CAMK2γ antagonizes mTORC1 activation during hepatocarcinogenesis

Oncogene. 2017 Apr 27;36(17):2446-2456. doi: 10.1038/onc.2016.400. Epub 2016 Nov 7.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly cancers that still lacks effective treatments. Dysregulation of kinase signaling has frequently been reported to contribute to HCC. In this study, we used bioinformatic approaches to identify kinases that regulate gene expression changes in human HCCs and two murine HCC models. We identified a role for calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases II gamma isoform (CAMK2γ) in hepatocarcinogenesis. CAMK2γ-/- mice displayed severely enhanced chemical-induced hepatocarcinogenesis compared with wild-type controls. Mechanistically, CAMK2γ deletion potentiates hepatic activation of mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), which results in hyperproliferation of hepatocytes. Inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin effectively attenuates the compensatory proliferation of hepatocytes in CAMK2γ-/- livers. We further demonstrated that CAMK2γ suppressed growth factor- or insulin-induced mTORC1 activation by inhibiting IRS1/AKT signaling. Taken together, our results reveal a novel mechanism by which CAMK2γ antagonizes mTORC1 activation during hepatocarcinogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / deficiency
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Carcinogenesis* / chemically induced
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Diethylnitrosamine / pharmacology
  • Gene Deletion
  • Hepatocytes / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / pathology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Mice
  • Multiprotein Complexes / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Diethylnitrosamine
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • CAMK2G protein, human
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2