In vitro genetic screen identifies a cooperative role for LPA signaling and c-Myc in cell transformation

Oncogene. 2008 Nov 20;27(54):6806-16. doi: 10.1038/onc.2008.294. Epub 2008 Sep 1.

Abstract

c-Myc drives uncontrolled cell proliferation in various human cancers. However, in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), c-Myc also induces apoptosis by activating the p19Arf tumor suppressor pathway. Tbx2, a transcriptional repressor of p19Arf, can collaborate with c-Myc by suppressing apoptosis. MEFs overexpressing c-Myc and Tbx2 are immortal but not transformed. We have performed an unbiased genetic screen, which identified 12 oncogenes that collaborate with c-Myc and Tbx2 to transform MEFs in vitro. One of them encodes the LPA2 receptor for the lipid growth factor lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). We find that LPA1 and LPA4, but not LPA3, can reproduce the transforming effect of LPA2. Using pharmacological inhibitors, we show that the in vitro cell transformation induced by LPA receptors is dependent on the Gi-linked ERK and PI3K signaling pathways. The transforming ability of LPA1, LPA2 and LPA4 was confirmed by tumor formation assays in vivo and correlated with prolonged ERK1/2 activation in response to LPA. Our results reveal a direct role for LPA receptor signaling in cell transformation and tumorigenesis in conjunction with c-Myc and reduced p19Arf expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Division / physiology
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / genetics
  • Embryo, Mammalian / physiology
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, myc*
  • Genetic Testing / methods
  • Humans
  • Lysophospholipids / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Receptors, Lysophosphatidic Acid / physiology*

Substances

  • Cdkn2a protein, mouse
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • Lysophospholipids
  • Receptors, Lysophosphatidic Acid
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • lysophosphatidic acid