RESUMEN
Understanding the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the pathological process represents a unique experimental challenge especially when the variants occur outside of coding regions. The noncoding SNP rs61764370 located in the 3'-untranslated region of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) has been implicated as a risk factor for the development of cancer and the response to targeted therapies. This cancer-associated variant is thought to affect the binding of the microRNA let-7, which allegedly modulates KRAS expression. Using site-specific homologous recombination, we inserted the rs61764370:T>G KRAS gene variant in the colorectal cancer cell line SW48 (SW48 +SNP) and assessed the cellular and biochemical phenotype. We observed a significant increase in cellular proliferation, as well as a reduction in the levels of the microRNA let-7a, let-7b, and let-7c. Transcriptional and biochemical analysis showed no concomitant change in the KRAS protein expression or modulation of the downstream mitogen activated kinase or PI3K/AKT signaling. These results suggest that the cancer-associated rs61764370 variant exerts a biological effect not through transcriptional modulation of KRAS but rather by tuning the expression of the microRNA let-7.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Colorrectales/genética , Genes ras , MicroARNs/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/genética , Proteínas ras/genética , Regiones no Traducidas 3' , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular , Neoplasias Colorrectales/patología , Técnicas de Sustitución del Gen , Variación Genética , Células HEK293 , Recombinación Homóloga , Humanos , MicroARNs/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras) , Transducción de Señal , Proteínas ras/metabolismoRESUMEN
Colorectal cancers (CRC) are commonly classified into those with microsatellite instability and those that are microsatellite stable (MSS) but chromosomally unstable. The latter are characterized by poor prognosis and remain largely intractable at the metastatic stage. Comprehensive mutational analyses have revealed that the mixed lineage kinase 4 (MLK4) protein kinase is frequently mutated in MSS CRC with approximately 50% of the mutations occurring in KRAS- or BRAF-mutant tumors. This kinase has not been characterized previously and the relevance of MLK4 somatic mutations in oncogenesis has not been established. We report that MLK4-mutated alleles in CRC are constitutively active and increase the transformation and tumorigenic capacity of RAS-mutated cell lines. Gene expression silencing or targeted knockout of MLK4 impairs the oncogenic properties of KRAS- and BRAF-mutant cancer cells both in vitro and in xenograft models. In establishing the role of MLK4 in intracellular signaling, we show it directly phosphorylates MEK1 (MAP2K1) and that MEK/ERK (MAPK1) signaling is impaired in MLK4 knockout cells. These findings suggest that MLK4 inhibitors may be efficacious in KRAS- and BRAF-mutated CRCs and may provide a new opportunity for targeting such recalcitrant tumors.
