RNF25 promotes gefitinib resistance in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells by inducing NF-κB-mediated ERK reactivation

Cell Death Dis. 2018 May 22;9(6):587. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-0651-5.

Abstract

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations initially respond well to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) but eventually exhibit acquired or innate resistance to the therapies typically due to gene mutations, such as EGFR T790M mutation or a second mutation in the downstream pathways of EGFR. Importantly, a significant portion of NSCLC patients shows TKI resistance without any known mechanisms, calling more comprehensive studies to reveal the underlying mechanisms. Here, we investigated a synthetic lethality with gefitinib using a genome-wide RNAi screen in TKI-resistant EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells, and identified RNF25 as a novel factor related to gefitinib resistance. Depletion of RNF25 expression substantially sensitized NSCLC cells to gefitinib treatment, while forced expression of RNF25 augmented gefitinib resistance in sensitive cells. We demonstrated that RNF25 mediates NF-κB activation in gefitinib-treated cells, which, in turn, induces reactivation of ERK signal to cause the drug resistance. We identified that the ERK reactivation occurs via the function of cytokines, such as IL-6, whose expression is transcriptionally induced in a gefitinib-dependent manner by RNF25-mediated NF-κB signals. These results suggest that RNF25 plays an essential role in gefitinib resistance of NSCLC by mediating cross-talk between NF-κB and ERK pathways, and provide a novel target for the combination therapy to overcome TKI resistance of NSCLC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm* / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gefitinib / pharmacology
  • Gefitinib / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • RNF25 protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Gefitinib