LSD1 mediates AKT activity in PIK3CA mutant colorectal cancer [RNA-Seq]
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program is a critical mechanism for initiating cancer progression and migration. Colorectal cancers (CRCs) contain many genetic and epigenetic alterations that can contribute to EMT. Mutations activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway are observed in >40% of patients with CRC contributing to increased invasion and metastasis. Little is known about how oncogenic signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT synergize with chromatin modifiers to activate the EMT program. Lysine Specific Demethylase 1 (LSD1) is a chromatin-modifying enzyme that is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and enhances cell migration. In this study we determine that LSD1 expression is significantly elevated in CRC patients with mutation of the catalytic subunit of PI3K, PIK3CA, compared to CRC patients with WT PIK3CA. LSD1 enhances activation of the AKT kinase in CRC cells through a non-catalytic mechanism, acting as a scaffolding protein for the transcription-repressing CoREST complex. Additionally, growth of PIK3CA mutant CRC cells is uniquely dependent on LSD1. Knockdown or CRISPR knockout of LSD1 blocks AKT-mediated stabilization of the EMT-promoting transcription factor Snail and effectively blocks AKT-mediated EMT and migration. Overall we uniquely demonstrate that LSD1 mediates AKT activation in response to growth factors and oxidative stress, and LSD1-regulated AKT activity promotes EMT-like characteristics in a subset of PIK3CA mutant cells.
Project description:Activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) program is a critical mechanism for initiating cancer progression and migration. Colorectal cancers (CRCs) contain many genetic and epigenetic alterations that can contribute to EMT. Mutations activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway are observed in >40% of patients with CRC contributing to increased invasion and metastasis. Little is known about how oncogenic signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT synergize with chromatin modifiers to activate the EMT program. Lysine Specific Demethylase 1 (LSD1) is a chromatin-modifying enzyme that is overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and enhances cell migration. In this study we determine that LSD1 expression is significantly elevated in CRC patients with mutation of the catalytic subunit of PI3K, PIK3CA, compared to CRC patients with WT PIK3CA. LSD1 enhances activation of the AKT kinase in CRC cells through a non-catalytic mechanism, acting as a scaffolding protein for the transcription-repressing CoREST complex. Additionally, growth of PIK3CA mutant CRC cells is uniquely dependent on LSD1. Knockdown or CRISPR knockout of LSD1 blocks AKT-mediated stabilization of the EMT-promoting transcription factor Snail and effectively blocks AKT-mediated EMT and migration. Overall we uniquely demonstrate that LSD1 mediates AKT activation in response to growth factors and oxidative stress, and LSD1-regulated AKT activity promotes EMT-like characteristics in a subset of PIK3CA mutant cells.
Project description:Hyperactivation of the phosphatydil-inositol-3' phosphate kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway is observed in most NSCLCs, promoting proliferation, migration, invasion and resistance to therapy. AKT can be activated through several mechanisms that include loss of the negative regulator PTEN, activating mutations of the catalytic subunit of PI3K (PIK3CA) and/or mutations of AKT1 itself. However, number and identity of downstream targets of activated PI3K/AKT pathway are poorly defined. To identify the genes that are targets of constitutive PI3K/AKT signalling in lung cancer cells, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of human lung epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) expressing active mutant AKT1 (AKT1-E17K), active mutant PIK3CA (PIK3CA-E545K) or that are silenced for PTEN. For each sample, 500 ng of total RNA were used to synthesize biotinylated cRNA with Illumina RNA Amplification Kit (Ambion, Austin, TX). Synthesis was carried out according to the manufacturersâ instructions. From each sample, technical triplicates were produced and 750 ng cRNA were hybridized for 18h to Human HT-12_V3_0_R1 Expression BeadChips (Illumina, San Diego, CA). Hybridized chips were washed and stained with streptavidin-conjugated Cy3 (GE Healthcare, Milan, Italy). BeadChips were dried and scanned with an Illumina Bead Array Reader (Illumina).
Project description:PI3K/AKT pathway plays one of pivotal roles in breast cancer development and maintenance. PIK3CA, coding PIK3 catalytic subunit, is the oncogene which shows the high frequency of gain-of-function mutations leading to the PI3K/AKT pathway activation in breast cancer. In particular in the ERα-positive breast tumors PIK3CA mutations have been observed in 30% to 40%. However, genes expressed in connection to the pathway activation in breast tumorigenesis remain largely unknown. To identify downstream relevant target genes (and signaling pathways) turned on by the aberrant PI3K/AKT signal in breast tumors, we analyzed gene expression by pangenomic oligonucleotide microarray in a series of 43 ERα-positive tumors with and without PIK3CA mutations. 43 ERα-positive breast tumors including 14 tumors with PIK3CA mutations and 29 tumors without PIK3CA mutattions were used as screening set for microarray.
Project description:Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a skin fibroproliferative disease currently having no truly effective therapy. PIK3CA is a catalytic subunit of PI3K able to promote collagen synthesis in benign fibrotic diseases and to regulate cell survival, proliferation, and adhesion in malignancies. To explore PIK3CA’s functions in HS formation, we performed transcriptome sequencing and experimental validation. PIK3CA were overexpressed in HS tissues, and positively correlated with fibrosis. We then screened out miR-203a-3p as the most suitable endogenous inhibitor of PIK3CA through bioinformatics. Intriguingly, miR-203a-3p suppressed the proliferation, migration, collagen synthesis, and contractility, as well as trans-differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts in vitro, improved the morphology and histology of HS in vivo. Mechanistically, miR-203a-3p attenuated fibrosis by inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway via directly targeting PIK3CA. In conclusion, Our findings identified that PIK3CA and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were actively involved in HS formation and demonstrated that miR-203a-3p might serve as a potential strategy for HS therapy through targeting PIK3CA and inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
Project description:Hyperactivation of the PI3K/AKT pathway is observed in most NSCLCs, promoting proliferation, migration and resistance to therapy. AKT can be activated through several mechanisms that include loss of the negative regulator PTEN, activating mutations of the catalytic subunit of the positive regulator phosphatydil-inositol-3â phosphate kinase (PIK3CA) and/or mutations of AKT1 itself. However, whereas the effects of AKT activation on mRNAs and proteins in the cell are fairly clear, the role of miRNAs as downstream targets of activated PI3K/AKT signalling is still poorly defined so far. To identify miRNAs that are targets of constitutive signalling of PI3K/AKT in lung cancer cells, we performed miRNA profiling of human lung epithelial cells expressing active mutant AKT1 (E17K), active mutant PI3KCA (E545K) or that are silenced for PTEN. We identified 28 differentially expressed miRNAs (8 up-regulated, 20 down-regulated) that were common to BEAS-AKT1-E17K, BEAS-PIK3CA-E545K and BEAS-shPTEN cells. Among the 8 up-regulated miRNAs that were common to all the alterations, the miRNA most consistently up-regulated by activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway in BEAS-2B cells was miR-196a. The results reported here demonstrate that miR-196a acts as oncogene downstream the PI3K/AKT pathway, mediating the proliferative, pro-migratory and tumorigenic activity of this pathway in NSCLC cells by targeting FoxO1 and p27 expression. By adoptive expression of miR-196a in BEAS-2B cells, we demonstrated that miR-196a stimulates anchorage-dependent and -independent proliferation, migration and tumorigenicity in BEAS-2B cells. On the other hand, by use of antimir-196a in NCI-H460 cells to silence the endogenous expression of miR-196a, we demonstrate that miR-196a plays a pivotal role in mediating the stimulation of proliferation, migration and tumorigenicity induced by aberrant activation of PI3K/AKT signalling. Accordingly, we found that miR-196a was significantly overexpressed in human NSCLC-derived cell lines (n=6) and primary lung cancer samples (n=28). Finally, based on predicted binding sites for miR-196a by microRNA analysis software, we found that miR-196a affects protein levels of FoxO1 and p27 in NSCLC cells.
Project description:PI3K/AKT pathway plays one of pivotal roles in breast cancer development and maintenance. PIK3CA, coding PIK3 catalytic subunit, is the oncogene which shows the high frequency of gain-of-function mutations leading to the PI3K/AKT pathway activation in breast cancer. In particular in the ERα-positive breast tumors PIK3CA mutations have been observed in 30% to 40%. However, genes expressed in connection to the pathway activation in breast tumorigenesis remain largely unknown. To identify downstream relevant target genes (and signaling pathways) turned on by the aberrant PI3K/AKT signal in breast tumors, we analyzed gene expression by pangenomic oligonucleotide microarray in a series of 43 ERα-positive tumors with and without PIK3CA mutations.
Project description:Anti-angiogenic therapy is commonly used for the treatment of CRC. Although patients derive some clinical benefit, treatment resistance inevitably occurs. The MET signaling pathway has been proposed to be a major contributor of resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. MET is upregulated in response to VEGF pathway inhibition and plays an essential role in tumorigenesis and progression of tumors. In this study we set out to determine the efficacy of cabozantinib in a preclinical CRC PDTX model. We demonstrate potent inhibitory effects on tumor growth in 80% of tumors treated. The greatest antitumor effects were observed in tumors that possess a mutation in the PIK3CA gene. The underlying antitumor mechanisms of cabozantinib consisted of inhibition of angiogenesis and Akt activation and significantly decreased expression of genes involved in the PI3K pathway. These findings support further evaluation of cabozantinib in patients with CRC. PIK3CA mutation as a predictive biomarker of sensitivity is intriguing and warrants further elucidation. A clinical trial of cabozantinib in refractory metastatic CRC is being activated. CRC PDTX Model treated with cabozantinib
Project description:Cells expressing phosphorylation-mimicking PCNA, PCNA-Y211D, show elevated hallmarks specific to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), including the upregulation of EMT-promoting factor Snail and the downregulation of EMT-inhibitory factors E-cadherin and GSK3β. These cells exhibit active cell migration and also undergo G2/M arrest. Interestingly, all of these EMT-associated activities require the activation of ATM and Akt, as inactivating these protein kinases by gene knockdown or inhibitors blocks EMT-associated signaling and cell migration. We conclude that PCNA phosphorylation promotes cancer progression via the ATM/Akt/GSK3β/Snail signaling pathway. This study, therefore, identifies a novel PCNA function and provides the molecular basis of phosphorylated PCNA-mediated cancer development and progression.
Project description:To investigate the effect of HSPA13 on TGFβ1-induced EMT of RPE cells, we performed bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that gene signatures associated with EMT and cell migration were significantly downregulated in the shHSPA13+TGFβ1 group relative to the shScramble+TGFβ1 group. PI3K/Akt signaling-related gene levels were repressed as well.
Project description:The human oncogene PIK3CA is frequently mutated in human cancers. The two hotspot mutations in PIK3CA, E545K and H1047R, have been shown to regulate widespread signaling events downstream of AKT. However, the impact of these activating mutations on the tyrosine phosphorylation signaling in the cell has not been studied. Here, we performed a global phosphotyrosine profiling using isogenic knockin cell lines containing these activating mutations. We identified 824 unique phosphopeptides from 308 proteins. We found a surprisingly widespread modulation of tyrosine phosphorylation levels of proteins in the knockin mutant cells, with many of the regulated proteins involved in important biological processes, including those in the cytoskeletal migration pathways and kinase regulated signaling. We observed a widespread modulation of the tyrosine kinome, with 24 of the tyrosine kinases showing either upregulation or downregulation in phosphorylation levels. Many of the regulated phosphosites that we identified were located in the kinase domain or the canonical activating sites, indicating that the kinases were active and hence their downstream signaling pathways. Our study thus shows that the activating mutations in PIK3CA result in widespread tyrosine signaling regulation, in addition to the serine/threonine signaling pathways activated by the canonical PI3K-AKT axis.