Extracellular Vesicles Isolated from Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Induce Pro-Oncogenic Changes in Healthy Mesothelial Cells.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive tumour of the pleura (MPM) or peritoneum with a clinical presentation at an advanced stage of the disease. Current therapies only marginally improve survival and there is an urgent need to identify new treatments. Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent the main component of a vast stroma within MPM and play an important role in the tumour microenvironment. The influence of CAFs on cancer progression, aggressiveness and metastasis is well understood; however, the role of CAF-derived extracellular vesicles (CAF-EVs) in the promotion of tumour development and invasiveness is underexplored. We purified CAF-EVs from MPM-associated cells and healthy dermal human fibroblasts and examined their effect on cell proliferation and motility. The data show that exposure of healthy mesothelial cells to EVs derived from CAFs, but not from normal dermal human fibroblasts (NDHF) resulted in activating pro-oncogenic signalling pathways and increased proliferation and motility. Consistent with its role in suppressing Yes-Associated Protein (YAP) activation (which in MPM is a result of Hippo pathway inactivation), treatment with Simvastatin ameliorated the pro-oncogenic effects instigated by CAF-EVs by mechanisms involving both a reduction in EV number and changes in EV cargo. Collectively, these data determine the significance of CAF-derived EVs in mesothelioma development and progression and suggest new targets in cancer therapy.

Reduced AKT/mTOR signaling and protein synthesis dysregulation in a Rett syndrome animal model.

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with no efficient treatment that is caused in the majority of cases by mutations in the gene methyl-CpG binding-protein 2 (MECP2). RTT becomes manifest after a period of apparently normal development and causes growth deceleration, severe psychomotor impairment and mental retardation. Effective animal models for RTT are available and show morphofunctional abnormalities of synaptic connectivity. However, the molecular consequences of MeCP2 disruption leading to neuronal and synaptic alterations are not known. Protein synthesis regulation via the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is crucial for synaptic organization, and its disruption is involved in a number of neurodevelopmental diseases. We investigated the phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein (rp) S6, whose activation is highly dependent from mTOR activity. Immunohistochemistry showed that rpS6 phosphorylation is severely affected in neurons across the cortical areas of Mecp2 mutants and that this alteration precedes the severe symptomatic phase of the disease. Moreover, we found a severe defect of the initiation of protein synthesis in the brain of presymptomatic Mecp2 mutant that was not restricted to a specific subset of transcripts. Finally, we provide evidence for a general dysfunction of the Akt/mTOR, but not extracellular-regulated kinase, signaling associated with the disease progression in mutant brains. Our results indicate that defects in the AKT/mTOR pathway are responsible for the altered translational control in Mecp2 mutant neurons and disclosed a novel putative biomarker of the pathological process. Importantly, this study provides a novel context of therapeutic interventions that can be designed to successfully restrain or ameliorate the development of RTT.

The pathogenesis of mesothelioma is driven by a dysregulated translatome.

Malignant mesothelioma (MpM) is an aggressive, invariably fatal tumour that is causally linked with asbestos exposure. The disease primarily results from loss of tumour suppressor gene function and there are no 'druggable' driver oncogenes associated with MpM. To identify opportunities for management of this disease we have carried out polysome profiling to define the MpM translatome. We show that in MpM there is a selective increase in the translation of mRNAs encoding proteins required for ribosome assembly and mitochondrial biogenesis. This results in an enhanced rate of mRNA translation, abnormal mitochondrial morphology and oxygen consumption, and a reprogramming of metabolic outputs. These alterations delimit the cellular capacity for protein biosynthesis, accelerate growth and drive disease progression. Importantly, we show that inhibition of mRNA translation, particularly through combined pharmacological targeting of mTORC1 and 2, reverses these changes and inhibits malignant cell growth in vitro and in ex-vivo tumour tissue from patients with end-stage disease. Critically, we show that these pharmacological interventions prolong survival in animal models of asbestos-induced mesothelioma, providing the basis for a targeted, viable therapeutic option for patients with this incurable disease.

Control of translation elongation in health and disease.

Regulation of protein synthesis makes a major contribution to post-transcriptional control pathways. During disease, or under stress, cells initiate processes to reprogramme protein synthesis and thus orchestrate the appropriate cellular response. Recent data show that the elongation stage of protein synthesis is a key regulatory node for translational control in health and disease. There is a complex set of factors that individually affect the overall rate of elongation and, for the most part, these influence either transfer RNA (tRNA)- and eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A)-dependent codon decoding, and/or elongation factor 2 (eEF2)-dependent ribosome translocation along the mRNA. Decoding speeds depend on the relative abundance of each tRNA, the cognate:near-cognate tRNA ratios and the degree of tRNA modification, whereas eEF2-dependent ribosome translocation is negatively regulated by phosphorylation on threonine-56 by eEF2 kinase. Additional factors that contribute to the control of the elongation rate include epigenetic modification of the mRNA, coding sequence variation and the expression of eIF5A, which stimulates peptide bond formation between proline residues. Importantly, dysregulation of elongation control is central to disease mechanisms in both tumorigenesis and neurodegeneration, making the individual key steps in this process attractive therapeutic targets. Here, we discuss the relative contribution of individual components of the translational apparatus (e.g. tRNAs, elongation factors and their modifiers) to the overall control of translation elongation and how their dysregulation contributes towards disease processes.

Spreading of mesothelioma cells is rapamycin-sensitive and requires continuing translation.

The interaction of cancer cells with extracellular matrix (ECM) is important in metastasization. Here we identified the molecules of the ECM expressed by sarcomatous malignant mesothelioma, and their effect on adhesion and spreading. In addition, by analyzing the relationship between translation and attachment to matrix, we found that mesothelioma cells rely on continuing translation to efficiently attach to matrix, and rapamycin inhibition affects spreading and migration of cancer cells. Specifically, we found that sarcomatous cells produce high amounts of fibronectin, able to support the spreading of mesothelioma cells. Spreading of cancer cells on fibronectin does not require de novo transcription but is sensitive to cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis. Next, we analyzed the involvement of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, a major pathway controlling translation. Cancer cells have a constitutively active mTOR pathway; surprisingly, inhibition of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) by rapamycin barely affects the global rate of translation and of initiation of translation, but deeply inhibits mesothelioma spreading on ECM. The effects of rapamycin and cycloheximide on spreading were observed in several mesothelioma cell lines, although with different magnitude. Overall, data suggest that adhesion and spreading of mesothelioma cells on ECM require the translation of pre-synthesized mRNAs, and mTORC1 activity. We speculate that mTORC1 activity is required either for the translation of specific mRNAs or for the direct modulation of cytoskeletal remodeling.

PKCbetaII modulates translation independently from mTOR and through RACK1.

RACK1 (receptor for activated C kinase 1) is an abundant scaffolding protein, which binds active PKCbetaII (protein kinase C betaII) increasing its activity in vitro. RACK1 has also been described as a component of the small ribosomal subunit, in proximity to the mRNA exit channel. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that PKCbetaII plays a specific role in translational control and verified whether it may associate with the ribosomal machinery. We find that specific inhibition of PKCbetaI/II reduces translation as well as global PKC inhibition, but without affecting phosphorylation of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) targets. These results suggest that PKCbetaII acts as a specific PKC isoform affecting translation in an mTOR-independent fashion, possibly close to the ribosomal machinery. Using far-Western analysis, we found that PKCbetaII binds ribosomes in vitro. Co-immunoprecipitation studies indicate that a small but reproducible pool of PKCbetaII is associated with membranes containing ribosomes, suggesting that in vivo PKCbetaII may also physically interact with the ribosomal machinery. Polysomal profiles show that stimulation of PKC results in an increased polysomes/80S ratio, associated with a shift of PKCbetaII to the heavier part of the gradient. A RACK1-derived peptide that inhibits the binding of active PKCbetaII to RACK1 reduces the polysomes/80S ratio and methionine incorporation, suggesting that binding of PKCbetaII to RACK1 is important for PKC-mediated translational control. Finally, down-regulation of RACK1 by siRNA (small interfering RNA) impairs the PKC-mediated increase of translation. Taken together the results of the present study show that PKCbetaII can act as a specific PKC isoform regulating translation, in an mTOR-independent fashion, possibly close to the ribosomal machinery.

Eukaryotic ribosomes host PKC activity.

PKC isoform betaII modulates translation and can be recruited on ribosomes via its scaffold RACK1 (receptor for activated protein kinase C 1), which resides on the 40S ribosomal subunit. However, whether a PKC activity exists on the ribosome is not yet demonstrated. We purified native ribosomes by two different techniques, which avoid stripping of initiation factors and other associated proteins. In both cases, purified ribosomes are able to phosphorylate a specific PKC substrate, MARCKS (Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C-Kinase Substrate). MARCKS phosphorylation is switched on by treatment with PKC agonist PMA (Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate). Consistently, the broad PKC inhibitor BMI (Bisindolyl Maleimide I) abrogates MARCKS phosphorylation. These data show that native ribosomes host active PKC and hence allow the phosphorylation of ribosome-associated substrates like initiation factors and mRNA binding proteins.

A Polysome-Based microRNA Screen Identifies miR-24-3p as a Novel Promigratory miRNA in Mesothelioma.

The expression of miRNAs in cancer has been widely studied and has allowed the definition of oncomirs and oncosuppressors. We note that it is often underestimated that many mRNAs are expressed, but translationally silent. In spite of this, systematic identification of miRNAs in equilibrium with their target mRNAs on polysomes has not been widely exploited. To identify biologically active oncomirs, we performed a screen for miRNAs acting on the polysomes of malignant mesothelioma (MPM) cells. Only a small percentage of expressed miRNAs physically associated with polysomes. On polysomes, we identified miRNAs already characterized in MPM, as well as novel ones like miR-24-3p, which acted as a promigratory miRNA in all cancer cells tested. miR-24-3p positively regulated Rho-GTP activity, and inhibition of miR-24-3p reduced growth in MPM cells. Analysis of miR-24-3p common targets, in two mesothelioma cell lines, identified a common subset of downregulated genes. These same genes were downregulated during the progression of multiple cancer types. Among the specific targets of miR-24-3p was cingulin, a tight junction protein that inhibits Rho-GTP activity. Overexpression of miR-24-3p only partially abrogated cingulin mRNA, but completely abrogated cingulin protein, confirming its action via translational repression. We suggest that miR-24-3p is an oncomir and speculate that identification of polysome-associated miRNAs efficiently sorts out biologically active miRNAs from inactive ones.Significance: Subcellular localization of miRNAs may predict their role in cancer and identify novel oncogenic miRNAs involved in cancer progression.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/20/5741/F1.large.jpg Cancer Res; 78(20); 5741-53. ©2018 AACR.

RTN3 Is a Novel Cold-Induced Protein and Mediates Neuroprotective Effects of RBM3.

Cooling and hypothermia are profoundly neuroprotective, mediated, at least in part, by the cold shock protein, RBM3. However, the neuroprotective effector proteins induced by RBM3 and the mechanisms by which mRNAs encoding cold shock proteins escape cooling-induced translational repression are unknown. Here, we show that cooling induces reprogramming of the translatome, including the upregulation of a new cold shock protein, RTN3, a reticulon protein implicated in synapse formation. We report that this has two mechanistic components. Thus, RTN3 both evades cooling-induced translational elongation repression and is also bound by RBM3, which drives the increased expression of RTN3. In mice, knockdown of RTN3 expression eliminated cooling-induced neuroprotection. However, lentivirally mediated RTN3 overexpression prevented synaptic loss and cognitive deficits in a mouse model of neurodegeneration, downstream and independently of RBM3. We conclude that RTN3 expression is a mediator of RBM3-induced neuroprotection, controlled by novel mechanisms of escape from translational inhibition on cooling.

Long-Fiber Carbon Nanotubes Replicate Asbestos-Induced Mesothelioma with Disruption of the Tumor Suppressor Gene Cdkn2a (Ink4a/Arf).

Mesothelioma is a fatal tumor of the pleura and is strongly associated with asbestos exposure. The molecular mechanisms underlying the long latency period of mesothelioma and driving carcinogenesis are unknown. Moreover, late diagnosis means that mesothelioma research is commonly focused on end-stage disease. Although disruption of the CDKN2A (INK4A/ARF) locus has been reported in end-stage disease, information is lacking on the status of this key tumor suppressor gene in pleural lesions preceding mesothelioma. Manufactured carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are similar to asbestos in terms of their fibrous shape and biopersistent properties and thus may pose an asbestos-like inhalation hazard. Here we show that instillation of either long CNTs or long asbestos fibers into the pleural cavity of mice induces mesothelioma that exhibits common key pro-oncogenic molecular events throughout the latency period of disease progression. Sustained activation of pro-oncogenic signaling pathways, increased proliferation, and oxidative DNA damage form a common molecular signature of long-CNT- and long-asbestos-fiber-induced pathology. We show that hypermethylation of p16/Ink4a and p19/Arf in CNT- and asbestos-induced inflammatory lesions precedes mesothelioma; this results in silencing of Cdkn2a (Ink4a/Arf) and loss of p16 and p19 protein, consistent with epigenetic alterations playing a gatekeeper role in cancer. In end-stage mesothelioma, silencing of p16/Ink4a is sustained and deletion of p19/Arf is detected, recapitulating human disease. This study addresses the long-standing question of which early molecular changes drive carcinogenesis during the long latency period of mesothelioma development and shows that CNT and asbestos pose a similar health hazard.

Expression and activity of eIF6 trigger malignant pleural mesothelioma growth in vivo.

eIF6 is an antiassociation factor that regulates the availability of active 80S. Its activation is driven by the RACK1/PKCß axis, in a mTORc1 independent manner. We previously described that eIF6 haploinsufficiency causes a striking survival in the Eµ-Myc mouse lymphoma model, with lifespans extended up to 18 months. Here we screen for eIF6 expression in human cancers. We show that Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma tumors (MPM) and a MPM cell line (REN cells) contain high levels of hyperphosphorylated eIF6. Enzastaurin is a PKC beta inhibitor used in clinical trials. We prove that Enzastaurin treatment decreases eIF6 phosphorylation rate, but not eIF6 protein stability. The growth of REN, in vivo, and metastasis are reduced by either Enzastaurin treatment or eIF6 shRNA. Molecular analysis reveals that eIF6 manipulation affects the metabolic status of malignant mesothelioma cells. Less glycolysis and less ATP content are evident in REN cells depleted for eIF6 or treated with Enzastaurin (Anti-Warburg effect). We propose that eIF6 is necessary for malignant mesothelioma growth, in vivo, and can be targeted by kinase inhibitors.

Cap dependent translation contributes to resistance of myeloma cells to bortezomib.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most predominant blood malignancy. Proteasome inhibitors like bortezomib have increased life expectancy, but eventually patients develop resistance to therapy. It was proposed that bortezomib acts through the induction of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), i.e., accumulation of misfolded proteins causing a lethal stress response. By this theory, increasing the proteasome load by the stimulation of translation may worsen the UPR. Here we evaluated the crosstalk between translation and bortezomib toxicity in both bortezomib sensitive and resistant cells. We found that bortezomib toxicity does not correlate with induction of proapoptotic eIF2α phosphorylation, but rather caused a late reduction in initiation of translation. This effect was accompanied by dephosphorylation of the mTORC1 target 4E-BP1. Infection of myeloma cells with constitutively dephosphorylated 4E-BP1, worsened bortezomib induced cell death. Since mTORC1 inhibitors cause pharmacological inhibition of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, we tested whether they could act synergistically with bortezomib. We found that both rapamycin, a specific mTORC1 blocker, and PP242 a mTOR antagonist induce the arrest of myeloma cells irrespective of bortezomib sensitivity. Sensitivity to mTOR inhibitors has been associated to the levels of eIF4E/4E-BPs. We found that levels of eIF4E and 4E-BPs are variable among patients, and that 15% of myeloma patients have increased levels of 4E-BP1/2. Primary cells of myeloma retain sensitivity to mTOR inhibition, when plated on stromal cells. We propose that translational load does not contribute to bortezomib-induced death, but rather mTOR targeting may be successful in bortezomib resistant patients, stratified for eIF4E/4EBPs.

Translational control by 80S formation and 60S availability: the central role of eIF6, a rate limiting factor in cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis.

Ribosome biogenesis and translation can be simplified as the processes of generating ribosomes and their use for decoding mRNA into a protein. Ribosome biogenesis has been efficiently studied in unicellular organisms like the budding yeast, allowing us a deep and basic knowledge of this process in growing cells. Translation has been modeled in vitro and in unicellular organisms. These studies have given us an important insight into the mechanisms and evolutionarily conserved aspects of ribosome biology. However, we advocate the need of the direct study of these processes in multicellular organisms. Analysis of ribosome biogenesis and translation in vivo in Metazoa and mammalian models is emerging and unveils the unexpected consequences of perturbed ribosome biogenesis and translation. Here, we will describe how one factor, eIF6, plays a crucial role both in the generation of the large ribosomal subunit and its availability for translation. From there, we will make specific conclusions on the physiological relevance of eIF6 in 80S formation, cell cycle progression and disease, raising the point that the control of gene expression may occur at the unexpected level of the large ribosomal subunit. In the future, the modulation of eIF6 binding to the 60S may be pharmacologically exploited to reduce the growth of cancer cells or ameliorate the phenotype of SDS syndrome.

Sensitivity of global translation to mTOR inhibition in REN cells depends on the equilibrium between eIF4E and 4E-BP1.

Initiation is the rate-limiting phase of protein synthesis, controlled by signaling pathways regulating the phosphorylation of translation factors. Initiation has three steps, 43S, 48S and 80S formation. 43S formation is repressed by eIF2α phosphorylation. The subsequent steps, 48S and 80S formation are enabled by growth factors. 48S relies on eIF4E-mediated assembly of eIF4F complex; 4E-BPs competitively displace eIF4E from eIF4F. Two pathways control eIF4F: 1) mTORc1 phosphorylates and inactivates 4E-BPs, leading to eIF4F formation; 2) the Ras-Mnk cascade phosphorylates eIF4E. We show that REN and NCI-H28 mesothelioma cells have constitutive activation of both pathways and maximal translation rate, in the absence of exogenous growth factors. Translation is rapidly abrogated by phosphorylation of eIF2α. Surprisingly, pharmacological inhibition of mTORc1 leads to the complete dephosphorylation of downstream targets, without changes in methionine incorporation. In addition, the combined administration of mTORc1 and MAPK/Mnk inhibitors has no additive effect. The inhibition of both mTORc1 and mTORc2 does not affect the metabolic rate. In spite of this, mTORc1 inhibition reduces eIF4F complex formation, and depresses translocation of TOP mRNAs on polysomes. Downregulation of eIF4E and overexpression of 4E-BP1 induce rapamycin sensitivity, suggesting that disruption of eIF4F complex, due to eIF4E modulation, competes with its recycling to ribosomes. These data suggest the existence of a dynamic equilibrium in which eIF4F is not essential for all mRNAs and is not displaced from translated mRNAs, before recycling to the next.

Impairment of cytoplasmic eIF6 activity restricts lymphomagenesis and tumor progression without affecting normal growth.

Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 6 (eIF6) controls translation by regulating 80S subunit formation. eIF6 is overexpressed in tumors. Here, we demonstrate that eIF6 inactivation delays tumorigenesis and reduces tumor growth in vivo. eIF6(+/-) mice resist to Myc-induced lymphomagenesis and have prolonged tumor-free survival and reduced tumor growth. eIF6(+/-) mice are also protected by p53 loss. Myc-driven lymphomas contain PKCßII and phosphorylated eIF6; eIF6 is phosphorylated by tumor-derived PKCßII, but not by the eIF4F activator mTORC1. Mutation of PKCßII phosphosite of eIF6 reduces tumor growth. Thus, eIF6 is a rate-limiting controller of initiation of translation, able to affect tumorigenesis and tumor growth. Modulation of eIF6 activity, independent from eIF4F complex, may lead to a therapeutical avenue in tumor therapy.

Deregulation of the PI3K and KRAS signaling pathways in human cancer cells determines their response to everolimus.

Personalized cancer medicine is based on the concept that targeted therapies are effective on subsets of patients whose tumors carry specific molecular alterations. Several mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors are in preclinical or clinical trials for cancers, but the molecular basis of sensitivity or resistance to these inhibitors among patients is largely unknown. Here we have identified oncogenic variants of phosphoinositide-3-kinase, catalytic, alpha polypeptide (PIK3CA) and KRAS as determinants of response to the mTOR inhibitor everolimus. Human cancer cells carrying alterations in the PI3K pathway were responsive to everolimus, both in vitro and in vivo, except when KRAS mutations occurred concomitantly or were exogenously introduced. In human cancer cells with mutations in both PIK3CA and KRAS, genetic ablation of mutant KRAS reinstated response to the drug. Consistent with these data, PIK3CA mutant cells, but not KRAS mutant cells, displayed everolimus-sensitive translation. Importantly, in a cohort of metastatic cancer patients, the presence of oncogenic KRAS mutations was associated with lack of benefit after everolimus therapy. Thus, our results demonstrate that alterations in the KRAS and PIK3CA genes may represent biomarkers to optimize treatment of patients with mTOR inhibitors.