Y-box binding protein-1 and STAT3 independently regulate ATP-binding cassette transporters in the chemoresistance of gastric cancer cells

Int J Oncol. 2018 Dec;53(6):2579-2589. doi: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4557. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Abstract

Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) facilitates cancer chemoresistance through the upregulation of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters associated with multidrug resistance, which is one of the primary obstacles in cancer treatment. Since aberrant Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling is also implicated in chemoresistance in numerous human malignancies, the interaction between YB-1 and JAK/STAT signaling was explored underlying the chemoresistance of NUGC3 gastric cancer cells. It was demonstrated that YB-1 translocated into the nuclei of NUGC3 cells exposed to doxorubicin hydrochloride, suggesting its important role in chemoresistance. Consistently, knockdown of YB-1 significantly decreased the chemoresistance of cells to doxorubicin hydrochloride and epirubicin hydrochloride, as evidenced by a decrease in cell viability. Notably, JAK inhibitor AG490 treatment further decreased the cell viability caused by YB-1 inhibition and doxorubicin hydrochloride. It was also observed that YB-1 transcriptionally regulated the ABCC3 transporter, whereas STAT3 modulated ABCC2 transporter levels. These findings suggest that YB-1 and STAT3 act together to facilitate chemoresistance via modulating the expression of different ABC transporters in NUGC3 cells. Notably, siYB-1 did not exhibit any significant effect on STAT3 expression. Similarly, siSTAT3 failed to alter YB-1 expression, suggesting that the two may not regulate each other in a mutual manner. However, double knockdown of YB-1 and STAT3 led to a synergistic inhibition of cell invasion in NUGC3 cells. Nonetheless, the combined treatment of YB-1 antagonists with STAT3 inhibitors may serve as an effective therapy in gastric cancer.

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Tyrphostins / pharmacology
  • Y-Box-Binding Protein 1 / genetics
  • Y-Box-Binding Protein 1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • ABCC2 protein, human
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Tyrphostins
  • Y-Box-Binding Protein 1
  • YBX1 protein, human
  • alpha-cyano-(3,4-dihydroxy)-N-benzylcinnamide
  • Doxorubicin