Nutrient-dependent regulation of ß-cell proinsulin content.

Insulin is made from proinsulin, but the extent to which fasting/feeding controls the homeostatically regulated proinsulin pool in pancreatic ß-cells remains largely unknown. Here, we first examined ß-cell lines (INS1E and Min6, which proliferate slowly and are routinely fed fresh medium every 2-3 days) and found that the proinsulin pool size responds to each feeding within 1 to 2 h, affected both by the quantity of fresh nutrients and the frequency with which they are provided. We observed no effect of nutrient feeding on the overall rate of proinsulin turnover as quantified from cycloheximide-chase experiments. We show that nutrient feeding is primarily linked to rapid dephosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF2α, presaging increased proinsulin levels (and thereafter, insulin levels), followed by its rephosphorylation during the ensuing hours that correspond to a fall in proinsulin levels. The decline of proinsulin levels is blunted by the integrated stress response inhibitor, ISRIB, or by inhibition of eIF2α rephosphorylation with a general control nonderepressible 2 (not PERK) kinase inhibitor. In addition, we demonstrate that amino acids contribute importantly to the proinsulin pool; mass spectrometry shows that ß-cells avidly consume extracellular glutamine, serine, and cysteine. Finally, we show that in both rodent and human pancreatic islets, fresh nutrient availability dynamically increases preproinsulin, which can be quantified without pulse-labeling. Thus, the proinsulin available for insulin biosynthesis is rhythmically controlled by fasting/feeding cycles.

Proteasomal degradation of WT proinsulin in pancreatic beta cells.

Preproinsulin entry into the endoplasmic reticulum yields proinsulin, and its subsequent delivery to the distal secretory pathway leads to processing, storage, and secretion of mature insulin. Multiple groups have reported that treatment of pancreatic beta cell lines, rodent pancreatic islets, or human islets with proteasome inhibitors leads to diminished proinsulin and insulin protein levels, diminished glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and changes in beta-cell gene expression that ultimately lead to beta-cell death. However, these studies have mostly examined treatment times far beyond that needed to achieve acute proteasomal inhibition. Here, we report that although proteasomal inhibition immediately downregulates new proinsulin biosynthesis, it nevertheless acutely increases beta-cell proinsulin levels in pancreatic beta cell lines, rodent pancreatic islets, and human islets, indicating rescue of a pool of recently synthesized WT INS gene product that would otherwise be routed to proteasomal disposal. Our pharmacological evidence suggests that this disposal most likely reflects ongoing endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation. However, we found that within 60 min after proteasomal inhibition, intracellular proinsulin levels begin to fall in conjunction with increased phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha, which can be inhibited by blocking the general control nonderepressible 2 kinase. Together, these data demonstrate that a meaningful subfraction of newly synthesized INS gene product undergoes rapid proteasomal disposal. We propose that free amino acids derived from proteasomal proteolysis may potentially participate in suppressing general control nonderepressible 2 kinase activity to maintain ongoing proinsulin biosynthesis.

MUC1-C drives MYC in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and primary tumor cells are addicted to the MYC oncoprotein for survival. Little is known, however, about how MYC expression is upregulated in MM cells. The mucin 1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) is an oncogenic transmembrane protein that is aberrantly expressed in MM cell lines and primary tumor samples. The present studies demonstrate that targeting MUC1-C with silencing by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 editing or with the GO-203 inhibitor is associated with downregulation of MYC messenger RNA and protein. The results show that MUC1-C occupies the MYC promoter and thereby activates the MYC gene by a ß-catenin/transcription factor 4 (TCF4)-mediated mechanism. In this way, MUC1-C (1) increases ß-catenin occupancy on the MYC promoter, (2) forms a complex with ß-catenin and TCF4, and, in turn, (3) drives MYC transcription. Analysis of MM cells using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction arrays further demonstrated that silencing MUC1-C is associated with downregulation of MYC target genes, including CCND2, hTERT, and GCLC Analysis of microarray data sets further demonstrated that MUC1 levels positively correlate with MYC expression in MM progression and in primary cells from over 800 MM patients. These findings collectively provide convincing evidence that MUC1-C drives MYC expression in MM.

Targeting MUC1-C inhibits the AKT-S6K1-elF4A pathway regulating TIGAR translation in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is third most common malignancy and is the second most common cause of cancer-related death. The MUC1 heterodimeric protein is aberrantly overexpressed in colorectal cancer and has been linked to poor outcomes in this disease. Here, we investigate the effects of the MUC1-C subunit inhibitor (GO-203), which disrupts MUC1-C homo-oligomerization, on human colorectal cancer cells. METHODS: TIGAR mRNA level was determined using qRT-PCR. Western blotting was used to measure TIGAR protein level and AKT-mTOR-S6K1 pathways. Reactive oxygen species and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. Effect of MUC1-C peptide, GO-203 was studied on colorectal xenograft tumors. Immunohistochemistry was utilized for TIGAR staining. RESULTS: Treatment of MUC1-overexpressing SKCO-1 and Colo-205 colon cancer cells with GO-203 was associated with downregulation of the TP53-inducible glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) protein. TIGAR promotes the shunting of glycolytic intermediates into the pentose phosphate pathway and thus is of importance for maintaining redox balance. We show that GO-203-induced suppression of TIGAR is mediated by inhibition of AKT and the downstream mTOR pathway. The results also demonstrate that targeting MUC1-C blocks eIF4A cap-dependent translation of TIGAR. In concert with these results, GO-203-induced suppression of TIGAR was associated with decreases in GSH levels. GO-203 treatment also resulted in increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Consistent with these results, GO-203 inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells in vitro and as xenografts in nude mice. Inhibition of MUC1-C also downregulated TIGAR expression in xenograft tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that MUC1-C is a potential target for the treatment of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer patients who overexpress MUC1-C may be candidates for treatment with the MUC1-C inhibitor alone or in combination therapy with other agents.

Mucin 1 is a potential therapeutic target in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is an aggressive neoplasm with limited treatments for patients with advanced disease. The mucin 1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) oncoprotein plays a critical role in regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and protection from cytotoxic injury mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although CTCL cells exhibit resistance to ROS-induced apoptosis, the expression and functional significance of MUC1 in CTCL have not been previously investigated. Present studies demonstrate that MUC1-C is overexpressed in CTCL cell lines and primary CTCL cells but is absent in resting T cells from healthy donors and B-cell lymphoma cells. We have developed a cell-penetrating peptide that disrupts homodimerization of the MUC1-C subunit necessary for its nuclear translocation and downstream signaling. We show that treatment of CTCL cells with the MUC1-C inhibitor is associated with downregulation of the p53-inducible regulator of glycolysis and apoptosis and decreases in reduced NAD phosphate and glutathione levels. In concert with these results, targeting MUC1-C in CTCL cells increased ROS and, in turn, induced ROS-mediated late apoptosis/necrosis. Targeting MUC1-C in CTCL tumor xenograft models demonstrated significant decreases in disease burden. These findings indicate that MUC1-C maintains redox balance in CTCL cells and is thereby a novel target for the treatment of patients with CTCL.

MUC1-C oncoprotein activates ERK→C/EBPß signaling and induction of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 in breast cancer cells.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) activity is used as a marker of breast cancer stem cells; however, little is known about the regulation of ALDH1A1 expression. Mucin 1 (MUC1) is a heterodimeric protein that is aberrantly overexpressed in most human breast cancers. In studies of breast cancer cells stably silenced for MUC1 or overexpressing the oncogenic MUC1-C subunit, we demonstrate that MUC1-C is sufficient for induction of MEK → ERK signaling and that treatment with a MUC1-C inhibitor suppresses ERK activation. In turn, MUC1-C induces ERK-mediated phosphorylation and activation of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ß (C/EBPß) transcription factor. The results further show that MUC1-C and C/EBPß form a complex on the ALDH1A1 gene promoter and activate ALDH1A1 gene transcription. MUC1-C-induced up-regulation of ALDH1A1 expression is associated with increases in ALDH activity and is detectable in stem-like cells when expanded as mammospheres. These findings demonstrate that MUC1-C (i) activates a previously unrecognized ERK→C/EBPß→ALDH1A1 pathway, and (ii) promotes the induction of ALDH activity in breast cancer cells.

Proinsulin folding and trafficking defects trigger a common pathological disturbance of endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis.

Primary defects in folding of mutant proinsulin can cause dominant-negative proinsulin accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), impaired anterograde proinsulin trafficking, perturbed ER homeostasis, diminished insulin production, and ß-cell dysfunction. Conversely, if primary impairment of ER-to-Golgi trafficking (which also perturbs ER homeostasis) drives misfolding of nonmutant proinsulin-this might suggest bi-directional entry into a common pathological phenotype (proinsulin misfolding, perturbed ER homeostasis, and deficient ER export of proinsulin) that can culminate in diminished insulin storage and diabetes. Here, we've challenged ß-cells with conditions that impair ER-to-Golgi trafficking, and devised an accurate means to assess the relative abundance of distinct folded/misfolded forms of proinsulin using a novel nonreducing SDS-PAGE/immunoblotting protocol. We confirm abundant proinsulin misfolding upon introduction of a diabetogenic INS mutation, or in the islets of db/db mice. Whereas blockade of proinsulin trafficking in Golgi/post-Golgi compartments results in intracellular accumulation of properly-folded proinsulin (bearing native disulfide bonds), impairment of ER-to-Golgi trafficking (regardless whether such impairment is achieved by genetic or pharmacologic means) results in decreased native proinsulin with more misfolded proinsulin. Remarkably, reversible ER-to-Golgi transport defects (such as treatment with brefeldin A or cellular energy depletion) upon reversal quickly restore the ER folding environment, resulting in the disappearance of pre-existing misfolded proinsulin while preserving proinsulin bearing native disulfide bonds. Thus, proper homeostatic balance of ER-to-Golgi trafficking is linked to a more favorable proinsulin folding (as well as trafficking) outcome.

The MUC1-C oncoprotein binds to the BH3 domain of the pro-apoptotic BAX protein and blocks BAX function.

The pro-apoptotic BAX protein contains a BH3 domain that is necessary for its dimerization and for activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The MUC1 (mucin 1) heterodimeric protein is overexpressed in diverse human carcinomas and blocks apoptosis in the response to stress. In this study, we demonstrate that the oncogenic MUC1-C subunit associates with BAX in human cancer cells. MUC1-C·BAX complexes are detectable in the cytoplasm and mitochondria and are induced by genotoxic and oxidative stress. The association between MUC1-C and BAX is supported by the demonstration that the MUC1-C cytoplasmic domain is sufficient for the interaction with BAX. The results further show that the MUC1-C cytoplasmic domain CQC motif binds directly to the BAX BH3 domain at Cys-62. Consistent with binding to the BAX BH3 domain, MUC1-C blocked BAX dimerization in response to (i) truncated BID in vitro and (ii) treatment of cancer cells with DNA-damaging agents. In concert with these results, MUC1-C attenuated localization of BAX to mitochondria and the release of cytochrome c. These findings indicate that the MUC1-C oncoprotein binds directly to the BAX BH3 domain and thereby blocks BAX function in activating the mitochondrial death pathway.

MUC1-C oncoprotein induces TCF7L2 transcription factor activation and promotes cyclin D1 expression in human breast cancer cells.

MUC1 is a heterodimeric glycoprotein that is overexpressed in breast cancers. The present studies demonstrate that the oncogenic MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) associates with the TCF7L2 transcription factor. The MUC1-C cytoplasmic domain (MUC1-CD) binds directly to the TCF7L2 C-terminal region. MUC1-C blocks the interaction between TCF7L2 and the C-terminal-binding protein (CtBP), a suppressor of TCF7L2-mediated transcription. TCF7L2 and MUC1-C form a complex on the cyclin D1 gene promoter and MUC1-C promotes TCF7L2-mediated transcription by the recruitment of ß-catenin and p300. Silencing MUC1-C in human breast cancer cells down-regulated activation of the cyclin D1 promoter and decreased cyclin D1 expression. In addition, a MUC1-C inhibitor blocked the interaction with TCF7L2 and suppressed cyclin D1 levels. These findings indicate that the MUC1-C oncoprotein contributes to TCF7L2 activation and thereby promotes cyclin D1 expression in breast cancer cells.

Development, characterization and efficacy of niosomal diallyl disulfide in treatment of disseminated murine candidiasis.

In the current study, a novel niosome based formulation of diallyl disulfide (DADS) was evaluated for its potential to treat disseminated candidiasis in mouse model. Among various non-ionic surfactants tested, niosome formulation prepared using Span 80 was found to be most efficient in the entrapment of DADS. The DADS loaded niosomes had size dimensions in the range of 140 ± 30 nm with zeta potential of -30.67 ± 4.5. Liver/kidney function tests as well as histopathologic studies suggested that noisome-based DADS formulations are safe at the dose investigated. When administered to Candida albicans infected animals, the DADS bearing niosomal formulation cleared the fungal burden and increased their survival much efficiently than its free form. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: In this study, a novel niosomal formulation of the antifungal DADS was utilized in a murine candidiasis model, resulting in more efficient fungal clearance compared to the free formulation.

Protective Effects of Rifampicin and Its Analog Rifampicin Quinone in a Mouse Model of Obesity-Induced Type 2 Diabetes.

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) form when glucose reacts non-enzymatically with proteins, leading to abnormal protein function, oxidative stress, and inflammation. AGEs are associated with aging and age-related diseases; their formation is aggravated during diabetes. Therefore, drugs preventing AGE formation can potentially treat diabetic complications, positively affecting health. Earlier, we demonstrated that rifampicin and its analogs have potent anti-glycating activities and increase the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rifampicin during hyperglycemia in C. elegans and in a mouse model of obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. The effects of rifampicin were assessed by determining the life span of C. elegans cultured in the presence of glucose and by measuring HbA1c, AGE levels, and glucose excursions in the diabetic mouse model. Our results show that rifampicin protects C. elegans from glucose-induced toxicity and increases life span. In mice, rifampicin reduces HbA1c and AGEs, improves insulin sensitivity, and reduces indications of diabetic nephropathy without inducing hepatotoxicity. Rifampicin quinone, an analog with lower anti-microbial activity, also reduces HbA1c levels, improves glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, and lowers indications of diabetic nephropathy, without adversely affecting the liver of the diabetic mice. Altogether, our results indicate that rifampicin and its analog have protective roles during diabetes without inflicting hepatic damage and may potentially be considered for repositioning to treat hyperglycemia-related complications in patients.

MUC1-C oncoprotein confers androgen-independent growth of human prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: The mucin 1 (MUC1) heterodimeric oncoprotein is overexpressed in human prostate cancers with aggressive pathologic and clinical features. However, few insights are available regarding the functional role of MUC1 in prostate cancer. METHODS: Effects of MUC1-C on androgen receptor (AR) expression were determined by RT-PCR, immunoblotting and AR promoter activation. Coimmunoprecipitations, direct binding assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies were performed to assess the interaction between MUC1-C and AR. Cells were analyzed for invasion, growth in androgen-depleted medium, and sensitivity to MUC1-C inhibitors. RESULTS: The present studies in androgen-dependent LNCaP and LAPC4 prostate cancer cells demonstrate that the oncogenic MUC1-C subunit suppresses AR expression. The results show that MUC1-C activates a posttranscriptional mechanism involving miR-135b-mediated downregulation of AR mRNA levels. The results further demonstrate that MUC1-C forms a complex with AR through a direct interaction between the MUC1-C cytoplasmic domain and the AR DNA-binding domain (DBD). In addition, MUC1-C associates with AR in a complex that occupies the PSA promoter. The interaction between MUC1-C and AR is associated with induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increased invasion. MUC1-C also conferred growth in androgen-depleted medium and resistance to bicalutamide treatment. Moreover, expression of MUC1-C resulted in sensitivity to the MUC1-C inhibitor GO-203 with inhibition of growth in vitro. GO-203 treatment also inhibited growth of established tumor xenografts in nude mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that MUC1-C suppresses AR expression in prostate cancer cells and confers a more aggressive androgen-independent phenotype that is sensitive to MUC1-C inhibition.

Predisposition to Proinsulin Misfolding as a Genetic Risk to Diet-Induced Diabetes.

Throughout evolution, proinsulin has exhibited significant sequence variation in both C-peptide and insulin moieties. As the proinsulin coding sequence evolves, the gene product continues to be under selection pressure both for ultimate insulin bioactivity and for the ability of proinsulin to be folded for export through the secretory pathway of pancreatic ß-cells. The substitution proinsulin-R(B22)E is known to yield a bioactive insulin, although R(B22)Q has been reported as a mutation that falls within the spectrum of mutant INS-gene-induced diabetes of youth. Here, we have studied mice expressing heterozygous (or homozygous) proinsulin-R(B22)E knocked into the Ins2 locus. Neither females nor males bearing the heterozygous mutation developed diabetes at any age examined, but subtle evidence of increased proinsulin misfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum is demonstrable in isolated islets from the heterozygotes. Moreover, males have indications of glucose intolerance, and within a few weeks of exposure to a high-fat diet, they developed frank diabetes. Diabetes was more severe in homozygotes, and the development of disease paralleled a progressive heterogeneity of ß-cells with increasing fractions of proinsulin-rich/insulin-poor cells as well as glucagon-positive cells. Evidently, subthreshold predisposition to proinsulin misfolding can go undetected but provides genetic susceptibility to diet-induced ß-cell failure.

Normal and defective pathways in biogenesis and maintenance of the insulin storage pool.

Both basal and glucose-stimulated insulin release occur primarily by insulin secretory granule exocytosis from pancreatic ß cells, and both are needed to maintain normoglycemia. Loss of insulin-secreting ß cells, accompanied by abnormal glucose tolerance, may involve simple exhaustion of insulin reserves (which, by immunostaining, appears as a loss of ß cell identity), or ß cell dedifferentiation, or ß cell death. While various sensing and signaling defects can result in diminished insulin secretion, somewhat less attention has been paid to diabetes risk caused by insufficiency in the biosynthetic generation and maintenance of the total insulin granule storage pool. This Review offers an overview of insulin biosynthesis, beginning with the preproinsulin mRNA (translation and translocation into the ER), proinsulin folding and export from the ER, and delivery via the Golgi complex to secretory granules for conversion to insulin and ultimate hormone storage. All of these steps are needed for generation and maintenance of the total insulin granule pool, and defects in any of these steps may, weakly or strongly, perturb glycemic control. The foregoing considerations have obvious potential relevance to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and some forms of monogenic diabetes; conceivably, several of these concepts might also have implications for ß cell failure in type 1 diabetes.

MUC1-C Induces PD-L1 and Immune Evasion in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

The immune checkpoint ligand PD-L1 and the transmembrane mucin MUC1 are upregulated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), where they contribute to its aggressive pathogenesis. Here, we report that genetic or pharmacological targeting of the oncogenic MUC1 subunit MUC1-C is sufficient to suppress PD-L1 expression in TNBC cells. Mechanistic investigations showed that MUC1-C acted to elevate PD-L1 transcription by recruitment of MYC and NF-κB p65 to the PD-L1 promoter. In an immunocompetent model of TNBC in which Eo771/MUC1-C cells were engrafted into MUC1 transgenic mice, we showed that targeting MUC1-C associated with PD-L1 suppression, increases in tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and tumor cell killing. MUC1 expression in TNBCs also correlated inversely with CD8, CD69, and GZMB, and downregulation of these markers associated with decreased survival. Taken together, our findings show how MUC1 contributes to immune escape in TNBC, and they offer a rationale to target MUC1-C as a novel immunotherapeutic approach for TNBC treatment.Significance: These findings show how upregulation of the transmembrane mucin MUC1 contributes to immune escape in an aggressive form of breast cancer, with potential implications for a novel immunotherapeutic approach. Cancer Res; 78(1); 205-15. ©2017 AACR.

Targeting MUC1-C suppresses BCL2A1 in triple-negative breast cancer.

B-cell lymphoma 2-related protein A1 (BCL2A1) is a member of the BCL-2 family of anti-apoptotic proteins that confers resistance to treatment with anti-cancer drugs; however, there are presently no agents that target BCL2A1. The MUC1-C oncoprotein is aberrantly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotes anti-cancer drug resistance. The present study demonstrates that targeting MUC1-C genetically and pharmacologically in TNBC cells results in the downregulation of BCL2A1 expression. The results show that MUC1-C activates the BCL2A1 gene by an NF-κB p65-mediated mechanism, linking this pathway with the induction of EMT. The MCL-1 anti-apoptotic protein is also of importance for the survival of TNBC cells and is an attractive target for drug development. We found that inhibiting MCL-1 with the highly specific MS1 peptide results in the activation of the MUC1-C→NF-κB→BCL2A1 pathway. In addition, selection of TNBC cells for resistance to ABT-737, which inhibits BCL-2, BCL-xL and BCL-W but not MCL-1 or BCL2A1, is associated with the upregulation of MUC1-C and BCL2A1 expression. Targeting MUC1-C in ABT-737-resistant TNBC cells suppresses BCL2A1 and induces death, which is of potential therapeutic importance. These findings indicate that MUC1-C is a target for the treatment of TNBCs unresponsive to agents that inhibit anti-apoptotic members of the BCL-2 family.

Targeting MUC1-C suppresses polycomb repressive complex 1 in multiple myeloma.

The polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) includes the BMI1, RING1 and RING2 proteins. BMI1 is required for survival of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. The MUC1-C oncoprotein is aberrantly expressed by MM cells, activates MYC and is also necessary for MM cell survival. The present studies show that targeting MUC1-C with (i) stable and inducible silencing and CRISPR/Cas9 editing and (ii) the pharmacologic inhibitor GO-203, which blocks MUC1-C function, downregulates BMI1, RING1 and RING2 expression. The results demonstrate that MUC1-C drives BMI1 transcription by a MYC-dependent mechanism. MUC1-C thus promotes MYC occupancy on the BMI1 promoter and thereby activates BMI1 expression. We also show that the MUC1-C→MYC pathway induces RING2 expression. Moreover, in contrast to BMI1 and RING2, we found that MUC1-C drives RING1 by an NF-κB p65-dependent mechanism. Targeting MUC1-C and thereby the suppression of these key PRC1 proteins was associated with downregulation of the PRC1 E3 ligase activity as evidenced by decreases in ubiquitylation of histone H2A. Targeting MUC1-C also resulted in activation of the PRC1-repressed tumor suppressor genes, PTEN, CDNK2A and BIM. These findings identify a heretofore unrecognized role for MUC1-C in the epigenetic regulation of MM cells.

MUC1-C activates EZH2 expression and function in human cancer cells.

The EZH2 histone methyltransferase is a member of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) that is highly expressed in diverse human cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis. MUC1-C is an oncoprotein that is similarly overexpressed in carcinomas and has been linked to epigenetic regulation. A role for MUC1-C in regulating EZH2 and histone methylation is not known. Here, we demonstrate that targeting MUC1-C in diverse human carcinoma cells downregulates EZH2 and other PRC2 components. MUC1-C activates (i) the EZH2 promoter through induction of the pRB→E2F pathway, and (ii) an NF-κB p65 driven enhancer in exon 1. We also show that MUC1-C binds directly to the EZH2 CXC region adjacent to the catalytic SET domain and associates with EZH2 on the CDH1 and BRCA1 promoters. In concert with these results, targeting MUC1-C downregulates EZH2 function as evidenced by (i) global and promoter-specific decreases in H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), and (ii) activation of tumor suppressor genes, including BRCA1. These findings highlight a previously unreported role for MUC1-C in activating EZH2 expression and function in cancer cells.

MUC1-C promotes the suppressive immune microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer.

The cancer immune microenvironment is of importance for the effectiveness of immunotherapy; however, its dysregulation is poorly understood. The MUC1-C oncoprotein is aberrantly overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and has been linked to the induction of PD-L1. The present work investigated the effects of targeting MUC1-C in an immuno-competent MUC1 transgenic (MUC1.Tg) mouse model. We show that Lewis Lung Carcinoma cells expressing MUC1-C (LLC/MUC1) exhibit upregulation of PD-L1 and suppression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ). In studies of LLC/MUC1 cells growing in vitro and as tumors in MUC1.Tg mice, treatment with the MUC1-C inhibitor, GO-203, was associated with the downregulation of PD-L1 and induction of IFN-γ. The results further demonstrate that targeting MUC1-C results in enhanced effector function of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as evidenced by increased expression of the activation marker CD69, the degranulation marker CD107α, and granzyme B. Notably, targeting MUC1-C was also associated with marked increases in TIL-mediated killing of LLC/MUC1 cells. Analysis of gene expression data sets further showed that overexpression of MUC1 in NSCLCs correlates negatively with CD8, IFNG and GZMB, and that decreases in CD8 and IFNG are associated with poor clinical outcomes. These findings in LLC/MUC1 tumors and in NSCLCs indicate that MUC1-C→PD-L1 signaling promotes the suppression of CD8+ T-cell activation and that MUC1-C is a potential target for reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment.