Fascin1 empowers YAP mechanotransduction and promotes cholangiocarcinoma development

Commun Biol. 2021 Jun 21;4(1):763. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02286-9.

Abstract

Mechanical forces control cell behavior, including cancer progression. Cells sense forces through actomyosin to activate YAP. However, the regulators of F-actin dynamics playing relevant roles during mechanostransduction in vitro and in vivo remain poorly characterized. Here we identify the Fascin1 F-actin bundling protein as a factor that sustains YAP activation in response to ECM mechanical cues. This is conserved in the mouse liver, where Fascin1 regulates YAP-dependent phenotypes, and in human cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Moreover, this is relevant for liver tumorigenesis, because Fascin1 is required in the AKT/NICD cholangiocarcinogenesis model and it is sufficient, together with AKT, to induce cholangiocellular lesions in mice, recapitulating genetic YAP requirements. In support of these findings, Fascin1 expression in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas strongly correlates with poor patient prognosis. We propose that Fascin1 represents a pro-oncogenic mechanism that can be exploited during intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma development to overcome a mechanical tumor-suppressive environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex / physiology
  • Animals
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / etiology*
  • CapZ Actin Capping Protein / physiology
  • Carrier Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / physiology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mechanotransduction, Cellular / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins / physiology*
  • Phosphoproteins / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein

Substances

  • Actin-Related Protein 2-3 Complex
  • CapZ Actin Capping Protein
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • FSCN1 protein, human
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • YY1AP1 protein, human
  • Vasodilator-Stimulated Phosphoprotein