Lys63-Linked Polyubiquitination of Transforming Growth Factor β Type I Receptor (TβRI) Specifies Oncogenic Signaling

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a multifunctional cytokine with potent regulatory effects on cell fate during embryogenesis, in the normal adult organism, and in cancer cells. In normal cells, the signal from the TGFβ ligand is transduced from the extracellular space to the cell nucleus by transmembrane serine–threonine kinase receptors in a highly specific manner. The dimeric ligand binding to the TGFβ Type II receptor (TβRII) initiates the signal and then recruits the TGFβ Type I receptor (TβRI) into the complex, which activates TβRI. This causes phosphorylation of receptor-activated Smad proteins Smad2 and Smad3 and promotes their nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity in complex with context-dependent transcription factors. In several of our most common forms of cancer, this pathway is instead regulated by polyubiquitination of TβRI by the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6, which is associated with TβRI. The activation of TRAF6 promotes the proteolytic cleavage of TβRI, liberating its intracellular domain (TβRI-ICD). TβRI-ICD enters the cancer cell nucleus in a manner dependent on the endosomal adaptor proteins APPL1/APPL2. Nuclear TβRI-ICD promotes invasion by cancer cells and is recognized as acting distinctly and differently from the canonical TGFβ-Smad signaling pathway occurring in normal cells

Перспективы развития солнечной энергетики в Республике Беларусь

Материалы XVIII Междунар. науч.-техн. конф. студентов, аспирантов и молодых ученых, Гомель, 26–27 апр. 2018 г

Helicobacter pylori Adapts to Chronic Infection and Gastric Disease via pH-Responsive BabA-Mediated Adherence

International audienceThe BabA adhesin mediates high-affinity binding of Helicobacter pylori to the ABO blood group antigen-glycosylated gastric mucosa. Here we show that BabA is acid responsive-binding is reduced at low pH and restored by acid neutralization. Acid responsiveness differs among strains; often correlates with different intragastric regions and evolves during chronic infection and disease progression; and depends on pH sensor sequences in BabA and on pH reversible formation of high-affinity binding BabA multimers. We propose that BabA's extraordinary reversible acid responsiveness enables tight mucosal bacterial adherence while also allowing an effective escape from epithelial cells and mucus that are shed into the acidic bactericidal lumen and that bio-selection and changes in BabA binding properties through mutation and recombination with babA-related genes are selected by differences among individuals and by changes in gastric acidity over time. These processes generate diverse H. pylori subpopulations, in which BabA's adaptive evolution contributes to H. pylori persistence and overt gastric disease

The Synergistic Cooperation between TGF-Cancer and Fibrosis

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional cytokine regulating homeostasis and immune responses in adult animals and humans. Aberrant and overactive TGF-β signaling promotes cancer initiation and fibrosis through epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), as well as the invasion and metastatic growth of cancer cells. TGF-β is a key factor that is active during hypoxic conditions in cancer and is thereby capable of contributing to angiogenesis in various types of cancer. Another potent role of TGF-β is suppressing immune responses in cancer patients. The strong tumor-promoting effects of TGF-β and its profibrotic effects make it a focus for the development of novel therapeutic strategies against cancer and fibrosis as well as an attractive drug target in combination with immune regulatory checkpoint inhibitors. TGF-β belongs to a family of cytokines that exert their function through signaling via serine/threonine kinase transmembrane receptors to intracellular Smad proteins via the canonical pathway and in combination with co-regulators such as the adaptor protein and E3 ubiquitin ligases TRAF4 and TRAF6 to promote non-canonical pathways. Finally, the outcome of gene transcription initiated by TGF-β is context-dependent and controlled by signals exerted by other growth factors such as EGF and Wnt. Here, we discuss the synergistic cooperation between TGF-β and hypoxia in development, fibrosis and cancer

VHL status regulates transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways in renal cell carcinoma

To evaluate the role of pVHL in the regulation of TGF-β signaling pathways in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) as well as in non-ccRCC; the expression of pVHL, and the TGF-β pathway components and their association with clinicopathological parameters and patient’s survival were explored. Tissue samples from 143 ccRCC and 58 non-ccRCC patients were examined by immunoblot. ccRCC cell lines were utilized for mechanistic in-vitro studies. Expression levels of pVHL were significantly lower in ccRCC compared with non-ccRCC. Non-ccRCC and ccRCC pVHL-High expressed similar levels of pVHL. Expression of the TGF-β type I receptor (ALK5) and intra-cellular domain were significantly higher in ccRCC compared with non-ccRCC. In non-ccRCC, expressions of ALK5-FL, ALK5-ICD, pSMAD2/3, and PAI-1 had no association with clinicopathological parameters and survival. In ccRCC pVHL-Low, ALK5-FL, ALK5-ICD, pSMAD2/3, and PAI-1 were significantly related with tumor stage, size, and survival. In ccRCC pVHL-High, the expression of PAI-1 was associated with stage and survival. In-vitro studies revealed that pVHL interacted with ALK5 to downregulate its expression through K48-linked poly-ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation, thus negatively controlling TGF-β induced cancer cell invasiveness. The pVHL status controls the ALK5 and can thereby regulate the TGF-β pathway, aggressiveness of tumors, and survival of the ccRCC and non-ccRCC patients

Role of Wnt Signaling Pathways in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Pathogenesis in Relation to VHL and HIF Status

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) encompasses various tumor types characterized by a variety of genetic abnormalities. The genetic changes, like mutations, deletions, and epigenetic alterations, can affect the signaling components and signaling networks, causing the modification of tumor pathogenesis and prognosis of RCC. The most prevalent RCC, clear cell RCC (ccRCC), is asymptomatic in the early stages, refractory to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and has a poorer prognosis compared with the papillary and chromophobe ccRCC types. Loss of the VHL gene and upregulation of oxygen sensors, hypoxia-inducible factor alphas (HIF-α), which promote different growth factors, is a signature of sporadic ccRCC. The VHL-HIF-α and Wnt/β-catenin pathways are closely connected and contribute to the ontogeny of ccRCC. This review confines to ccRCC and the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways and its crosstalk with VHL/HIF

PKC sigma facilitates lymphatic metastatic spread of prostate cancer cells in a mice xenograft model

Prostate cancer disseminates primarily into the adjacent lymph nodes, which is related to a poor outcome. Atypical protein kinase C ζ (PKCζ) is highly expressed in aggressive prostate cancer and correlates with Gleason score, clinical stage, and poor prognosis. Here, we report the molecular mechanisms of PKCζ in lymphatic metastasis during prostate cancer progression. Using zinc-finger nuclease technology or PKCζ shRNA lentiviral particles, and orthotopic mouse xenografts, we show that PKCζ-knockout or knockdown from aggressive prostate cancer (PC3 and PC3U) cells, decreasesd tumor growth and lymphatic metastasis in vivo. Intriguingly, PKCζ-knockout or knockdown impaired the activation of AKT, ERK, and NF-κB signaling in prostate cancer cells, thereby impairing the expression of lymphangiogenic factors and macrophage recruitment, resulting in aberrant lymphangiogenesis. Moreover, PKCζ regulated the expression of hyaluronan synthase enzymes, which is important for hyaluronan-mediated lymphatic drainage and tumor dissemination. Thus, PKCζ plays a crucial oncogenic role in the lymphatic metastasis of prostate cancer and is predicted to be a novel therapeutic target for prostate cancer