ANO1 regulates the maintenance of stemness in glioblastoma stem cells by stabilizing EGFRvIII

Oncogene. 2021 Feb;40(8):1490-1502. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01612-5. Epub 2021 Jan 15.

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or glioblastoma is the most deadly malignant brain tumor in adults. GBM is difficult to treat mainly due to the presence of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (EGFRvIII) has been linked to stemness and malignancy of GSCs; however, the regulatory mechanism of EGFRvIII is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrated that Anoctamin-1 (ANO1), a Ca2+-activated Cl- channel, interacts with EGFRvIII, increases its protein stability, and supports the maintenance of stemness and tumor progression in GSCs. Specifically, shRNA-mediated knockdown and pharmacological inhibition of ANO1 suppressed the self-renewal, invasion activities, and expression of EGFRvIII and related stem cell factors, including NOTCH1, nestin, and SOX2 in GSCs. Conversely, ANO1 overexpression enhanced the above phenomena. Mechanistically, ANO1 protected EGFRvIII from proteasomal degradation by directly binding to it. ANO1 knockdown significantly increased survival in mice and strongly suppressed local invasion of GSCs in an in vivo intracranial mouse model. Collectively, these results suggest that ANO1 plays a crucial role in the maintenance of stemness and invasiveness of GSCs by regulating the expression of EGFRvIII and related signaling molecules, and can be considered a promising therapeutic target for GBM treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anoctamin-1 / genetics*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Glioblastoma / genetics*
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
  • Nestin / genetics
  • Protein Stability
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Receptor, Notch1 / genetics
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • ANO1 protein, human
  • Anoctamin-1
  • NOTCH1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nestin
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • SOX2 protein, human
  • SOXB1 Transcription Factors
  • epidermal growth factor receptor VIII
  • ErbB Receptors