LKB1/STK11 suppresses cyclooxygenase-2 induction and cellular invasion through PEA3 in lung cancer

Cancer Res. 2006 Aug 15;66(16):7870-9. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-2902.

Abstract

We showed that the PEA3 transcriptional factor interacted with LKB1, a serine/threonine kinase, which is somatically mutated in lung cancer. This interaction occurred through the ETS domain of PEA3 and the kinase domain of LKB1. Mutation of LKB1 in lung cancer cells stabilized PEA3. Reintroduction of wild-type (WT) LKB1 into cells induced down-regulation of PEA3 and subsequently resulted in reduced cyclooxygenase-2 RNA and protein expression, whereas germ-line and somatic LKB1 mutants were defective in this activity. LKB1 phosphorylated PEA3 and promoted its degradation through a proteasome-mediated mechanism. Cells expressing mutant LKB1 possessed greater invasive potential compared with cells expressing WT LKB1. Increased invasion of cells with mutant LKB1 was partly due to PEA3 expression, as RNA interference inhibition of PEA3 resulted in dramatic decrease of Matrigel invasion. However, forced expression of PEA3 resulted in down-regulation of epithelial markers and induction of mesenchymal markers. These results suggest that PEA3 stabilization due to LKB1 inactivation could lead to epithelial/mesenchymal transition and greater lung cancer invasion potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics*
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Enzyme Induction
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Kidney
  • Kinetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Transcription Factors
  • transcription factor PEA3
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK11 protein, human
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases