Oncogenic function of TRIM2 in pancreatic cancer by activating ROS-related NRF2/ITGB7/FAK axis

Oncogene. 2020 Oct;39(42):6572-6588. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01452-3. Epub 2020 Sep 14.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that tripartite motif-containing 2 (TRIM2) is associated with carcinogenic effects in several malignancies. However, the expression patterns and roles of TRIM2 in pancreatic cancer are rarely studied. Our study demonstrated that TRIM2 was expressed in a high percentage of pancreatic tumors. High TRIM2 expression was negatively correlated with the outcome of pancreatic cancer. TRIM2 silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and in vivo tumorigenicity of pancreatic cancer cells. Regarding the mechanism involved, TRIM2 activated ROS-related E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling and the integrin/focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway. Treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine decreased ROS activity and expression level of NRF2 and ITGB7. Increased translocation of NRF2 protein into nucleus further rescued the inhibited ITGB7 transcription. Moreover, NRF2 bound to the potential ARE on the promoter region and enhanced the transcriptional activity of ITGB7, indicating the bridging effect of NRF2 between the two signaling pathways. In summary, our study provides evidence that upregulated TRIM2 in pancreatic cancer predicts short survival for pancreatic cancer patients. TRIM2 accelerates pancreatic cancer progression via the ROS-related NRF2/ITGB7/FAK axis.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antioxidant Response Elements
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Integrin beta Chains / genetics
  • Integrin beta Chains / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism*
  • Pancreas / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • ITGB7 protein, human
  • Integrin beta Chains
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NFE2L2 protein, human
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Tripartite Motif Proteins
  • TRIM2 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
  • PTK2 protein, human
  • Acetylcysteine