The CUL4B-miR-372/373-PIK3CA-AKT axis regulates metastasis in bladder cancer

Oncogene. 2020 Apr;39(17):3588-3603. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-1236-1. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Abstract

CUL4B, which acts as a scaffold protein in CUL4B-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL4B) complexes, participates in a variety of biological processes. Previous studies have shown that CUL4B is often overexpressed and exhibits oncogenic activities in a variety of solid tumors. However, the roles and the underlying mechanisms of CUL4B in bladder cancer (BC) were poorly understood. Here, we showed that CUL4B levels were overexpressed and positively correlated with the malignancy of BC, and CUL4B could confer BC cells increased motility, invasiveness, stemness, and chemoresistance. The PIK3CA/AKT pathway was identified as a critical downstream mediator of CUL4B-driven oncogenicity in BC cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CRL4B epigenetically repressed the transcription of miR-372/373, via catalyzing monoubiquitination of H2AK119 at the gene cluster encoding miR-372/373, leading to upregulation of PIK3CA and activation of AKT. Our findings thus establish a critical role for the CUL4B-miR-372/373-PIK3CA/AKT axis in the pathogenesis of BC and have important prognostic and therapeutic implications in BC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Cullin Proteins / genetics
  • Cullin Proteins / metabolism*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / genetics
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • CUL4B protein, human
  • Cullin Proteins
  • MIRN372 microRNA, human
  • MIRN373 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • PIK3CA protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt