and TIMPs studied, mRNA levels for MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-12, MMP-14, MMP-19, and TIMP-1 are strongly induced in obese adipose tissues compared with lean tissues. In contrast, MMP-7 and TIMP-3 mRNAs are markedly decreased in obesity. Interestingly, enzymatic activities of MMP-12 and of a new identified adipocyte-derived 30-kDa metalloproteinase are enhanced in obese adipose tissue fractions, demonstrating that MMP/TIMP balance is shifted toward increased matrix degradation in obesity. Finally, we analyze the modulation of MMP-2, MMP-19, and TIMP-1 during 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation, and we explore the effect of inhibition of MMP activity on in vitro adipogenesis. We find that the synthetic MMP inhibitor BB-94 (Batimastat) decreases adipose conversion of 3T3-L1 and primary rat preadipocytes. BB-94 represses differentiation without affecting mitotic clonal expansion but prevents the early expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta, a transcription factor that is thought to play a major role in the adipogenic program. Such findings support a role for the MMP/TIMP system in the control of proteolytic events and adipogenesis during obesity-mediated fat mass development.

Vav1 couples T cell receptor to serum response factor-dependent transcription via a MEK-dependent pathway

The Vav family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors for Rho family GTPases plays a critical role in lymphocyte proliferation, gene transcription, and cytoskeleton reorganization following immunoreceptor stimulation. However, its role in immediate early gene activation is unclear. In this study, we have investigated the mechanisms by which Vav1 can regulate c-fos serum response element transcriptional activity. We show that T cell antigen receptor (TCR) stimulation induces the phosphorylation of serum response factor (SRF) on serine 103 and increases the binding of SRF complexes on serum response element in a MEK- and p38-dependent pathway. The physiological relevance of our findings is supported by the inhibition of the interleukin-2 gene transcriptional activity by a dominant negative SRF mutant. Overexpression of Vav1, which partially mimics TCR stimulation, promotes SRF-dependent transcription, and dominant negative Vav1 mutants block SRF activation by TCR. SRF activation by Vav1 occurs through a signaling cascade consisting of Rac1/Cdc42 and the serine/threonine kinases Pak1 and MEK, but independently of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway. Interestingly, Vav2 also enhances SRF through Rho GTPases, suggesting that Vav proteins are general regulators of SRF activation in lymphocytes. This report establishes Vav proteins as a direct link between antigen receptors and SRF-dependent early gene expression.

Dual roles of p300 in chromatin assembly and transcriptional activation in cooperation with nucleosome assembly protein 1 in vitro

In a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify proteins that bind to the KIX domain of the coactivator p300, we obtained cDNAs encoding nucleosome assembly protein 1 (NAP-1), a 60-kDa histone H2A-H2B shuttling protein that promotes histone deposition. p300 associates preferentially with the H2A-H2B-bound form of NAP-1 rather than with the unbound form of NAP-1. Formation of NAP-1-p300 complexes was found to increase during S phase, suggesting a potential role for p300 in chromatin assembly. In micrococcal nuclease and supercoiling assays, addition of p300 promoted efficient chromatin assembly in vitro in conjunction with NAP-1 and ATP-utilizing chromatin assembly and remodeling factor; this effect was dependent in part on the intrinsic histone acetyltransferase activity of p300. Surprisingly, NAP-1 potently inhibited acetylation of core histones by p300, suggesting that efficient assembly requires acetylation of either NAP-1 or p300 itself. As p300 acted cooperatively with NAP-1 in stimulating transcription from a chromatin template in vitro, our results suggest a dual role of NAP-1-p300 complexes in promoting chromatin assembly and transcriptional activation.

Prostaglandin E2 induces interaction between hSlo potassium channel and Syk tyrosine kinase in osteosarcoma cells

Prostaglandins (PGs) are important mediators of bone response to growth factors, hormones, inflammation, or mechanical strains. In this study, we show that in MG63 osteosarcoma cells, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) produces the opening of a large conductance Ca2+-dependent K+ channel (BK). This PGE2-mediated channel opening induces the recruitment of various tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins on the hSlo alpha-subunit of BK. Because the C-terminal domain of hSlo encompasses an immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM), we show that the Syk nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, reported yet to be expressed mainly in hematopoietic cells, is expressed also in osteoblastic cells, and recruited on this ITAM after a PGE2-induced docking/activation process. We show that Syk/hSlo association is dependent of an upstream Src-related tyrosine kinase activity, in accord with the classical two-step model described for immune receptors. Finally, we provide evidence that this Syk/hSlo interaction does not affect the electrical features of BK channels in osteosarcoma cells. With these data, we would like to suggest the new notion that besides its conductance function, hSlo channel can behave in bone cells, as a true transduction protein intervening in the bone remodeling induced by PGE2.

Surfing the insulin signaling web

The diverse biological actions of insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) are initiated by binding of the polypeptides to their respective cell surface tyrosine kinase receptors. These activated receptors phosphorylate a series of endogenous substrates on tyrosine, amongst which the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins are the best characterized. Their phosphotyrosine-containing motifs become binding sites for Src homology 2 (SH2) domains on proteins such as SH2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine-phosphatase (SHP)-2/Syp, growth factor receptor bound-2 protein, (Grb-2), and phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3 kinase), which participate in activation of specific signaling cascades. However, the IRS molecules are not only platforms for signaling molecules, they also orchestrate the generation of signal specificity, integration of signals induced by several extracellular stimuli, and signal termination and modulation. An extensive review is beyond the scope of the present article, which will be centered on our own contribution and reflect our biases.

The matricellular protein SPARC/osteonectin as a newly identified factor up-regulated in obesity

Alterations in the expression level of genes may contribute to the development and pathophysiology of obesity. To find genes differentially expressed in adipose tissue during obesity, we performed suppression subtractive hybridization on epididymal fat mRNA from goldthioglucose (GTG) obese mice and from their lean littermates. We identified the secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), a protein that mediates cell-matrix interactions and plays a role in modulation of cell adhesion, differentiation, and angiogenesis. SPARC mRNA expression in adipose tissue was markedly increased (between 3- and 6-fold) in three different models of obesity, i.e. GTG mice, ob/ob mice, and AKR mice, after 6 weeks of a high fat diet. Immunoblotting of adipocyte extracts revealed a similar increase in protein level. Using a SPARC-specific ELISA, we demonstrated that SPARC is secreted by isolated adipocytes. We found that insulin administration to mice increased SPARC mRNA in the adipose tissue. Food deprivation had no effect on SPARC expression, but after high fat refeeding SPARC mRNA levels were significantly increased. Our results reveal both hormonal and nutritional regulation of SPARC expression in the adipocyte, and importantly, its alteration in obesity. Finally, we show that purified SPARC increased mRNA levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in cultured rat adipose tissue suggesting that elevated adipocyte expression of SPARC might contribute to the abnormal expression of PAI-1 observed in obesity. We propose that SPARC is a newly identified autocrine/paracrine factor that could affect key functions in adipose tissue physiology and pathology.

Vav2 activates c-fos serum response element and CD69 expression but negatively regulates nuclear factor of activated T cells and interleukin-2 gene activation in T lymphocyte

Vav1 and Vav2 are members of the Dbl family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors for the Rho family of small GTPases. Although the role of Vav1 during lymphocyte development and activation is well characterized, the function of Vav2 is still unclear. In this study, we compared the signaling pathways regulated by Vav1 and Vav2 following engagement of the T cell receptor (TCR). We show that Vav2 is tyrosine-phosphorylated upon TCR stimulation and by co-expressed Src and Syk family kinases. Using glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, we observed that the Src homology 2 domain of Vav2 binds tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins from TCR-stimulated Jurkat T cell lysates, including c-Cbl and SLP-76. Like Vav1, Vav2 cooperated with TCR stimulation to increase extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation and to promote c-fos serum response element transcriptional activity. Moreover, both proteins displayed a similar action in increasing the expression of the early activation marker CD69 in Jurkat T cells. However, in contrast to Vav1, Vav2 dramatically suppressed TCR signals leading to nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT)-dependent transcription and induction of the interleukin-2 promoter. Vav2 appears to act upstream of the phosphatase calcineurin because a constitutively active form of calcineurin rescued the effect of Vav2 by restoring TCR-induced NF-AT activation. Interestingly, the Dbl homology and Src homology 2 domains of Vav2 were necessary for its inhibitory effect on NF-AT activation and for induction of serum response element transcriptional activity. Taken together, our results indicate that Vav1 and Vav2 exert overlapping but nonidentical functions in T cells. The negative regulatory pathway elicited by Vav2 might play an important role in regulating lymphocyte activation processes.

Stat 5B, activated by insulin in a Jak-independent fashion, plays a role in glucokinase gene transcription

Stat proteins are SH2 domain-containing transcription factors that are activated by various cytokines and growth factors. In a previous work, we have identified Stat 5B as a substrate of the insulin receptor based on yeast two-hybrid and mammalian cell transfection studies. In the present study, we have approached the biological relevance of the interaction between the insulin receptor and the transcription factor Stat 5B. Firstly, we show that both insulin and insulin-like growth factor I lead to tyrosine phosphorylation of Stat 5B, and this promotes binding of the transcription factor to the beta-casein promoter containing a Stat 5 binding site. Further, we demonstrate that insulin stimulates the transcriptional activity of Stat 5B. Activation of Stat 5B by insulin appears to be Jak2-independent, whereas Jak2 is required for GH-induced Stat 5B activation. Hence the pathway by which Stat 5B is activated by insulin is different from that used by GH. In addition, by using Jak1- and Tyk2-deficient cells we exclude the involvement of both Jak1 and Tyk2 in Stat 5B activation by insulin. Taken together, our results strengthen the notion that insulin receptor can directly activate Stat 5B. More importantly, we have identified a Stat 5 binding site in the human hepatic glucokinase promoter, and we show that insulin leads to a Stat 5B-dependent increase in transcription of a reporter gene carrying this promoter. These observations favor the idea that Stat 5B plays a role in mediating the expression of the glucokinase gene induced by insulin. As a whole, our results provide evidence for the occurrence of a newly identified circuit in insulin signaling in which the cell surface receptor is directly linked to nuclear events through a transcription factor. Further, we have revealed an insulin target gene whose expression is, at least in part, dependent on Stat 5B activation and/or binding.

Two distinct mutations of the RET receptor causing Hirschsprung's disease impair the binding of signalling effectors to a multifunctional docking site

The RET gene codes for a transmembrane tyrosine kinase which is a subunit of a multimeric complex that acts as a receptor for four structurally related molecules: the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), neurturin, artemin and persephin. Germline mutations of RET cause a dominantly inherited dysgenesis of the enteric nervous system known as Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR; aganglionosis megacolon). The majority of HSCR mutations results either in a reduction of dosage of the RET protein or in the loss of RET function. Two novel distinct mutations of RET that led either to the deletion of codon 1059 (denoted Delta1059) or to the substitution of a Pro for Leu1061 have been identified in five HSCR families. In one large pedigree, two children born from asymptomatic consanguineous parents presented a severe form of HSCR and were found to carry the mutation at codon 1061 in the homozygous state. A tyrosine residue at position 1062 is an intracytoplasmic docking site that enables RET to recruit several signalling molecules, including the Shc adaptor protein. We now report that both HSCR mutations impair the fixation of Shc to RET and consequently prevent its phosphorylation. In addition, quantitative analysis in PC12 cells reveals that mutation Delta1059 inactivates the ability of RET to transduce a downstream signal whereas mutation L1061P only partially inhibits the signalling of RET. Finally, we provide evidence that these effects are partly mediated via the disruption of the RET/Shc interaction. Collectively, these results demonstrate that HSCR can be ascribed to mutations of RET which interfere with the binding of transduction effectors, such as Shc, and further provide a biochemical explanation for the phenotype of patients carrying a homozygous mutation at codon 1061. Finally, these data indicate that Y1062 is a multifunctional docking site that confers to RET the capacity to engage downstream signalling pathways which exert a crucial role during enteric neurogenesis.

C-terminal Src kinase associates with ligand-stimulated insulin-like growth factor-I receptor

Increased expression of the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) protein-tyrosine kinase occurs in several kinds of cancer and induces neoplastic transformation in fibroblast cell lines. The transformed phenotype can be reversed by interfering with the function of the IGF-IR. The IGF-IR is required for transformation by a number of viral and cellular oncoproteins, including SV40 large T antigen, Ras, Raf, and Src. The IGF-IR is a substrate for Src in vitro and is phosphorylated in v-Src-transformed cells. We observed that the IGF-IR and IR associated with the C-terminal Src kinase (CSK) following ligand stimulation. We found that the SH2 domain of CSK binds to the tyrosine-phosphorylated form of IGF-IR and IR. We determined the tyrosine residues in the IGF-IR and in the IR responsible for this interaction. We also observed that fibroblasts stimulated with IGF-I or insulin showed a rapid and transient decrease in c-Src tyrosine kinase activity. The results suggest that c-Src and CSK are involved in IGF-IR and IR signaling and that the interaction of CSK with the IGF-IR may play a role in the decrease in c-Src activity following IGF-I stimulation.

Adaptor function for the Syk kinases-interacting protein 3BP2 in IL-2 gene activation

Syk-family tyrosine kinases are essential for lymphocyte development and activation. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify Syk kinases-interacting proteins (SKIPs), we isolated 3BP2, an Abl SH3-interacting protein of unknown function. 3BP2 was selectively expressed in hematopoietic/lymphoid tissues and bound via its SH2 domain activated Syk-family kinases in mammalian cells, including in antigen receptor-stimulated T cells. In addition to Zap-70, the 3BP2 SH2 domain associated in vitro with LAT, Grb2, PLCgamma1, and Cbl from activated T cell lysates. Transient 3BP2 overexpression induced transcriptional activation of the IL-2 promoter and its NFAT or AP-1 elements. This activity was dependent on the SH2 and pleckstrin-homology domains of 3BP2, and required functional Syk kinases, Ras, and calcineurin. Thus, 3BP2 is an important adaptor that may couple activated Zap-70/Syk to a LAT-containing signaling complex involved in TCR-mediated gene transcription.

Determination of Gab1 (Grb2-associated binder-1) interaction with insulin receptor-signaling molecules

The newly identified insulin receptor (IR) substrate, Gab1 [growth factor receptor bound 2 (Grb2)-associated binder-1] is rapidly phosphorylated on several tyrosine residues by the activated IR. Phosphorylated Gab1 acts as a docking protein for Src homology-2 (SH2) domain-containing proteins. These include the regulatory subunit p85 of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and phosphotyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2. In this report, using a modified version of the yeast two-hybrid system, we localized which Gab1 phospho-tyrosine residues are required for its interaction with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and with SHP-2. Our results demonstrate that to interact with p85 or SHP-2 SH2 domains, Gab1 must be tyrosine phosphorylated by IR. Further, we found that Gab1 tyrosine 472 is the major site for association with p85, while tyrosines 447 and 589 are participating in this process. Concerning Gab1/SHP-2 interaction, only mutation of tyrosine 627 prevents binding of Gab1 to SHP-2 SH2 domains, suggesting the occurrence of a monovalent binding event. Finally, we examined the role of Gab1 PH (Pleckstrin homology) domain in Gab1/IR interaction and in Gab1 tyrosine phosphorylation by IR. Using the modified two-hybrid system and in vitro experiments, we found that the Gab1 PH domain is not important for IR/ Gab1 interaction and for Gab1 tyrosine phosphorylation. In contrast, in intact mammalian cells, Gab1 PH domain appears to be crucial for its tyrosine phosphorylation and association with SHP-2 after insulin stimulation.

Identification of Stat 5B as a substrate of the insulin receptor

We have screened a human placenta library using the yeast two-hybrid system to identify proteins that interact with the cytoplasmic domain of the insulin receptor. Doing so, we trapped a cDNA clone which encodes the Stat 5B region comprising amino acids 469 to 786. We show that interaction between Stat 5B and the receptor requires a functional insulin-receptor kinase, Tyr960 of insulin receptor is implicated in the interaction with Stat 5B, whereas asparagine and proline forming the NPEY960-motif are not, and Stat 5B mutated at Thr684, a potential phosphorylation site of mitogen-activated protein kinase, loses its ability to interact with the insulin receptor. Further, we found that insulin promotes rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous Stat 5B in 293 EBNA cells overexpressing insulin receptor and in NHIR cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that Stat 5B corresponds to a substrate for the insulin-receptor kinase, and this widens the repertoire of insulin-signaling pathways.