Force engages vinculin and promotes tumor progression by enhancing PI3K activation of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate.

TitleForce engages vinculin and promotes tumor progression by enhancing PI3K activation of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsRubashkin MG, Cassereau L, Bainer R, DuFort CC, Yui Y, Ou G, Paszek MJ, Davidson MW, Chen Y-Y, Weaver VM
JournalCancer Res
Volume74
Issue17
Pagination4597-611
Date Published2014 Sep 1
ISSN1538-7445
Abstract

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness induces focal adhesion assembly to drive malignant transformation and tumor metastasis. Nevertheless, how force alters focal adhesions to promote tumor progression remains unclear. Here, we explored the role of the focal adhesion protein vinculin, a force-activated mechanotransducer, in mammary epithelial tissue transformation and invasion. We found that ECM stiffness stabilizes the assembly of a vinculin-talin-actin scaffolding complex that facilitates PI3K-mediated phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate phosphorylation. Using defined two- and three-dimensional matrices, a mouse model of mammary tumorigenesis with vinculin mutants, and a novel super resolution imaging approach, we established that ECM stiffness, per se, promotes the malignant progression of a mammary epithelium by activating and stabilizing vinculin and enhancing Akt signaling at focal adhesions. Our studies also revealed that vinculin strongly colocalizes with activated Akt at the invasive border of human breast tumors, where the ECM is stiffest, and we detected elevated mechanosignaling. Thus, ECM stiffness could induce tumor progression by promoting the assembly of signaling scaffolds, a conclusion underscored by the significant association we observed between highly expressed focal adhesion plaque proteins and malignant transformation across multiple types of solid cancer. See all articles in this Cancer Research section, "Physics in Cancer Research."

DOI10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-13-3698
Alternate JournalCancer Res.
PubMed ID25183785
PubMed Central IDPMC4191931
Grant ListBC122990 / BC / NCI NIH HHS / United States
NIH/NCI R01 CA138818-01A1 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
NIH/NCI RO1 CA085492-11A1 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
NIH/NCI U01 ES019458-01 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA085492 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA138818 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U01 ES019458 / ES / NIEHS NIH HHS / United States
U54 CA143836 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U54CA143836-01 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States