MIG-6 negatively regulates STAT3 phosphorylation in uterine epithelial cells

Oncogene. 2018 Jan 11;37(2):255-262. doi: 10.1038/onc.2017.335. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Abstract

Endometrial cancer is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract. Progesterone (P4) has been used for several decades in endometrial cancer treatment, especially in women who wish to retain fertility. However, it is unpredictable which patients will respond to P4 treatment and which may have a P4-resistant cancer. Therefore, identifying the mechanism of P4 resistance is essential to improve the therapies for endometrial cancer. Mitogen-inducible gene 6 (Mig-6) is a critical mediator of progesterone receptor (PGR) action in the uterus. In order to study the function of Mig-6 in P4 resistance, we generated a mouse model in which we specifically ablated Mig-6 in uterine epithelial cells using Sprr2f-cre mice (Sprr2fcre+Mig-6f/f). Female mutant mice develop endometrial hyperplasia due to aberrant phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) and proliferation of the endometrial epithelial cells. The results from our immunoprecipitation and cell culture experiments showed that MIG-6 inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3 via protein interactions. Our previous study showed P4 resistance in mice with Mig-6 ablation in Pgr-positive cells (Pgrcre/+Mig-6f/f). However, Sprr2fcre+Mig-6f/f mice were P4-responsive. P4 treatment significantly decreased STAT3 phosphorylation and epithelial proliferation in the uterus of mutant mice. We showed that Mig-6 has an important function of tumor suppressor via inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation in uterine epithelial cells, and the antitumor effects of P4 are mediated by the endometrial stroma. These data help to develop a new signaling pathway in the regulation of steroid hormones in the uterus, and to overcome P4 resistance in human reproductive diseases, such as endometrial cancer.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phosphorylation
  • Progesterone / pharmacology*
  • Progesterone / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Progesterone / genetics*
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Uterus / drug effects
  • Uterus / pathology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • ERRFI1 protein, human
  • Errfi1 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Progesterone