Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) promotes glioblastoma cell chemotaxis via Lyn activation

Carcinogenesis. 2014 Jan;35(1):218-26. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgt289. Epub 2013 Aug 23.

Abstract

The long-term survival of patients with glioblastoma is compromised by the proclivity for local invasion into the surrounding normal brain, escaping surgical resection and contributing to therapeutic resistance. Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily, can stimulate glioma cell invasion via binding to fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) and subsequent activation of the Rho guanosine triphosphatase family member Rac1. Here, we demonstrate that TWEAK acts as a chemotactic factor for glioma cells, a potential process for driving cell invasion into the surrounding brain tissue. TWEAK exposure induced the activation of Src family kinases (SFKs), and pharmacologic suppression of SFK activity inhibited TWEAK-induced chemotactic migration. We employed a multiplexed Luminex assay and identified Lyn as a candidate SFK activated by TWEAK. Depletion of Lyn suppressed TWEAK-induced chemotaxis and Rac1 activity. Furthermore, Lyn gene expression levels increase with primary glioma tumor grade and inversely correlate with patient survival. These results show that TWEAK-induced glioma cell chemotaxis is dependent upon Lyn kinase function and, thus, provides opportunities for therapeutic targeting of this deadly disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / mortality
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Movement
  • Chemotaxis / physiology*
  • Cytokine TWEAK
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / mortality
  • Glioblastoma / pathology*
  • Glioma / genetics
  • Glioma / metabolism
  • Glioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors / genetics
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors / metabolism*
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • src-Family Kinases / genetics
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokine TWEAK
  • RAC1 protein, human
  • TNFSF12 protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factors
  • lyn protein-tyrosine kinase
  • src-Family Kinases
  • rac1 GTP-Binding Protein