Oncogenic role of Merlin/NF2 in glioblastoma

Oncogene. 2015 May 14;34(20):2621-30. doi: 10.1038/onc.2014.185. Epub 2014 Jul 21.

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, with a poor prognosis because of its resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Merlin/NF2 (moesin-ezrin-radixin-like protein/neurofibromatosis type 2) is a tumor suppressor found to be mutated in most nervous system tumors; however, it is not mutated in glioblastomas. Merlin associates with several transmembrane receptors and intracellular proteins serving as an anchoring molecule. Additionally, it acts as a key component of cell motility. By selecting sub-populations of U251 glioblastoma cells, we observed that high expression of phosphorylated Merlin at serine 518 (S518-Merlin), NOTCH1 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) correlated with increased cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. These cells were defective in cell-contact inhibition with changes in Merlin phosphorylation directly affecting NOTCH1 and EGFR expression, as well as downstream targets HES1 (hairy and enhancer of split-1) and CCND1 (cyclin D1). Of note, we identified a function for S518-Merlin, which is distinct from what has been reported when the expression of Merlin is diminished in relation to EGFR and NOTCH1 expression, providing first-time evidence that demonstrates that the phosphorylation of S518-Merlin in glioblastoma promotes oncogenic properties that are not only the result of inactivation of the tumor suppressor role of Merlin but also an independent process implicating a Merlin-driven regulation of NOTCH1 and EGFR.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclin D1 / biosynthesis
  • Cyclin D1 / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / biosynthesis
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neurofibromin 2 / genetics
  • Neurofibromin 2 / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / genetics
  • Receptor, Notch1 / biosynthesis
  • Receptor, Notch1 / genetics
  • Transcription Factor HES-1

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • CCND1 protein, human
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • NOTCH1 protein, human
  • Neurofibromin 2
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Transcription Factor HES-1
  • Cyclin D1
  • HES1 protein, human
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors