Amplification of MPZL1/PZR promotes tumor cell migration through Src-mediated phosphorylation of cortactin in hepatocellular carcinoma

Cell Res. 2014 Feb;24(2):204-17. doi: 10.1038/cr.2013.158. Epub 2013 Dec 3.

Abstract

We have previously identified 1 241 regions of somatic copy number alterations (CNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we found that a novel recurrent focal amplicon, 1q24.1-24.2, targets the MPZL1 gene in HCC. Notably, there is a positive correlation between the expression levels of MPZL1 and intrahepatic metastasis of the HCC specimens. MPZL1 can significantly enhance the migratory and metastatic potential of the HCC cells. Moreover, we found that one of the mechanisms by which MPZL1 promotes HCC cell migration is by inducing the phosphorylation and activation of the pro-metastatic protein, cortactin. Additionally, we found that Src kinase mediates the phosphorylation and activation of cortactin induced by MPZL1 overexpression. Taken together, these findings suggest that MPZL1 is a novel pro-metastatic gene targeted by a recurrent region of copy number amplification at 1q24.1-24.2 in HCC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1
  • Cortactin / metabolism*
  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • Down-Regulation
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Phosphoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Isoforms / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transplantation, Heterologous
  • src-Family Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • src-Family Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • CTTN protein, human
  • Cortactin
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MPZL1 protein, human
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • src-Family Kinases