2. Academic Validation
  3. Overexpressed WDR3 induces the activation of Hippo pathway by interacting with GATA4 in pancreatic cancer

Overexpressed WDR3 induces the activation of Hippo pathway by interacting with GATA4 in pancreatic cancer

  • J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2021 Mar 1;40(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s13046-021-01879-w.
Wenjie Su 1,  Shikai Zhu 2 3,  Kai Chen 2 3,  Hongji Yang 2 3,  Mingwu Tian 2 3,  Qiang Fu 2 3 4,  Ganggang Shi 5,  Shijian Feng 5,  Dianyun Ren 6,  Xin Jin 6,  Chong Yang 7 8
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.
  • 2 Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China.
  • 3 Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China.
  • 4 Transplant Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02148, USA.
  • 5 Jack Bell Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H3Z6, Canada.
  • 6 Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China.
  • 7 Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Organ Transplantation Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, Sichuan, China. [email protected].
  • 8 Chinese Academy of Sciences Sichuan Translational Medicine Research Hospital, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China. [email protected].
PMID: 33648545 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01879-w
Abstract

Background: WD repeat domain 3 (WDR3) is involved in a variety of cellular processes including gene regulation, cell cycle progression, signal transduction and Apoptosis. However, the biological role of WDR3 in pancreatic Cancer and the associated mechanism remains unclear. We seek to explore the immune-independent functions and relevant mechanism for WDR3 in pancreatic Cancer.

Methods: The GEPIA web tool was searched, and IHC assays were conducted to determine the mRNA and protein expression levels of WDR3 in pancreatic Cancer patients. MTS, colony formation, and transwell assays were conducted to determine the biological role of WDR3 in human Cancer. Western blot analysis, RT-qPCR, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of specific genes. An immunoprecipitation assay was used to explore protein-protein interactions.

Results: Our study proved that overexpressed WDR3 was correlated with poor survival in pancreatic Cancer and that WDR3 silencing significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and tumor growth of pancreatic Cancer. Furthermore, WDR3 activated the Hippo signaling pathway by inducing yes association protein 1 (YAP1) expression, and the combination of WDR3 silencing and administration of the YAP1 inhibitor TED-347 had a synergistic inhibitory effect on the progression of pancreatic Cancer. Finally, the upregulation of YAP1 expression induced by WDR3 was dependent on an interaction with GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4), the transcription factor of YAP1, which interaction induced the nuclear translocation of GATA4 in pancreatic Cancer cells.

Conclusions: We identified a novel mechanism by which WDR3 plays a critical role in promoting pancreatic Cancer progression by activating the Hippo signaling pathway through the interaction with GATA4. Therefore, WDR3 is potentially a therapeutic target for pancreatic Cancer treatment.

Keywords

GATA4; Hippo signaling pathway; Pancreatic Cancer; WDR3; YAP1.

Figures
Products
  • Cat. No.
    Product Name
    Description
    Target
    Research Area
  • HY-125269
    98.97%, YAP-TEAD Inhibitor
    YAP