Mitogenic insulin receptor-A is overexpressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma due to EGFR-mediated dysregulation of RNA splicing factors

H Chettouh, L Fartoux, L Aoudjehane, D Wendum… - Cancer research, 2013 - AACR
H Chettouh, L Fartoux, L Aoudjehane, D Wendum, A Clapéron, Y Chrétien, C Rey, O Scatton
Cancer research, 2013AACR
Insulin receptor (IR) exists as two isoforms resulting from the alternative splicing of IR pre-
mRNA. IR-B promotes the metabolic effects of insulin, whereas IR-A rather signals
proliferative effects. IR-B is predominantly expressed in the adult liver. Here, we show that
the alternative splicing of IR pre-mRNA is dysregulated in a panel of 85 human
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) while being normal in adjacent nontumor liver tissue. An IR-
B to IR-A switch is frequently observed in HCC tumors regardless of tumor etiology. Using …
Abstract
Insulin receptor (IR) exists as two isoforms resulting from the alternative splicing of IR pre-mRNA. IR-B promotes the metabolic effects of insulin, whereas IR-A rather signals proliferative effects. IR-B is predominantly expressed in the adult liver. Here, we show that the alternative splicing of IR pre-mRNA is dysregulated in a panel of 85 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) while being normal in adjacent nontumor liver tissue. An IR-B to IR-A switch is frequently observed in HCC tumors regardless of tumor etiology. Using pharmacologic and siRNA approaches, we show that the autocrine or paracrine activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR)/mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal–regulated kinase pathway increases the IR-A:IR-B ratio in HCC cell lines, but not in normal hepatocytes, by upregulating the expression of the splicing factors CUGBP1, hnRNPH, hnRNPA1, hnRNPA2B1, and SF2/ASF. In HCC tumors, there is a significant correlation between the expression of IR-A and that of splicing factors. Dysregulation of IR pre-mRNA splicing was confirmed in a chemically induced model of HCC in rat but not in regenerating livers after partial hepatectomy. This study identifies a mechanism responsible for the generation of mitogenic IR-A and provides a novel interplay between IR and EGFR pathways in HCC. Increased expression of IR-A during neoplastic transformation of hepatocytes could mediate some of the adverse effects of hyperinsulinemia on HCC. Cancer Res; 73(13); 3974–86. ©2013 AACR.
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