VGLL4 Selectively Represses YAP-Dependent Gene Induction and Tumorigenic Phenotypes in Breast Cancer

Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 21;7(1):6190. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-06227-7.

Abstract

Members of the mammalian Vestigial-like (VGLL) family of transcriptional cofactors activate genes in response to a wide variety of environmental cues. Recently, VGLL proteins have been proposed to regulate key signaling networks involved in cancer development and progression. However, the biological and clinical significance of VGLL dysregulation in human breast cancer pathogenesis remains unknown. Here, we report that diminished VGLL4 expression, but not VGLL1-3, correlated with both shorter relapse-free survival and shorter disease-specific survival of cancer patients with different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Additionally, we further demonstrate that overexpression of VGLL4 reduces breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, intravasation/extravasation potential, favors cell death, and suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, VGLL4 negatively regulates the TEAD1-YAP1 transcriptional complex and exerts its growth inhibitory control through its evolutionary conserved TDU2 domain at its C-terminus. The results suggest that VGLL4 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene which acts by selectively antagonizing YAP-dependent tumor growth. VGLL4 may be a promising therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Disease Progression
  • Down-Regulation*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Domains
  • Signal Transduction
  • Survival Analysis
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • TEA Domain Transcription Factors
  • TEAD1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • VGLL4 protein, human
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human