Lysosomal trafficking mediated by Arl8b and BORC promotes invasion of cancer cells that survive radiation

Commun Biol. 2020 Oct 27;3(1):620. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01339-9.

Abstract

Enhanced invasiveness, a critical determinant of metastasis and poor prognosis, has been observed in cancer cells that survive cancer therapy, including radiotherapy. Here, we show that invasiveness in radiation-surviving cancer cells is associated with alterations in lysosomal exocytosis caused by the enhanced activation of Arl8b, a small GTPase that regulates lysosomal trafficking. The binding of Arl8b with its effector, SKIP, is increased after radiation through regulation of BORC-subunits. Knockdown of Arl8b or BORC-subunits decreases lysosomal exocytosis and the invasiveness of radiation-surviving cells. Notably, high expression of ARL8B and BORC-subunit genes is significantly correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Sp1, an ATM-regulated transcription factor, is found to increase BORC-subunit genes expression after radiation. In vivo experiments show that ablation of Arl8b decreases IR-induced invasive tumor growth and distant metastasis. These findings suggest that BORC-Arl8b-mediated lysosomal trafficking is a target for improving radiotherapy by inhibiting invasive tumor growth and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors / genetics
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors / metabolism*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects*
  • Doxycycline / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / radiation effects
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / physiology*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Subunits
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / metabolism

Substances

  • ARL8B protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • BLOC1S1 protein, human
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Subunits
  • SPHKAP protein, human
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor
  • SP1 protein, human
  • ADP-Ribosylation Factors
  • Doxycycline