B7-H3 regulates KIF15-activated ERK1/2 pathway and contributes to radioresistance in colorectal cancer

Cell Death Dis. 2020 Oct 3;11(10):824. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03041-4.

Abstract

As an important modality for the local control of colorectal cancer (CRC), radiotherapy or neoadjuvant radiotherapy is widely applied in the clinic, but radioresistance has become a major obstacle for CRC radiotherapy. Here we reported that B7-H3, an important costimulatory molecule, is associated with radioresistance in CRC. The expression of B7-H3 was obviously increased in CRC cells after irradiation. The enhanced expression of B7-H3 promoted, while the knockdown of B7-H3 inhibited, colony formation and cell activity in CRC cells following radiation treatment. B7-H3 overexpression reduced S phase arrest and protected cell apoptosis induced by radiation, whereas B7-H3 knockdown had the opposite effects. In addition, B7-H3 blockade by 3E8, a specific B7-H3 antibody, significantly sensitized CRC cells to irradiation in vivo. Mechanistic analysis revealed that B7-H3 regulated KIF15 via RNA sequencing, which was in dependent of NF-κB pathway. And small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated KIF15 silencing or KIF15 blockade by the inhibitor SB743921 abolished the effect of B7-H3 on radioresistance in vitro and in vivo. Similar to B7-H3, we find that the protein expression levels of KIF15, which showed a positive correlation with B7-H3, was abnormal upregulated in cancer tissues than in adjacent normal tissues and associated with TNM stage. Finally, B7-H3/KIF15 enhanced resistance against irradiation in CRC cells via activating ERK1/2 signaling, a key pathway involved in radioresistance in cancer. Our findings reveal an alternative mechanism by which CRC cells can acquire radioresistance via the B7-H3/KIF15/ERK axis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • B7 Antigens / genetics
  • B7 Antigens / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Kinesins / genetics
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism

Substances

  • B7 Antigens
  • CD276 protein, human
  • KIF15 protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Kinesins