EGFR trafficking: effect of dimerization, dynamics, and mutation

Spontaneous dimerization of EGF receptors (EGFR) and dysregulation of EGFR signaling has been associated with the development of different cancers. Under normal physiological conditions and to maintain homeostatic cell growth, once EGFR signaling occurs, it needs to be attenuated. Activated EGFRs are rapidly internalized, sorted through early endosomes, and ultimately degraded in lysosomes by a process generally known as receptor down-regulation. Through alterations to EGFR trafficking, tumors develop resistance to current treatment strategies, thus highlighting the necessity for combination treatment strategies that target EGFR trafficking. This review covers EGFR structure, trafficking, and altered surface expression of EGFR receptors in cancer, with a focus on how therapy targeting EGFR trafficking may aid tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment of cancer

Oncogenic Kras-mediated cytokine CCL15 regulates pancreatic cancer cell migration and invasion through ROS

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is well known for its high death rate due to prompt cancer metastasis caused by cancer cell migration and invasion within the early stages of its development. Here, we reveal a new function of cytokine CCL15, namely the upregulation of PDAC cell migration and invasion. We showed increased levels of CCL15 transcripts and protein expressions in human PDAC tissue samples, as well as in cultured cell lines. Furthermore, PDAC cells also expressed CCL15 receptors, including CCR1 and CCR3. Murine PDAC cell lines and tissues strengthened this finding. The manipulation of CCL15 in metastatic Panc-1 cells through CCL15 knockdown or CCL15 neutralization decreased Panc-1 cell motility and invasiveness. In addition, treating non-metastatic BxPC-3 cells with recombinant CCL15 accelerated the cell migration of BxPC-3. A reduction in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by either N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine treatment or p22phox knockdown led to a decrease in Panc-1 cell migration and a reversed effect on recombinant CCL15-promoted BxPC-3 cell movement. Importantly, the knockdown of oncogenic Kras in Panc-1 cells abolished CCL15 protein expression and impeded cell migration without affecting PDAC cell growth. Altogether, our work elucidates an additional molecular pathway of oncogenic Kras to promote PDAC metastasis through the upregulation of cell migration and invasion by the Kras downstream CCL15, a lesser-known cytokine within the cancer research field

Differential Regulation of TCR-mediated Gene Transcription by Vav Family Members

Although all three Vav family members are expressed in T lymphocytes, the role that Vav3 plays in T cell activation is poorly defined. Here we show that, like Vav1, Vav3 undergoes rapid tyrosine phosphorylation after T cell receptor (TCR) cross-linkage and interacts with the adaptor molecules SLP76 and 3BP2 in a SH2-dependent manner. However, depletion of Vav1 but not Vav3 protein by RNA interference affects TCR-mediated IL-2 promoter activity. In contrast, Vav3 function is specifically required for coupling TCR stimulation to serum response element–mediated gene transcription. These data indicate that, although both Vav proteins are biochemically coupled to the TCR, they regulate distinct molecular pathways leading to defined gene transcriptional events

Regulation of copper homeostasis by members of the COMMD protein family

Copper is an essential transition metal for all eukaryotes. In mammals, intestinal copper absorption is mediated by the ATP7A copper transporter, whereas copper excretion occurs predominatly through the biliary route and is mediated by the paralog ATP7B. Both transporters have been shown to be actively recycled between the endosomal network and the plasma membrane by a molecular machinery known as the COMMD/CCDC22/CCDC93 or CCC complex. In fact, mutations in COMMD1 can lead to impaired biliary copper excretion and liver pathology in dogs and mice with liver-specific Commd1 deficiency recapitulating aspects of this phenotype as well. Nonetheless, the role of the CCC complex in intestinal copper absorption in vivo has not been studied, and the potential redundancy of various COMMD family members has not been tested. In this study, we examined copper homeostasis in enterocyte-specific and hepatocyte-specific Commd-deficient mice. We find that in contrast to effects in cell lines in culture, COMMD protein deficiency induces minimal changes in ATP7A in enterocytes and does not lead to altered copper levels under low or high copper diets, suggesting that regulation of ATP7A in enterocytes is not of physiologic consequence. In contrast, deficiency of any of 3 Commd genes (Commd1, 6, and 9) all result in hepatic copper accumulation under high copper diets. We find that each of these deficiencies cause destabilization of the entire CCC complex, and suggest that this might explain their shared phenotype. Overall, we conclude that the CCC complex plays an important role in ATP7B endosomal recycling and function

Structural and Energetic Mechanisms of Cooperative Autoinhibition and Activation of Vav1

SummaryVav proteins are guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for Rho family GTPases. They control processes including T cell activation, phagocytosis, and migration of normal and transformed cells. We report the structure and biophysical and cellular analyses of the five-domain autoinhibitory element of Vav1. The catalytic Dbl homology (DH) domain of Vav1 is controlled by two energetically coupled processes. The DH active site is directly, but weakly, inhibited by a helix from the adjacent Acidic domain. This core interaction is strengthened 10-fold by contacts of the calponin homology (CH) domain with the Acidic, pleckstrin homology, and DH domains. This construction enables efficient, stepwise relief of autoinhibition: initial phosphorylation events disrupt the modulatory CH contacts, facilitating phosphorylation of the inhibitory helix and consequent GEF activation. Our findings illustrate how the opposing requirements of strong suppression of activity and rapid kinetics of activation can be achieved in multidomain systems

Inhibition of GSK-3 induces differentiation and impaired glucose metabolism in renal cancer

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), a constitutively active serine/threonine kinase, is a key regulator of numerous cellular processes ranging from glycogen metabolism to cell cycle regulation and proliferation. Consistent with its involvement in many pathways, it has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of various human diseases including Type II diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, inflammation and cancer. Consequently it is recognized as an attractive target for the development of new drugs. In the present study, we investigated the effect of both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of GSK-3 in two different renal cancer cell lines. We have shown potent anti-proliferative activity of 9-ING-41, a maleimide-based GSK-3 inhibitor. The anti-proliferative activity is most likely caused by G0-G1 and G2-M phase arrest as evident from cell cycle analysis. We have established that inhibition of GSK-3 imparted a differentiated phenotype in renal cancer cells. We have also shown that GSK-3 inhibition induced autophagy, likely as a result of imbalanced energy homeostasis caused by impaired glucose metabolism. Additionally, we have demonstrated the antitumor activity of 9-ING-41 in two different subcutaneous xenograft RCC tumor models. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing autophagy induction due to GSK-3 inhibition in renal cancer cells