Targeting the IL-1β/EHD1/TUBB3 axis overcomes resistance to EGFR-TKI in NSCLC

Oncogene. 2020 Feb;39(8):1739-1755. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-1099-5. Epub 2019 Nov 18.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) significantly prolong the survival time of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR-activating mutations, but resistance develops universally. Activation of the phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway and phenotypic alterations in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are both mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs. However, the mechanisms underlying this resistance remain unclear. In this study, EHD1 depletion significantly increased NSCLC cell sensitivity to EGFR-TKI, which was accompanied by EMT reversal. Microarray analysis showed that the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is a crucial pathway regulated by EHD1. Moreover, a PTEN inhibitor abolished EHD1 shRNA regulation of EGFR-TKI sensitivity, EMT, and cancer progression. Mass spectrometry showed that TUBB3 is a novel EHD1-interacting protein. EHD1 modulated microtubule stability by interacting with TUBB3. Furthermore, TUBB3 depletion significantly attenuated EHD1-induced EGFR-TKI resistance and EMT. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that EHD1 is significantly associated with the gene set, "Cellular Response to Interleukin-1β (IL-1β)". As expected, treatment with IL-1β led to increased expression of EHD1, activation of PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling, and induction of EMT in NSCLC cells. In patient specimens, EHD1 was highly expressed in EGFR-TKI-refractory specimens. EHD1 was positively associated with TUBB3 and IL-1R1 but negatively associated with PTEN. In addition, targeting the IL-1β/EHD1/TUBB3 axis mitigated cancer progression by inhibiting cell proliferation and metastasis and promoting apoptosis. Our study demonstrates the involvement of the IL-1β/EHD1/TUBB3 axis in EGFR-TKI resistance and provides a potential therapeutic approach for treating patients with NSCLC that has acquired EGFR-TKI resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Gefitinib / pharmacology
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tubulin / metabolism*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / deficiency
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • EHD1 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • TUBB3 protein, human
  • Tubulin
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Gefitinib