RhoA-dependent regulation of cell migration by the tumor suppressor hSNF5/INI1

Cancer Res. 2008 Aug 1;68(15):6154-61. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-0115.

Abstract

Malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRT) are extremely aggressive pediatric tumors caused by the inactivation of the hSNF5/INI1 tumor suppressor gene, which encodes a core member of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. Roles for hSNF5/INI1 in cell cycle and differentiation have been documented. Based on the observation that MRTs are highly invasive, we investigated a role for hSNF5/INI1 in cell migration. MRT cell lines exhibit high migration properties that are dramatically reduced upon hSNF5/INI1 expression. This effect is associated with the disorganization of the actin stress fiber network and is mediated by the inhibition of the activity of the small GTPase RhoA, through a nuclear, SWI/SNF-dependent transcriptional mechanism. We further show that the knockdown of hSNF5/INI1 in epithelial 293T or MCF7 cells results in increased cell size, loss of cell-cell adhesions, and enhanced migration, associated with an increased RhoA activity. Finally, we show that the SNF5 homology domain is required for hSNF5/INI1-mediated inhibition of migration, and that a missense mutation (S284L) associated with cancer is sufficient to impair hSNF5/INI1 function in migration. We conclude that the inhibition of migration is another crucial tumor suppressor function of hSNF5/INI1, in addition to its previously described functions in proliferation and differentiation, and that its loss-of-function in MRTs may account for the high invasiveness and metastatic potential of these tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Movement / physiology*
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / physiology*
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • SMARCB1 Protein
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / physiology*

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • SMARCB1 Protein
  • SMARCB1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein