Merlin-deficient human tumors show loss of contact inhibition and activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling linked to the PDGFR/Src and Rac/PAK pathways

Neoplasia. 2011 Dec;13(12):1101-12. doi: 10.1593/neo.111060.

Abstract

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an inherited predisposition cancer syndrome characterized by the development of multiple benign tumors in the nervous system including schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas. Using a disease model comprising primary human schwannoma cells, we previously demonstrated that adherens junctions (AJs) are impaired in schwannoma cells because of a ubiquitous, upregulated Rac activity. However, the mechanism by which loss of contact inhibition leads to proliferation remains obscure in merlin-deficient tumors. In this study, we show that proliferative Wnt/β-catenin signaling is elevated as active β-catenin (dephosphorylated at serine 37 and threoine 41) localizes to the nucleus and the Wnt targets genes c-myc and cyclin D1 are upregulated in confluent human schwannoma cells. We demonstrate that Rac effector p21-activated kinase 2 (PAK2) is essential for the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling because depletion of PAK2 suppressed active β-catenin, c-myc, and cyclin D1. Most importantly, the link between the loss of the AJ complex and the increased proliferation in human schwannoma cells is connected by Src and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-induced tyrosine 654 phosphorylation on β-catenin and associated with degradation of N-cadherin. We also demonstrate that active merlin maintains β-catenin and N-cadherin complex at the plasma membrane through direct regulation. Finally, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of tyrosine 654 is critical for the increased proliferation in human schwannoma cells because overexpression of a Y654F mutant β-catenin reduces hyperproliferation of schwannoma cells. We suggest a model that these pathways are coordinated and relevant for proliferation in merlin-deficient tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cadherins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Contact Inhibition / genetics*
  • Gene Silencing
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Neurilemmoma / genetics*
  • Neurilemmoma / metabolism*
  • Neurofibromin 2 / deficiency*
  • Neurofibromin 2 / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Binding
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway*
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*
  • p21-Activated Kinases / metabolism
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • src Homology Domains
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Neurofibromin 2
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Receptors, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
  • src-Family Kinases
  • p21-Activated Kinases
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein