Integrin α3β1-CD151 complex regulates dimerization of ErbB2 via RhoA

Oncogene. 2014 May 22;33(21):2779-89. doi: 10.1038/onc.2013.231. Epub 2013 Jun 24.

Abstract

Integrin α3β1 regulates adhesive interactions of cells with laminins and have a critical role in adhesion-dependent cellular responses. Here, we examined the role of α3β1-integrin in ErbB2-dependent proliferation of breast cancer cells in three-dimensional laminin-rich extracellular matrix (3D lr-ECM). Depletion of α3β1 in ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells suppressed growth and restore cell polarity in 3D lr-ECM. The phenotype of α3β1-depleted cells was reproduced upon depletion of tetraspanin CD151 and mirrored that of the cells treated with Herceptin, an established ErbB2 antagonist. Breast cancer cells expressing the α3β1-CD151 complex have higher steady-state phosphorylation of ErbB2 and show enhanced dimerization of the protein when compared with α3β1-/CD151-depleted cells. Furthermore, Herceptin-dependent dephosphorylation of ErbB2 was only observed in α3β1-CD151-expressing cells. Importantly, the inhibitory activity of Herceptin was more pronounced when cells expressed both α3β1 and CD151. We also found that the level of active RhoA was increased in α3β1- and CD151-depleted cells and that Rho controls dimerization of ErbB2. Expression of α3β1 alone did not have significant prognostic value in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. However, expression of α3β1 in combination with CD151 represented a more stringent indicator of poor survival than CD151 alone. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the α3β1-CD151 complex has a critical regulatory role in ErbB2-dependent signalling and thereby may be involved in breast cancer progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Polarity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Integrin alpha3beta1 / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tetraspanin 24 / metabolism*
  • Trastuzumab
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CD151 protein, human
  • Integrin alpha3beta1
  • Tetraspanin 24
  • RHOA protein, human
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • Trastuzumab