Carcinoma matrix controls resistance to cisplatin through talin regulation of NF-kB.

Extracellular matrix factors within the tumor microenvironment that control resistance to chemotherapeutics are poorly understood. This study focused on understanding matrix adhesion pathways that control the oral carcinoma response to cisplatin. Our studies revealed that adhesion of HN12 and JHU012 oral carcinomas to carcinoma matrix supported tumor cell proliferation in response to treatment with cisplatin. Proliferation in response to 30 µM cisplatin was not observed in HN12 cells adherent to other purified extracellular matrices such as Matrigel, collagen I, fibronectin or laminin I. Integrin ß1 was important for adhesion to carcinoma matrix to trigger proliferation after treatment with cisplatin. Disruption of talin expression in HN12 cells adherent to carcinoma matrix increased cisplatin induced proliferation. Pharmacological inhibitors were used to determine signaling events required for talin deficiency to regulate cisplatin induced proliferation. Pharmacological inhibition of NF-kB reduced proliferation of talin-deficient HN12 cells treated with 30 µM cisplatin. Nuclear NF-kB activity was assayed in HN12 cells using a luciferase reporter of NF-kB transcriptional activity. Nuclear NF-kB activity was similar in HN12 cells adherent to carcinoma matrix and collagen I when treated with vehicle DMSO. Following treatment with 30 µM cisplatin, NF-kB activity is maintained in cells adherent to carcinoma matrix whereas NF-kB activity is reduced in collagen I adherent cells. Expression of talin was sufficient to trigger proliferation of HN12 cells adherent to collagen I following treatment with 1 and 30 µM cisplatin. Talin overexpression was sufficient to trigger NF-kB activity following treatment with cisplatin in carcinoma matrix adherent HN12 cells in a process disrupted by FAK siRNA. Thus, adhesions within the carcinoma matrix create a matrix environment in which exposure to cisplatin induces proliferation through the function of integrin ß1, talin and FAK pathways that regulate NF-kB nuclear activity.

Integrin αß1, αvß, α6ß effectors p130Cas, Src and talin regulate carcinoma invasion and chemoresistance.

Ligand engagement by integrins induces receptor clustering and formation of complexes at the integrin cytoplasmic face that controls cell signaling and cytoskeletal dynamics critical for adhesion-dependent processes. This study searches for a subset of integrin effectors that coordinates both tumor cell invasion and resistance to the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin in oral carcinomas. Candidate integrin effectors were identified in a proteomics screen of proteins recruited to clustered integrin αß1, α(v)ß or α(6)ß receptors in oral carcinomas. Proteins with diverse functions including microtubule and actin binding proteins, and factors involved in trafficking, transcription and translation were identified in oral carcinoma integrin complexes. Knockdown of effectors in the oral carcinoma HN12 cells revealed that p130Cas, Dek, Src and talin were required for invasion through Matrigel. Disruption of talin or p130Cas by RNA interference increased resistance to cisplatin, whereas targeting Dek, Src or zyxin reduced HN12 resistance to cisplatin. Analysis of the spreading of HN12 cells on collagen I and laminin I revealed that a decrease in p130Cas or talin expression inhibited spreading on both matrices. Interestingly, a reduction in zyxin expression enhanced spreading on laminin I and inhibited spreading on collagen I. Reduction of Dek, Src, talin or zyxin expression reduced HN12 proliferation by 30%. Proliferation was not affected by a reduction in p130Cas expression. We conclude that p130Cas, Src and talin function in both oral carcinoma invasion and resistance to cisplatin.

beta1 integrin cytoplasmic domain residues selectively modulate fibronectin matrix assembly and cell spreading through talin and Akt-1.

The integrin beta(1) cytoplasmic domain (tail) serves as a scaffold for numerous intracellular proteins. The mechanisms by which the tail coordinates these proteins to facilitate extracellular matrix assembly and cell spreading are not clear. This study demonstrates that the beta(1) cytoplasmic domain can regulate cell spreading on fibronectin and fibronectin matrix assembly through Akt- and talin-dependent mechanisms, respectively. To identify these mechanisms, we characterized GD25 cells expressing the beta(1) integrin cytoplasmic domain mutants W775A and R760A. Although cell spreading appears normal in R760A mutant-integrin cells compared with wild type, it is inhibited in W775A mutant cells. In contrast, both mutant cell lines show defective fibronectin matrix assembly. Inhibition of cell spreading, but not matrix assembly, in the W775A mutant cells is due to a specific defect in Akt-1 activation. In addition, we find that both W775A and R760A mutant integrins have reduced surface expression of the 9EG7 epitope that correlates with reduced recruitment of talin to beta(1) integrin cytoplasmic complexes. Down-regulation of talin with small interfering RNA or expression of green fluorescent protein-talin head domain inhibits matrix assembly in beta(1) wild-type cells, mimicking the defect seen with the W775A and R760A mutant cells. These results demonstrate distinct mechanisms by which integrins regulate cell spreading and matrix assembly through the beta(1) integrin cytoplasmic tail.

Tac-beta1 inhibits FAK activation and Src signaling.

The binding of integrins to extracellular matrix triggers signals that promote cell spreading. We previously demonstrated that expression of the integrin beta1 cytoplasmic domain in the context of a chimeric transmembrane receptor with the Tac subunit of the interleukin-2 receptor (Tac-beta1) inhibits cell spreading. To study the mechanism whereby Tac-beta1 inhibits cell spreading, we examined the effect of Tac-beta1 on early signaling events following integrin engagement namely FAK and Src signaling. We infected primary fibroblasts with adenoviruses expressing Tac or Tac-beta1 and found that Tac-beta1 prevented FAK activation by inhibiting the phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr-397. In contrast, Src activation was maintained, as phosphorylation of Src at Tyr-419 and Tyr-530 were not responsive to expression of Tac-beta1. Importantly, adhesion-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the Src substrates p130Cas and paxillin was inhibited, indicating that Src signaling was blocked by Tac-beta1. These Src-dependent signaling events were found to require FAK signaling. Our results suggest that Tac-beta1 inhibits cell spreading, at least in part, by preventing the phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr-397 and the assembly of signaling complexes necessary for phosphorylation of p130Cas and other downstream effectors.

Cell-matrix adhesion.

The complex interactions of cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) play crucial roles in mediating and regulating many processes, including cell adhesion, migration, and signaling during morphogenesis, tissue homeostasis, wound healing, and tumorigenesis. Many of these interactions involve transmembrane integrin receptors. Integrins cluster in specific cell-matrix adhesions to provide dynamic links between extracellular and intracellular environments by bi-directional signaling and by organizing the ECM and intracellular cytoskeletal and signaling molecules. This mini review discusses these interconnections, including the roles of matrix properties such as composition, three-dimensionality, and porosity, the bi-directional functions of cellular contractility and matrix rigidity, and cell signaling. The review concludes by speculating on the application of this knowledge of cell-matrix interactions in the formation of cell adhesions, assembly of matrix, migration, and tumorigenesis to potential future therapeutic approaches.

Cell-spreading assays.

A method is provided to quantitate the extent of cell spreading as a function of the expression level of transfected recombinant proteins. This chapter contains protocols for 1) replating and staining transfected cells for immunofluorescence microscopy, 2) optimizing image acquisition so that fluorescence intensity can be measured independent of cell morphology, and 3) quantitating cell area and expression levels of recombinant proteins for individual transfected cells using ImagePro-Plus software. This method can be used to further our understanding of intracellular signals and protein interactions that regulate cell spreading.

The integrin beta tail is required and sufficient to regulate adhesion signaling to Rac1.

Rac1 is a small Rho family GTPase that regulates changes in cell morphology associated with cell spreading and migration. Integrin-mediated adhesion is known to activate Rac1 and to regulate the interaction of Rac1 with downstream effectors. Currently, it is not clear how integrins signal Rac1 activation following cell adhesion. Integrin beta cytoplasmic domains (beta-tails) are known to be required for integrin-mediated cell spreading, and isolated beta tails expressed as tac-beta tail chimeras can inhibit cell spreading indicating that protein interactions with beta tails can regulate this process. Our recent studies demonstrated that the expression of constitutively activated Rac1 can restore cell spreading inhibited by tac beta tail chimeras, suggesting a role for Rac1 in the regulation of cell spreading by beta tails. Hence, we examined the role of beta tails in integrin activation of Rac1. By using recombinant wild-type and mutant integrin heterodimers, we demonstrate that integrin beta tails are required for adhesion to increase Rac1-GTP loading. We demonstrate that clustering tac-beta tail chimeras, on the surface of cells in suspension, activates Rac1. Thus, beta tails are not only required, but also sufficient for integrin-triggered Rac1 activation. Our findings indicate that integrin beta-tails are an important link between integrin engagement and Rac1 signaling, and that protein interactions initiated at beta tails are sufficient for integrins to regulate Rac1 activity.