The p53 isoform delta133p53ß regulates cancer cell apoptosis in a RhoB-dependent manner

PLoS One. 2017 Feb 17;12(2):e0172125. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172125. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The TP53 gene plays essential roles in cancer. Conventionally, wild type (WT) p53 is thought to prevent cancer development and metastasis formation, while mutant p53 has transforming abilities. However, clinical studies failed to establish p53 mutation status as an unequivocal predictive or prognostic factor of cancer progression. The recent discovery of p53 isoforms that can differentially regulate cell cycle arrest and apoptosis suggests that their expression, rather than p53 mutations, could be a more clinically relevant biomarker in patients with cancer. In this study, we show that the p53 isoform delta133p53ß is involved in regulating the apoptotic response in colorectal cancer cell lines. We first demonstrate delta133p53ß association with the small GTPase RhoB, a well-described anti-apoptotic protein. We then show that, by inhibiting RhoB activity, delta133p53ß protects cells from camptothecin-induced apoptosis. Moreover, we found that high delta133p53 mRNA expression levels are correlated with higher risk of recurrence in a series of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (n = 36). Our findings describe how a WT TP53 isoform can act as an oncogene and add a new layer to the already complex p53 signaling network.

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*
  • rhoB GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • rhoB GTP-Binding Protein

Grants and funding

This work was supported by CNRS, INSERM and SIte de Recherche Intégré sur le Cancer (SIRIC) Montpellier (http://montpellier-cancer.com/) (Grant INCa-DGOC-INSERM 6045). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.