IGF1R signaling in Ewing sarcoma is shaped by clathrin-/caveolin-dependent endocytosis

PLoS One. 2011;6(5):e19846. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019846. Epub 2011 May 17.

Abstract

Receptor endocytosis is critical for cell signaling. IGF1R mediates an autocrine loop that is de-regulated in Ewing Sarcoma (ES) cells. Here we study the impact of IGF1R internalization, mediated by clathrin and caveolin-1 (CAV1), in ES signaling. We used clathrin and CAV1-siRNA to interfere in clathrin- and caveolin-dependent endocytosis. Chlorpromazine (CPMZ) and methyl-beta-cyclo-dextrin (MCD) were also used in order to inhibit clathrin- and caveolin-dependent endocytosis, respectively. We analyzed IGF1R internalization and co-localization with clathrin and CAV1 upon ligand binding, as well as the status of the IGF1R pathway, cellular proliferation, and the apoptosis of interfered and inhibited ES cells. We performed a high-throughput tyrosine kinase phosphorylation assay to analyze the effects of combining the IGF1R tyrosine kinase inhibitor AEW541 (AEW) with CPMZ or MCD on the intracellular phospho-proteome. We observed that IGF1R is internalized upon ligand binding in ES cells and that this process is dependent on clathrin or CAV1. The blockage of receptor internalization inhibited AKT and MAPK phosphorylation, reducing the proliferative rate of ES cells and increasing the levels of apoptosis. Combination of AEW with CPMZ or MCD largely enhanced these effects. CAV1 and clathrin endocytosis controls IGF1R internalization and signaling and has a profound impact on ES IGF1R-promoted survival signaling. We propose the combination of tyrosine-kinase inhibitors with endocytosis inhibitors as a new therapeutic approach to achieve a stronger degree of receptor inhibition in this, or other neoplasms dependent on IGF1R signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caveolin 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Clathrin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Clathrin / metabolism*
  • Endocytosis* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / metabolism*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / pathology
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • Caveolin 1
  • Clathrin
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proteome
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1