Noonan Syndrome/Leukemia-associated Gain-of-function Mutations in SHP-2
Phosphatase (PTPN11) Enhance Cell Migration and
Angiogenesis |
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Authors: | Siying Wang Wen-Mei Yu Wanming Zhang Keith R McCrae Benjamin G Neel and Cheng-Kui Qu |
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Institution: | ‡Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 and the §Cancer Biology Program, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 |
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Abstract: | Mutations in SHP-2 phosphatase (PTPN11) that cause hyperactivation
of its catalytic activity have been identified in Noonan syndrome and various
childhood leukemias. Recent studies suggest that the gain-of-function (GOF)
mutations of SHP-2 play a causal role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.
However, the molecular mechanisms by which GOF mutations of SHP-2 induce these
phenotypes are not fully understood. Here, we show that GOF mutations in
SHP-2, such as E76K and D61G, drastically increase spreading and migration of
various cell types, including hematopoietic cells, endothelial cells, and
fibroblasts. More importantly, in vivo angiogenesis in SHP-2 D61G
knock-in mice is also enhanced. Mechanistic studies suggest that the increased
cell migration is attributed to the enhanced β1 integrin outside-in
signaling. In response to β1 integrin cross-linking or fibronectin
stimulation, activation of ERK and Akt kinases is greatly increased by SHP-2
GOF mutations. Also, integrin-induced activation of RhoA and Rac1 GTPases is
elevated. Interestingly, mutant cells with the SHP-2 GOF mutation (D61G) are
more sensitive than wild-type cells to the suppression of cell motility by
inhibition of these pathways. Collectively, these studies reaffirm the
positive role of SHP-2 phosphatase in cell motility and suggest a new
mechanism by which SHP-2 GOF mutations contribute to diseases.SHP-2, a multifunctional SH2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase
implicated in diverse cell signaling processes
(1–3),
plays a critical role in cellular function. Homozygous deletion of Exon
2 (4) or Exon 3
(5) of the SHP-2 gene
(PTPN11) in mice leads to early embryonic lethality prior to and at
midgestation, respectively. SHP-2 null mutant mice die much earlier, at
peri-implantation (4). Exon
3 deletion mutation of SHP-2 blocks hematopoietic potential of embryonic
stem cells both in vitro and in vivo
(6–8),
whereas SHP-2 null mutation causes inner cell mass death and diminished
trophoblast stem cell survival
(4). Recent studies on SHP-2
conditional knock-out or tissue-specific knock-out mice have further revealed
an array of important functions of this phosphatase in various physiological
processes
(9–12).
The phenotypes demonstrated by loss of SHP-2 function are apparently
attributed to the role of SHP-2 in the cell signaling pathways induced by
growth factors/cytokines. SHP-2 generally promotes signal transmission in
growth factor/cytokine signaling in both catalytic-dependent and -independent
fashion
(1–3).
The positive role of SHP-2 in the intracellular signaling processes, in
particular, the ERK3
and PI3K/Akt kinase pathways, has been well established, although the
underlying mechanism remains elusive, in particular, the signaling function of
the catalytic activity of SHP-2 in these pathways is poorly understood.In addition to the role of SHP-2 in cell proliferation and differentiation,
the phenotypes induced by loss of SHP-2 function may be associated with its
role in cell migration. Indeed, dominant negative SHP-2 disrupts
Xenopus gastrulation, causing tail truncations
(13,
14). Targeted Exon 3
deletion mutation in SHP-2 results in decreased cell spreading, migration
(15,
16), and impaired limb
development in the chimeric mice
(7). The role of SHP-2 in cell
adhesion and migration has also been demonstrated by catalytically inactive
mutant SHP-2-overexpressing cells
(17–20).
The molecular mechanisms by which SHP-2 regulates these cellular processes,
however, have not been well defined. For example, the role of SHP-2 in the
activation of the Rho family small GTPases that is critical for cell motility
is still controversial. Both positive
(19,
21,
22) and negative roles
(18,
23) for SHP-2 in this context
have been reported. Part of the reason for this discrepancy might be due to
the difference in the cell models used. Catalytically inactive mutant SHP-2
was often used to determine the role of SHP-2 in cell signaling. In the
catalytically inactive mutant SHP-2-overexpressing cells, the catalytic
activity of endogenous SHP-2 is inhibited. However, as SHP-2 also functions
independent of its catalytic activity, overexpression of catalytically
deficient SHP-2 may also increase its scaffolding function, generating complex
effects.The critical role of SHP-2 in cellular function is further underscored by
the identification of SHP-2 mutations in human diseases. Genetic lesions in
PTPN11 that cause hyperactivation of SHP-2 catalytic activity have
been identified in the developmental disorder Noonan syndrome
(24) and various childhood
leukemias, including juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), B cell acute
lymphoblastic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia
(25,
26). In addition, activating
mutations in SHP-2 have been identified in sporadic solid tumors
(27). The SHP-2 mutations
appear to play a causal role in the development of these diseases as SHP-2
mutations and other JMML-associated Ras or Neurofibromatosis 1 mutations are
mutually exclusive in the patients
(24–27).
Moreover, single SHP-2 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations are sufficient to
induce Noonan syndrome, cytokine hypersensitivity in hematopoietic progenitor
cells, and JMML-like myeloproliferative disease in mice
(28–32).
Gain-of-function cell models derived from the newly available SHP-2 GOF
mutation (D61G) knock-in mice
(28) now provide us with a
good opportunity to clarify the role of SHP-2 in cell motility. Unlike the
dominant negative approach in which overexpression of mutant forms of SHP-2
generates complex effects, the SHP-2 D61G knock-in model eliminates this
possibility as the mutant SHP-2 is expressed at the physiological level
(28). Additionally, defining
signaling functions of GOF mutant SHP-2 in cell movement can also help
elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which SHP-2 mutations contribute to the
relevant diseases. |
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