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  2. MEK-mediated CHPF2 phosphorylation promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by activating NF-κB signaling

MEK-mediated CHPF2 phosphorylation promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by activating NF-κB signaling

  • Cancer Lett. 2024 Jan 21:216644. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216644.
Xiangqiong Wen 1 Jiale Qin 1 Xiang Zhang 1 Lvlan Ye 2 Youpeng Wang 3 Ranran Yang 2 Yuqin Di 4 Weiling He 5 Ziyang Wang 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
  • 2 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
  • 3 Department of Liver Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China.
  • 4 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Molecular Diagnosis and Gene Testing Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China. Electronic address: diyq@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
  • 5 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, China. Electronic address: hewling@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
  • 6 Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China; Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China. Electronic address: wangzy256@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Abstract

The cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a crucial role in the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal Cancer (CRC) cells, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we report that chondroitin polymerizing factor 2 (CHPF2) promotes CRC cell proliferation and metastasis mediated by TNF, independently of its enzymatic activity. CHPF2 is highly expressed in CRC, and its elevated expression is associated with poor prognosis of CRC patients. Mechanistically, upon TNF stimulation, CHPF2 is phosphorylated at the T588 residue by MEK, enabling CHPF2 to interact with both TAK1 and IKKα. This interaction enhances the binding of TAK1 and IKKα, leading to increased phosphorylation of the IKK complex and activation of NF-κB signaling. As a result, the expression of early growth factors (EGR1) is upregulated to promote CRC cell proliferation and metastasis. In contrast, introduction of a phospho-deficient T588A mutation in CHPF2 weakened the interaction between CHPF2 and TAK1, thus impairing NF-κB signaling. CHPF2 T588A mutation reduced the ability of CHPF2 to promote the proliferation and metastasis of CRC in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the NF-κB RELA subunit promotes CHPF2 expression, further amplifying TNF-induced NF-κB signaling activation. These findings identify a moonlighting function of CHPF2 in promoting tumor cell proliferation and metastasis and provide insights into the mechanism by which CHPF2 amplifies TNF-mediated NF-κB signaling activation. Our study provides a molecular basic for the development of therapeutic strategies for CRC treatment.

Keywords

CHPF2 phosphorylation; Colorectal cancer proliferation and metastasis; MEK kinase; NF-κB signaling; TNF.

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