Tankyrase inhibitors suppress hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth via modulating the Hippo cascade

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 6;12(9):e0184068. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184068. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Previous data indicate that Tankyrase inhibitors exert anti-growth functions in many cancer cell lines due to their ability to inactivate the YAP protooncogene. In the present manuscript, we investigated the effect of Tankyrase inhibitors on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and the molecular mechanisms involved. For this purpose, we performed cell proliferation assay by colony-forming ability in seven human HCC cells subjected to XAV-939 and G007-LK Tankyrase inhibitors. Noticeably, the two Tankyrase inhibitors suppressed the HCC cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that Tankyrase inhibitors synergized with MEK and AKT inhibitors to suppress HCC cell proliferation. At the molecular level, Tankyrase inhibitors significantly decreased YAP protein levels, reduced the expression of YAP target genes, and inhibited YAP/TEAD luciferase reporter activity. In addition, Tankyrase inhibitors administration was accompanied by upregulation of Angiomotin-like 1 (AMOTL1) and Angiomotin-like 2 (AMOTL2) proteins, two major negative regulators of YAP. Altogether, the present data indicate that XAV-939 and G007-LK Tankyrase inhibitors could suppress proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and downregulate YAP/TAZ by stabilizing AMOTL1 and AMOTL2 proteins, thus representing new potential anticancer drugs against hepatocellular carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Angiomotins
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / drug therapy*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sulfones / therapeutic use*
  • Tankyrases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Transcription Factors
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use*
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins

Substances

  • AMOTL1 protein, human
  • AMOTL2 protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Angiomotins
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Carrier Proteins
  • G007-LK
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Sulfones
  • Transcription Factors
  • Triazoles
  • XAV939
  • YAP-Signaling Proteins
  • YAP1 protein, human
  • Tankyrases