Inhibition of TAZ contributes radiation-induced senescence and growth arrest in glioma cells

Oncogene. 2019 Apr;38(15):2788-2799. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0626-0. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor and resistant to current available therapeutics, such as radiation. To improve the clinical efficacy, it is important to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying tumor responses to radiation. Here, we investigated long-term cellular responses of human GBM cells to ionizing radiation. Comparing to the initial response within 12 hours, gene expression modulation at 7 days after radiation is markedly different. While genes related to cell cycle arrest and DNA damage responses are mostly modulated at the initial stage; immune-related genes are specifically affected as the long-term effect. This later response is associated with increased cellular senescence and inhibition of transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Mechanistically, TAZ inhibition does not depend on the canonical Hippo pathway, but relies on enhanced degradation mediated by the β-catenin destruction complex in the Wnt pathway. We further showed that depletion of TAZ by RNAi promotes radiation-induced senescence and growth arrest. Pharmacological activation of the β-catenin destruction complex is able to promote radiation-induced TAZ inhibition and growth arrest in these tumor cells. The correlation between senescence and reduced expression of TAZ as well as β-catenin also occurs in human gliomas treated by radiation. Collectively, these findings suggested that inhibition of TAZ is involved in radiation-induced senescence and might benefit GBM radiotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Axin Signaling Complex / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / genetics*
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / radiation effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • Cellular Senescence / genetics*
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Expression / radiation effects
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / radiotherapy
  • Glioma / genetics*
  • Glioma / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Radiation, Ionizing
  • Radiotherapy / methods
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins
  • beta Catenin / genetics

Substances

  • Axin Signaling Complex
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins
  • WWTR1 protein, human
  • beta Catenin