Temporal activation of WNT/ β-catenin signaling is sufficient to inhibit SOX10 expression and block melanoma growth
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Despite advances in the systemic treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma using immune checkpoint and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), the majority of stage IV melanoma patients eventually succumb to the disease. We have previously identified the transcription factor Sox10 as a crucial player in melanoma, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms mediating Sox10-dependent tumorigenesis remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we show that MEK and RAF inhibitors do not suppress SOX10 expression in patient-derived cells in vitro, as well as in melanoma patients in vivo. In a search for pharmacological inhibitors of SOX10, we performed a mass spectrometry-based screen in human melanoma cells. Subsequent analysis revealed that SOX10 directly interacts with b-catenin, which is a key mediator of canonical Wnt/b-catenin signaling. We demonstrate that inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3 alpha/beta (GSK3α/b) efficiently abrogate SOX10 expression in human melanoma cells in vitro and in melanoma mouse models in vivo. The mechanism of action of GSK3-mediated SOX10 suppression is transcription-independent and relies on the presence of a proteasome degradable form of b-catenin. Taken together, we provide evidence that activation of canonical Wnt signaling has a profound effect on melanoma growth and is able to counteract Sox10-dependent melanoma maintenance both in vitro and in vivo
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE146415 | GEO | 2021/01/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA