ODZ1 allows glioblastoma to sustain invasiveness through a Myc-dependent transcriptional upregulation of RhoA.

Long-term survival remains low for most patients with glioblastoma (GBM), which reveals the need for markers of disease outcome and novel therapeutic targets. We describe that ODZ1 (also known as TENM1), a type II transmembrane protein involved in fetal brain development, plays a crucial role in the invasion of GBM cells. Differentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells drives the nuclear translocation of an intracellular fragment of ODZ1 through proteolytic cleavage by signal peptide peptidase-like 2a. The intracellular fragment of ODZ1 promotes cytoskeletal remodelling of GBM cells and invasion of the surrounding environment both in vitro and in vivo. Absence of ODZ1 by gene deletion or downregulation of ODZ1 by small interfering RNAs drastically reduces the invasive capacity of GBM cells. This activity is mediated by an ODZ1-triggered transcriptional pathway, through the E-box binding Myc protein, that promotes the expression and activation of Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) and subsequent activation of Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK). Overexpression of ODZ1 in GBM cells reduced survival of xenografted mice. Consistently, analysis of 122 GBM tumour samples revealed that the number of ODZ1-positive cells inversely correlated with overall and progression-free survival. Our findings establish a novel marker of invading GBM cells and consequently a potential marker of disease progression and a therapeutic target in GBM.

Active kinase profiling, genetic and pharmacological data define mTOR as an important common target in triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer. Despite response to chemotherapy, relapses are frequent and resistance to available treatments is often seen in the metastatic setting. Therefore, identification of new therapeutic targets is required. With this aim, we have profiled the activation status of 44 receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their major signaling pathways in patient-derived TNBC tumors. Frequent co-activation of several RTKs as well as the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (Erk1/2) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) routes was found. Pharmacologic targeting of the activated kinases indicated that agents that attack the mTOR route are more potent and efficient antitumoral treatments than agents targeting RTKs. mTOR signals through two multiprotein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2. We used a genetic approach to explore the contribution of each of the two mTOR branches to the regulation of cell number of TNBC cells. RNA interference experiments indicated that mTORC1 predominated over mTORC2 in the control of TNBC cell proliferation. Moreover, RNA interference of mTOR had a superior antiproliferative action than separately acting on mTORC1 or mTORC2. To analyze the relevance of mTOR targeting in vivo, we used mice with TNBC. Treatment of these mice with BEZ235, a drug that targets mTOR, slowed tumor growth. Mechanistically, BEZ235 delayed cell cycle progression without affecting cell viability. Our results show that TNBCs are particularly sensitive to inhibition of the mTOR pathway, and indicate that mTOR targeting may be a more efficient anti-TNBC therapy than exclusively acting on the mTORC1 branch of the pathway. This is relevant as most mTOR inhibitors used in the clinic act on mTORC1. Collectively with the fact that BEZ235 synergized with drugs commonly used in the treatment of TNBC, our data support the clinical development of agents that act on mTOR as a therapy for this disease.

Synergic antitumoral effect of an IGF-IR inhibitor and trastuzumab on HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Receptor tyrosine kinases play an important role in breast cancer. One of them, the type I insulin-like growth factor, has been linked to resistance to trastuzumab (Herceptin), an agent that targets human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Here, we show that the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) antagonist NVP-AEW541 inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells and synergizes with trastuzumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patient samples and breast cancer cell lines were evaluated for IGF-IR expression or activation by western blotting. 1-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-diphenylformazan (MTT) uptake assays and Annexin V staining were used for the analyses of cell proliferation/apoptosis. Biochemical and genomic studies were carried out to gain insights into the mechanism of action of NVP-AEW541. RESULTS: The IGF-IR was expressed above normal levels in a number of breast cancer samples. Activation of this receptor was inhibited by NVP-AEW541 that also decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. NVP-AEW541 decreased the amount of pAkt and increased the level of p27. Combination studies with several drugs used in the breast cancer clinic showed that NVP-AEW541 synergistically increased the action of trastuzumab. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show the anti-breast cancer action of NVP-AEW541 and support the clinical development of anti-IGF-IR agents, especially in combination with trastuzumab.

Differential shedding of transmembrane neuregulin isoforms by the tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme.

The neuregulins (NRGs) are a family of EGF-like factors that activate receptor tyrosine kinases of the ErbB/HER type. Some NRGs are membrane anchored and are released upon cleavage of the ectodomain. Here we have investigated the characteristics of the cleavage of different transmembrane NRG isoforms (proNRG) that diverge in domains that have been implicated in the regulation of the cleavage of other membrane-anchored growth factors. We show that cleavage of proNRGs is complex and generates several cell-bound truncated fragments. Comparison of the resting generation of these truncated fragments between proNRG forms that diverge in the linker region that connects the EGF-like module to the transmembrane domain revealed that proNRG beta 2a was relatively resistant to processing compared to proNRG beta 4a which was processed more efficiently than proNRG alpha 2a. An important role for this linker in proNRG cleavage was supported by deletion analysis of this region that prevented NRG solubilization. Studies aimed at the identification of the proteolytic machinery responsible for proNRG processing indicated that metalloproteases were involved in proNRG processing. This was further supported by the fact that cleavage of proNRG alpha 2c was defective in fibroblasts derived from TACE(-/-) animals that express an inactive form of the metalloprotease TACE.

Stimulation of cleavage of membrane proteins by calmodulin inhibitors.

The ectodomain of several membrane-bound proteins can be shed by proteolytic cleavage. The activity of the proteases involved in shedding is highly regulated by several intracellular second messenger pathways, such as protein kinase C (PKC) and intracellular Ca(2+). Recently, the shedding of the adhesion molecule L-selectin has been shown to be regulated by the interaction of calmodulin (CaM) with the cytosolic tail of L-selectin. Prevention of CaM-L-selectin interaction by CaM inhibitors or mutation of a CaM binding site in L-selectin induced L-selectin ectodomain shedding. Whether this action of CaM inhibitors also affects other membrane-bound proteins is not known. In the present paper we show that CaM inhibitors also stimulate the cleavage of several other transmembrane proteins, such as the membrane-bound growth factor precursors pro-transforming growth factor-alpha and pro-neuregulin-alpha2c, the receptor tyrosine kinase, TrkA, and the beta-amyloid precursor protein. Cleavage induced by CaM inhibitors was a rapid event, and resulted from the activation of a mechanism that was independent of PKC or intracellular Ca(2+) increases, but was highly sensitive to hydroxamic acid-based metalloprotease inhibitors. Mutational analysis of the intracellular domain of the TrkA receptor indicated that CaM inhibitors may stimulate membrane-protein ectodomain cleavage by mechanisms independent of CaM-substrate interaction.

Signalling-competent truncated forms of ErbB2 in breast cancer cells: differential regulation by protein kinase C and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

Alterations that affect the ectodomain of receptor tyrosine kinases are often associated with constitutive activation of the enzymic activity of the mutant cell-associated receptor. Since the ectodomain of the ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase has been detected as a soluble fragment in the culture supernatant of cells and serum from patients with advanced breast cancer, the possible presence of cell-associated truncated forms of ErbB2 in cancer cells was investigated. Several cell-bound N-terminal truncated forms of ErbB2 were identified in breast cancer cells overexpressing this receptor. The presence of the truncated fragments was independent of lysosomal/proteasomal activity, indicating that classical receptor tyrosine kinase degradation systems were not involved in the N-terminal cleavages. The presence of these truncated forms of ErbB2 was up-regulated by protein kinase C and neuregulin; and down-regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and monoclonal antibodies that target the ectodomain of ErbB2, indicating that N-terminal cleavages of ErbB2 were regulated by multiple mechanisms. The truncated fragments were tyrosine-phosphorylated under resting conditions, and associated with the signalling intermediates Shc and Grb2. It is therefore likely that these truncated forms may be endowed with constitutive activity that allows them to permanently signal.

Cleavage of the TrkA neurotrophin receptor by multiple metalloproteases generates signalling-competent truncated forms.

The ectodomain of the neurotrophin receptor TrkA has been recovered as a soluble fragment from the culture media of cells by a process that involves endoproteolytic cleavage. This cleavage may be upregulated by several treatments, including NGF treatment or protein kinase C activation. In this report we have investigated the cellular site and proteolytic activities involved in TrkA cleavage, and the effects of ectodomain truncation on signalling. Cleavage occurs when the receptor is at, or near, the cell surface, and it can be prevented by agents that affect protein sorting. Cleavage generates several cell-bound fragments, and their generation can be differentially blocked by inhibitors, documenting the involvement of multiple plasma membrane metalloendoproteases. The major cell-bound receptor fragment (i) is tyrosine-phosphorylated in vivo; (ii) does autophosphorylate in vitro; and (iii) is able to associate with intracellular signalling substrates. Artificial deletion of the TrkA ectodomain results in an active receptor that induced neurite outgrowth in pheochromocytoma cells. Cleavage by this natural cellular mechanism appears thus to serve not only as an outlet of receptor binding fragments, but also to generate signalling-competent cell-bound receptor fragments. In the nervous system this ligand-independent receptor activation could play important roles in the development and survival of neurons.

Permeabilization of MDCK cells with cholesterol binding agents: dependence on substratum and confluency.

We studied systematically the susceptibility of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells to permeabilization by two cholesterol binding agents, digitonin and streptolysin-O (SLO), under different culture conditions. Monolayers grown on polycarbonate filter chambers (Transwells) required twice the concentration of digitonin effective on monolayers grown on glass or plastic (80 vs. 40 micrograms/ml) to allow antibody penetration or the release of 90% of the cytosolic protein lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Neither the apical nor the basolateral surface showed preferential susceptibility to digitonin. Confluent MDCK cells, cultured either on filters or on impermeable substrates, showed poor antibody permeability after addition of commercial SLOs, even when used at concentrations 100 times higher (20 U/ml) than those effective on nonepithelial Chinese hamster ovary cells. Surprisingly, culture conditions that prevent tight junction formation and the acquisition of a polarized phenotype (< 10 microM Ca2+) increased dramatically the susceptibility to permeabilization by SLO. On restoration of normal Ca2+ levels, susceptibility to SLO quickly decreased. Thus conditions that lead to the full establishment of polarity result in decreased sensitivity to disruption by digitonin and SLO.