Muc4, a heterodimeric transmembrane mucin containing EGF-like domains, has been described as an ErbB2-binding protein which modulates signaling via the ErbB2-ErbB3 pathway. In Muc4-transfected MCF-7 cells, Muc4 expression resulted in alteration of both the time course and phosphorylation levels of NRG beta 1 induced phosphorylation and activation of both ErbB2 and ErbB3. Muc4 significantly enhanced the autophosphorylation of ErbB2 over the early (defined 0-30 min) and intermediate (30-120 min) NRG beta 1 treatment times at three sites, Y1248, Y1221 and Y1139. The sites displayed differential maximal phosphorylation times. At Y1248 and Y1139, maximal phosphorylation occurred entirely during the early treatment phase. However, Y1221/2 showed maximal phosphorylation during the intermediate phase with a smaller peak during the early phase. The ratio of phosphorylated ErbB3 and total receptor level was significantly enhanced (in cells that expressed Muc4 compared without Muc4) over both the early and intermediate NRG beta 1 treatment time at the Y1289 site. This motif is one of several similar ErbB3 motifs whose phosphorylation mediates the binding of PI3-kinase. This phospholipid kinase is a key modulator of numerous cellular pathways leading to proliferation, motility and survival. Aberrancies in the ErbB2-ErbB3 signaling pathway have been implicated in the aggressive behavior of tumor cells, and the identification and characterization of modulators of this pathway are being sought as targets of potential therapeutic interventions. Muc4 significantly enhanced activated ERK in the absence of NRG beta 1 treatment while a NRG beta 1 mediated activation of AKT was observed. At early NRG beta 1 treatment time phases, Muc4 co-localized with phosphorylated ErbB2 (pY1248) independent of NRG beta 1 treatment; co-localization of Muc4 and ErbB2 receptor (activated/receptor forms) was observed at the apical surface or around the cell surface membrane. These data provide evidence in the Muc4-transfected MCF-7 cells for the biological NRG beta 1 mediated ErbB2 and ErbB3 activation. Our data suggests that Muc4 affects steady state phosphorylation levels and duration of the phosphorylation signal of both ErbB receptors, and that NRG beta 1 might affect ErbB2 and ErbB3 signaling differently. Additionally, the results of the timing of phosphorylation studies suggest the possibility that temporal aspects of phosphorylation at different sites may determine the pathways activated preferentially in the subsequent signaling cascades.

Approximately 30% of human breast cancers demonstrate overexpression of the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2/HER2/Neu, with these cases correlating with recurrence and poor prognosis. While therapy targeting ErbB2 has met with some success, particularly in early-stage breast cancers, transformation and progression towards a later-stage metastatic phenotype is likely sustained by aberrant signaling from additional players, for instance that downstream of integrins. In fact, treatment with integrin-blocking antibodies and ß1-integrin ablation leads to reversion of the malignant phenotype of human breast cells in three-dimensional culture and in vivo. Moreover, ErbB2 has recently been found to interact with the ß4-integrin subunit to promote tumour formation and progression, as deletion of the ß4-integrin signaling domain led to suppression of mammary tumour onset and invasive growth, coupled with decreases in ErbB2-dependent signaling. ErbB2 may interact with integrin subunits by direct binding or via the intracellular kinases Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK), both known to be activated downstream of ErbB2 and integrins and having well-established roles in cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. Using an inducible model of ErbB2 activation, we have demonstrated that controlled ErbB2 activation in human mammary epithelial cells leads to phosphorylation of Src Tyr215 and FAK Tyr861, consistent with a recently published clinical study examining phosphorylated forms of Src and FAK in ErbB2-positive human breast tumour samples. We have also confirmed that ErbB2 activation increases the capacity of cells for survival: Normally, MCF10A human mammary epithelial cells cultured in three-dimensional, laminin-rich extracellular matrix gel form mammary acini-like spheroids with hollow lumen surrounded by a single layer of polarized epithelial cells. However, ErbB2 activation prevents luminal clearance and induces luminal filling in acini formed in three-dimensional culture, and leads to activation of Akt, a known survival signal. Taken together these data indicate a potential role for ErbB2 at the apex of cell survival signaling via Src, FAK, and Akt, contributing to luminal cell survival in three-dimensional culture. We have thus confirmed Src, FAK, and Akt as potential players in early onset of breast cancer, and targeting these signaling players concurrently with ErbB2 may prove effective, especially in early stage breast cancers. / Thesis (Master, Pathology & Molecular Medicine) -- Queen's University, 2007-08-31 16:25:59.917

Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease with multiple drivers and a complex regulatory network. Periostin (Postn) is a matricellular protein involved in a plethora of cancer types and other diseases. More specifically, Postn has been shown to be involved in various processes of tumor progression such as angiogenesis, cell survival, invasion, and metastasis. A high Postn level in breast cancer has been corelated with a more aggressive phenotype. Despite extensive research, it remains unclear what Postn is doing to the cancer environment and how cancer cells regulate Postn. Here, we assessed the role and regulation mechanisms of Postn in ErbB2-mediated tumorigenesis. By crossing Postn deficient animals into the oncogenic NeuNDL model of ErbB2-positive breast cancer, we have shown that Postn deletion delays tumor onset and increases overall survival by affecting proliferation and apoptosis. These tumors also showed a decrease in collagen deposition which is the proposed mechanism for its effect in vivo. Using isolated cancer cells from the Postn deficient background we assessed re-expression of Postn which had no effect on in vitro tumorigenesis processes or in vivo subcutaneous growth in immunodeficient mice. Furthermore, we established an in vitro model to study the regulation of Postn using a bovine pituitary gland derived extract as a natural repressor of Postn. Using mass spectrometry and RNA sequencing, we identified potential regulators of Postn gene expression. We also showed a cross regulation between FGFR, TGFβ and PI3K/AKT pathways to regulate Postn expression. In ErbB2-mediated murine breast cancer cells, we found that TGFβ can induce Postn expression in a SMAD-independent manner while bFGF can repress Postn expression through a PKC-dependent pathway. Postn induction and repression by TGFβ and bFGF respectively, are both dependent on PI3K/AKT signaling. Overall, these results suggest a cancer-driving function for Postn and reveal a novel mechanism for regulating Postn expression.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第24196号 / 医博第4890号 / 新制||医||1060(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 伊藤 貴浩, 教授 妹尾 浩, 教授 永井 純正 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

<p> DER, the Drosophila Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (DEgfr) is the only known fly orthologue of vertebrate Neu/ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase family. Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) like DER and ErbB2 play an important role in regulating cell differentiation, cell proliferation and cell survival in metazoan animals. Neu/ErbB2 is over-expressed in 20-30% human breast cancers, which correlates with poor clinical prognosis in cancer patients. </p> <p> Our previous studies showed that rat-NeriJErbB2 could successfully signal in vivo using Drosophila adaptor and second messenger molecules. Here we regenerated the transgenic fly lines with various neu add-back alleles. We further re-established mis-expression phenotypes in various adult structures such as wings and eyes, the tissues known to require DEgfr signaling. By using genetic approach, we have demonstrated that the tyrosine residue at the 1028 site (NeuYA), might have an inhibitory role in RTK signaling. In addition we have already generated a number of double add-back neu alleles where tyrosine site at the 1028 site (neuYA) was added back to another Neu allele and made neuYAB, neuYAc neuYAD and neuYAE. Transgenic flies with these alleles will be generated to further study the inhibitory role of Neu^YA. </p> <p> Finally, our on going large-scale genetic screening is likely to reveal the component(s) of NeuYE (Y1253) pathway that does not utilize the function of Ras. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The Neu/ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase has been implicated in the induction of mammary tumourigenesis. Both Ras-dependent and independent signalling downstream of activated Neu is believed to mediate cellular signalling that contributes cellular transformation in oncogenic Neu. Signalling from five 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦 autophosphorylation sites (termed sites A through E) in the carboxyl tail of the receptor mediate these signals to the cytosol. Of the four positive regulatory sites (B, C, D, E), only three (B, C, D,) signal through known signalling molecules. Site E, (Y1253) in Neu, though known to interact with DOKR is essentially an orphan site. The discovery of a 34kD protein capable of associating to peptides corresponding to site E prompted investigations into the nature of site E signalling. Mass spectrometric analyses revealed that the 34kD protein is 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase (DECR1), a lipid metabolism protein typically localized to the mitochondria. Investigations into this protein reveal that DECR1 is capable of associating with Neu site E in a tyrosine phosphorylation and sequence specific manner. Furthermore, analyses with site E second-site mutants (YE[APEY], YE[DPEY], YE[NAEY] and YE[NDEY]) show that DECR1 associates in a manner consistent to a PTB domain-containing protein. Analyses of amino acid sequence demonstrate the presence of a putative Bcl-domain in DECR1 suggestive of a role in apoptosis. Experiments into the apoptotic activity of DECR1 proved inconclusive. The examination of sub-cellular localization of Neu and DECR1 showed that the two proteins are found in both the mitochondrial and plasma membrane fractions. These results demonstrate that DECR1 may be a veritable binding partner for Neu Y1253. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

ErbB2 est un récepteur à activité tyrosine kinase dont la surexpression dans le cancer du sein est corrélée à un mauvais pronostic. Son activation induit de nombreuses voies de signalisation. L'objectif de notre travail était d'étudier le réseau de signalisation associé à la migration dépendante d'ErbB2 et de déterminer la contribution des microtubules à ce processus.ErbB2 recrute un module de signalisation qui comporte l'effecteur Memo, la GTPase RhoA, et la formine mDia1. Ce module réprime GSK3, pour permettre la localisation à la membrane plasmique d'un complexe de capture des microtubules comprenant le suppresseur de tumeur APC et la spectraplakine ACF7.La voie Memo/ACF7 est impliquée dans le chimiotactisme via la capture des microtubules ainsi que la phospholipase PLC&#947;1, un autre effecteur d'ErbB2 qui participe également à la capture des microtubules. Sa signalisation rejoint la voie Memo en amont de GSK3 via les PKC classiques. PLC&#947;1 agit aussi via aPKC&#950;.PI3K est également impliquée dans le chimiotactisme grâce à la stabilisation des microtubules. Elle implique l'inhibition de GSK3 et la phosphorylation de la Stathmine par la kinase PAK1.Sur la base de ces résultats, nous proposons un modèle, basé sur un processus en deux étapes. Tout d'abord, les microtubules sont capturés lors de la formation de la protrusion cellulaire. Puis, ils sont stabilisées à l'avant des cellules. Ces deux étapes sont régies par des voies de signalisation différentes qui coordonnent la capture des microtubules et la stabilité des microtubules pour contrôler la réponse chimiotactique. / ErbB2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase who's over expression in breast cancer correlates with poor prognosis. Upon activation, ErbB2 induces numerous signaling pathways. Our aim is to investigate the signaling network associated with ErbB2-driven migration and to determine the contribution of microtubules to migration.ErbB2 recruits a signaling module including the ErbB2 effector Memo, the GTPase RhoA, and the formin mDia1. It represses GSK3 activity, to allow the localization to the plasma membrane of a microtubule capture complex comprising the tumor suppressor APC and the spectraplakin ACF7.Memo/ACF7 pathway is involved in chemotaxis via microtubule capture. PLC&#947;1, another effector of ErbB2, also participates in microtubule capture. It joins Memo pathway via classic PKCs upstream GSK3, and also acts via aPKC&#950;. PI3K is involved in chemotaxis through microtubule stabilization. Our results suggested that PI3K-dependent microtubules stabilization involves inhibition of GSK3 activity and phosphorylation of Stathmin via PAK1 activity.Defects in microtubule capture/stability are closely correlated with chemotaxis disturbances and rescue of microtubules within cell protrusion re-establishes cell orientation.We propose a model based on a two-step process to explain regulation of microtubule dynamics downstream of ErbB2. First, microtubules are captured during the formation of cell protrusions. Then they are stabilized at the cell front. These two steps are governed by different signaling pathways that coordinate microtubule capture and microtubule stability to control chemotaxis.

Les formines de la famille des DRF sont des puissants nucleateurs d'actine. Précédemment, nous avons montré que DRF1 participe à la capture des microtubules (MTs) au niveau du cortex cellulaire, en aval du récepteur ErbB2. Ceci impliquait le recrutement d'APC et ACF7. Dans cette étude, nous avons examiné la contribution de DRF1, DRF2 et DRF3 à la capture des MT corticaux et à la migration cellulaire ErbB2- dépendante. La déplétion individuelle de DRF1/2 ou 3 à l'aide de siRNA perturbe fortement la migration chimiotactique ErbB2-dépendante. Les DRF sont toutes trois requises pour la capture des MT au niveau du cortex cellulaire. Des mutants de DRF1 déficients pour leur association avec l'actine sont toujours actifs pour la capture des MT. Nous avons aussi pu montrer qu'une construction limitée au domaine FH2 des DRF était parfaitement fonctionnelle. Nous avons alors procéder à une recherche systématique des protéines se liant au domaine FH2, par purification d'affinité et spectrométrie de masse. Nous avons observé que les domaines FH2 de DRF1, DRF2 et DRF3 se lient à des groupes de partenaires distincts. Ainsi, seul le domaine FH2 de DRF1 lie la protéine Rab6-Interacting Protein 2 (RB6IP2). De plus, DRF1 contrôle le recrutement de RB6IP2 au cortex cellulaire et la déplétion concomitante de RB6IP2 et d'IQGAP1 perturbe fortement la capture des MT. Ces résultats démontrent l'implication de l'interaction entre DRF1 et RB6IP2 dans la capture des MT dans les cellules en migration. / Diaphanous-related formins (DRF) nucleate single linear filaments, binding to and protecting from capping their growing barbed ends. We have previously found that DRF1 participated to the tethering of microtubules (MTs) to the cell cortex, downstream of the ErbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase. This involved the recruitment of APC and ACF7. We have now further investigated the contribution of DRF1, and of the closely related DRF2 and DRF3, to the capture of cortical MTs and ErbB2-dependent breast carcinoma cell migration.Using siRNA to knock down individual DRFs, we found that depletion of DRF1/2 or3 strongly disturbed ErbB2-dependent chemotaxis. All three DRFs were required for the formation of cortical MTs, in a non-redundant manner. DRF1 mutant proteins defective for actin binding were still active for MT capture. We also found that, upon truncation of the Formin Homology (FH) 1 domain, the FH2 domain remained fully functional. In a systematic search for proteins binding to the FH2 domains via affinity purification and mass spectrometry analysis, we observed that the FH2 domains of DRF1, DRF2 and DRF3 engaged with distinct sets of proteins. For instance, only FH2 domain of DRF1 pulled down Rab6-Interacting Protein 2 (RB6IP2). Interestingly, DRF1 controlled the cortical localization of RB6IP2 and concomitant depletion of RB6IP2 and IQGAP1 strongly disturbed capture of cortical MTs, showing the involvement of the DRF1/IQGAP1/RB6IP2 interaction in MT tethering at the cell leading edge.

O splicing alternativo é o processo pelo qual diversos transcritos podem ser gerados a partir de um único gene, sendo de extrema importância para diversidade do repertório transcricional e proteico. Diferentes variantes de splicing são expressas entre os diferentes tecidos e estágios de desenvolvimento garantindo o funcionamento normal da célula, portanto, qualquer alteração neste padrão pode resultar no aparecimento de doenças. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o estabelecimento de metodologias para identificação de variantes de splicing em câncer de mama sob influência do oncogene ERBB2, o qual é um marcador de mau prognóstico altamente expresso em cerca de 30% dos tumores de mama. Foram estabelecidas duas estratégias para construção de bibliotecas de cDNA. A construção de bibliotecas de cDNA enriquecidas para splicing alternativo, baseada na formação e captura de moléculas de heteroduplexes em combinação com a amplificação de RNAm, foi realizada a partir de RNA total de linhagem celular de mama e a partir de um grupo de cinco amostras tumorais, todas com alta expressão de ERBB2. Foram identificadas 79 possíveis variantes de splicing alternativo em câncer de mama, das quais 18 foram selecionadas para validação por RT-PCR. Foi obtida uma taxa de vallidação de 94% e foram identificadas duas novas variantes de splicing alternativo. A regulação da expressão mediada por ERBB2 de três variantes de splicing foi confirmada por duas metodologias distintas, eletroforese em chip e estratégia baseada na ligação de sondas específicas, que revelou desbalanço de expressão entre as variantes, demonstrando a influência do oncogene na regulação de variantes de splicing. A segunda abordagem utilizada, foi a construção de bibliotecas de cDNA para avaliação do transcriptoma total, utilizando sequênciamento de alto desempenho. Foram utilizados RNA total de duas linhagens celulares de mama que diferem apenas na expressão do gene ERBB2. Foram identificadas 2.865 novas variantes de splicing, das quais 20, que reportaram a identificação de um novo éxon, foram selecionadas para validação, com uma taxa de validação de 90%. Seis destas variantes apresentaram aumento de expressão na linhagem com alta expressão de ERBB2. Além disso, foi detectado um enriquecimento de algumas categorias de variantes na linhagem celular com alta expressão de ERBB2, reforçando a influência do oncogene na regulação do splicing alternativo, podendo resultar em variantes de splicing associadas a este grupo de câncer de mama, que podem ser candidatas a marcadores moleculares. / Alternative splicing is a process, by which many differente transcripts can be generated by one single gene, significantly expanding the transcriptional and proteomic diversity. Different splicing variants are generated among different transcripts and developmental stages, assuring normal cell function. Therefore, alterations in the splicing process can lead to diseases outcome. In this context, the aim of this study was the establishment of methodologies for the identification of alternative splicing in breast cancer influenced by ERBB2 oncogene, which is a poor prognostic molecular marker, highly expressed in 30% of human breast cancer. Two strategies were established for the construction of cDNA libraries. Alternative enriched splicing libraries, based on heteroduplex capture combined with mRNA amplification, were constructed from total RNA from a cell line and also from five tumor samples, all of them presenting high ERBB2 expression. Seventy nine putative splicing variants were identified and 18 of them were selected for RT-PCR validation. A high validation level was obtained (94%) and two novel alternative splicing variants were identified. ERBB2 mediated regulation was confirmed for three variants by two distinct methodologies, electrophoresis on a chip and probe specific ligation approach. The alteration in the expression balance of variants suggests the influence of the oncogene in the splicing pattern regulation. The second strategy was the construction of cDNA libraries for global transcriptome analysis based on deep sequencing. Total RNA from two mammary epithelial cell lines expressing different ERBB2 levels were used and 2,865 novel splicing variants were identified. Twenty novel events reporting the inclusion of novel exons were selected for RT-PCR validation with 90% validation rate. Six variants presented higher expression in the cell line with high levels of ERBB2. Moreover enrichment in splicing events was detected in the ERBB2 high expressing cell line, supporting the ERBB2 influence in alternative splicing regulation, possibly resulting in splicing variants associated to this subgroup of cancer that can be tested as molecular markers.

La dérégulation des tyrosine kinases (TK) joue un rôle majeur dans la tumorigénèse et la progression tumorale des cancers du sein. Dans ce contexte, mon travail de thèse s'est focalisé sur la caractérisation des mécanismes moléculaires régulés par les TK associés à l'invasion cellulaire à travers deux axes d'études distincts : la régulation de l'invasion cellulaire par la protéine TOM1L1 dans les cancers du sein ERBB2-positifs et le rôle des TK ABL/ARG dans l'invasion cellulaire des cancers du sein triple-négatifs (n'exprimant ni ERBB2, ni les récepteurs hormonaux) (TN). TOM1L1 est une protéine du trafic vésiculaire à domaine GAT initialement caractérisée au laboratoire comme un régulateur négatif de l'activité mitogénique de la TK Src. Cependant, nos travaux indiquent que les gènes codant pour TOM1L1 et le récepteur TK ERBB2, localisés au niveau du chromosome 17q, sont co-amplifiés dans environ 50% de ces cancers et associés à un mauvais pronostic suggérant une activité oncogénique non-anticipée de TOM1L1. Mon travail de thèse montre que le récepteur ERBB2 régule indirectement la phosphorylation de la sérine 321 de TOM1L1 afin de permettre son association avec la protéine du trafic vésiculaire TOLLIP au niveau d'endosomes Rab7/MT1-MMP-positifs. Ainsi localisée, TOM1L1 favorise le recrutement membranaire de la métalloprotéase MT1-MMP au niveau de structures d'invasion cellulaire spécifiques, les invadopodes, amplifiant ainsi la capacité invasive des cellules ERBB2+. Des données récentes indiquent que les TK ABL/ARG sont aussi impliquées dans la régulation des invadopodes des cellules des cancers TN. Grace à une approche préliminaire d'inhibition pharmacologique (Imatinib, Nilotinib), mes travaux de thèse ont permis de dévoiler un rôle anti-invasif non-anticipé de ABL dans certaines lignées de cancers du sein TN, dont nous recherchons actuellement le mécanisme. / Deregulation of tyrosine kinases (TK) plays crucial role in breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastatic progression. In this context, my work tried to decipher the molecular mechanisms of tyrosine kinases-induced cell invasion via two distinct research axes: the regulation of cell invasion by TOM1L1 in ERBB2-positive breast cancers and the role of ABL/ARG TK in triple-negative (TN) breast cancer cells (negative for ERBB2 and hormonal receptors expression). The GAT domain-containing vesicular trafficking protein TOM1L1 was first identified in the lab as a negative regulator of Src mitogenic activity. Here, we show that ERBB2 and TOM1L1, located on chromosome 17q, are co-amplified in 50% of breast tumor samples and define a subgroup of ERBB2-positive tumors with poor prognosis. We then studied TOM1L1 pro-oncogenic function and found that TOM1L1 regulates exclusively ERBB2-driven cell invasion. This effect requires indirect ERBB2-induced TOM1L1 phosphorylation on serine 321 and interaction with the endosomal sorting protein TOLLIP at Rab7/MT1-MMP-positive endosomes. Thus, TOM1L1 promotes membrane recruitment of MT1-MMP into specialized invasive structures called invadopodia and, as such, promotes cell invasion. Recent observations show that ABL/ARG TK are also involve in invadopodia regulation of TN breast cancers. With a preliminary pharmacological-inhibition strategy (Imatinib,Nilotinib), my work shows an unanticipated anti-invasive function of ABL in some TN cell-lines. We are currently looking for ABL kinases molecular mechanisms involved in this effect.