HGF-MET signals via the MLL-ETS2 complex in hepatocellular carcinoma (original) (raw)
Mllnc/nc mice exhibit classical homeotic developmental defects. To investigate how taspase-1–mediated MLL proteolysis regulates biological pathways in vivo, we generated Mllnc/nc mice, which carry homozygous noncleavable alleles of Mll in which the genomic sequences corresponding to the taspase-1 recognition D/GX motif of cleavage sites 1 and 2 were replaced with A/AA (Supplemental Figure 1A; supplemental material available online with this article; doi:10.1172/JCI65566DS1). Western blots showed that the 500-kDa full-length precursor MLL remained unprocessed in Mllnc/nc mouse embryos (Supplemental Figure 1B). Mllnc/nc mice were born at the expected Mendelian ratio (Mll+/+, n = 50; Mllnc/+, n = 99; Mllnc/nc, n = 53), but slightly smaller than their WT littermates (Supplemental Figure 2). Examinations of the axial skeleton of Mllnc/nc newborns revealed increased incidence of homeotic defects, including incomplete segmentation between sternebra 3 and 4 and deformed anterior arch of atlas (a.a.a., C1 vertebra; Supplemental Figure 3, A and B). Neurofilament staining of E10.5 embryos also revealed homeotic defects of CNIX (also known as the glossopharyngeal nerve) in Mllnc/nc mice (Supplemental Figure 3C). The homeotic defects we observed in Mllnc/nc mice were in accordance with the fact that unprocessed precursor MLL exhibits impaired H3K4 HMT activity (26) and thus functions as a hypomorphic allele.
CNXII outgrowth and myoblast migration defects connect MLL with the HGF-MET signaling pathway. Besides the aforementioned homeotic transformation, a surprising Hox-independent CNXII outgrowth defect was discovered in Mllnc/nc embryos (Figure 1A). CNXII innervates and thus controls the movement of tongue muscles. Importantly, such defects were also present in Tasp1–/– and Mll–/– embryos (Figure 1A), indicating the prerequisite of a fully functional MLL in ensuring the proper outgrowth of CNXII. Remarkably, this phenotype has been observed in both Hgf–/– and Met–/– mice, but not in any reported Hox gene–knockout mice (33). In addition to CNXII outgrowth defects, Hgf–/– and Met–/– mice show profound defects in the migration of skeletal myoblasts to limbs, diaphragm, and tongue (34). Accordingly, we investigated whether myoblast migration was affected in Mll–/– embryos by in situ hybridization using a Pax3 probe, which marks migratory myoblasts (35). Interestingly, although migratory myoblasts were present at the forelimbs of Mll–/– embryos, they were fewer in number and appeared less organized (Figure 1B). Therefore, substantial overlap of phenotypes between MLL-deficient and HGF-MET–deficient mice was identified, connecting MLL and the HGF-MET signaling pathway. Consequently, we sought to determine whether MLL functions upstream and/or downstream of the HGF-MET pathway.
Mll–/– mice exhibit CNXII outgrowth and myoblast migration defects. (A) Lateral views of E10.5 embryos (somite #36) stained with the 2H3 anti-neurofilament Ab to visualize CNXII of WT, Mllnc/nc, and Tasp1–/– embryos (C57BL/6 background) or WT and Mll–/– embryos (CD1 background). Distance from the crossover of CNXII and CNX to the distal end of CNXII (arrowhead) was quantified and presented as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01. Scale bars: 0.2 mm. (B) In situ hybridization on sections of E9.0 (somite #24) and E9.5 (somite #27) WT and Mll–/– embryos using a specific RNA probe against Pax3 mRNA was performed to visualize migratory myoblasts. Representative images of dermomyotomes at forelimbs are shown. Dashed outlines denote the exterior surface of the embryos at the forelimb bud level.
We first examined whether MLL is required to maintain expression of Hgf and Met in mouse hindbrain. Whole-mount in situ hybridization and quantitative RT-PCR assays demonstrated comparable transcript levels of Hgf and Met in the branchial arch and hindbrain region of WT and Mll–/– embryos (Figure 2, A and B). HGF functions as a secretory growth factor that was originally cloned based on its activity in dispersing MDCK cells (2, 3). Accordingly, the potency of HGF derived from Mll–/– mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) was assessed by MDCK scatter assay. Conditioned media (CM) derived from WT and Mll–/– MEFs displayed comparable capability in scattering MDCK cells (Figure 2C). In summary, MLL deficiency did not affect Hgf or Met expression, nor HGF activity.
MLL functions downstream of the HGF-MET signaling pathway. (A) Whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis of E10.0 WT and Mll–/– embryos using specific RNA probes against Hgf and Met mRNA. No difference in Hgf and Met expression over the branchial arch region (white arrowhead) was noted. Representative images from 3 independent experiments are shown. Scale bars: 1 mm. (B) Quantitative RT-PCR analyses of Hgf and Met expression in tissues encompassing the hindbrain (orange outline) of WT and Mll–/– embryos. Data are mean ± SD. (C) MDCK scatter assay demonstrated equal competence of CM derived from WT and Mll–/– E10.5 primary MEFs. MDCK cells were allowed to form colonies for 24 hours and incubated in DMEM (Control) or the indicated CM for an additional 24 hours before imaging. (D) Ex vivo axon outgrowth assays. Bilateral hindbrain explants of rhombomeres 7 and 8 were cultured in collagen gel for 48 hours in the presence of embedded HGF-soaked and control mock-treated heparin acrylic beads. Explants from Mll–/– embryos showed impaired axon outgrowth toward HGF-soaked beads. Axons were immunostained using anti-neurofilament Ab, quantified in binary images using NIH ImageJ, and presented as the ratio of axon density toward HGF-treated versus control beads. Data are mean ± SD. *P < 0.05. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.
Because HGF is known to promote the axon outgrowth of cranial nerves (32), we therefore investigated the requirement of MLL in HGF-induced axon outgrowth using hindbrain explants. Rhombomeres 7 and 8 were dissected from the hindbrain and embedded in collagen gel along with presoaked HGF or control beads. WT explants showed preferential axon outgrowth toward HGF-soaked beads, whereas Mll–/– explants failed to exhibit a notably differential response toward HGF (Figure 2D). Thus, there is an intrinsic requirement of MLL for neurons to respond to HGF-dependent axon outgrowth, indicative of a permissive role of MLL in HGF-MET signal transduction. Collectively, the results of our genetic and functional studies support the notion that MLL functions downstream of the HGF-MET pathway.
MLL is required for HGF-MET to induce cell invasion. To examine the molecular connection between MLL and the HGF-MET signaling pathway, we resorted to an HGF-induced cell invasion assay, using 2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines that express MET and respond to HGF: HepG2 and HLE cells (11, 36). Both HepG2 and HLE cells invaded through Matrigel in response to HGF (Supplemental Figure 4). In line with our genetic studies showing that Met expression was not reduced in Mll–/– embryos (Figure 2, A and B), knockdown of MLL in hepatocellular carcinoma cells had no apparent effect on protein expression of MET (Figure 3A). Notably, MLL deficiency did not significantly affect cell proliferation within our experimental time frame (Figure 3B). On the other hand, HGF-induced invasion of HepG2 and HLE cells was severely compromised when MLL was depleted (Figure 3C). Taken together, the results of our cell-based invasion assays further support a critical involvement of MLL in the HGF-MET signaling pathway.
MLL is required for HGF-induced cell invasion. (A) siRNA-mediated knockdown of MLL (siMLL and siMLL #2) in HepG2 and HLE cells. Scrambled siRNA (siScr) was used as a control. Anti-MLL Western blot analyses demonstrated effective silencing of MLL. Protein levels of MET in HepG2 and HLE cells transfected with the indicated siRNA oligos were determined by anti-MET Ab. β-actin served as loading control. (B) Equivalent numbers of HepG2 cells (4 × 105) carrying the indicated siRNA oligos were cultured for 60 hours to determine their proliferation. (C) Cell invasion assay. HepG2 and HLE cells were transfected with the indicated siRNA oligos, seeded on Matrigel-coated transwells, and subjected to 20 and 50 ng/ml HGF, respectively, for 24 hours. Invaded cells were stained with crystal violet and Hoechst 33342. Data are mean ± SD from 5 independent fields of 3 independent experiments. *P < 0.05. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.
MLL deficiency impairs the transcriptional induction of MMP1 and MMP3 upon HGF-MET signaling. Studies over the past 2 decades have outlined the basic signaling framework pertaining to the HGF-MET pathway. It involves an upstream growth factor/RTK pair, HGF-MET; a myriad of intermediary adaptor/signal transduction molecules, such as GAB1, GRB2, and MAPK; several transcription factors, such as AP1 and ETS families; and multiple downstream effectors, such as uPA and MMPs (4, 37). As MLL is best known as a transcriptional coactivator that enhances transcription, we envisioned that it may directly or indirectly affect the transactivation of certain key HGF-MET target genes. We first focused on MMPs and uPA, which function in remodeling extracellular matrix and breaking down adhesion molecules for cell invasion. Upon HGF treatment, expression of MMP1, MMP3, MMP7, and UPA was induced in HepG2 cells, whereas no induction of MMP2 and MMP9 was detected (Figure 4A), in agreement with prior reports (11, 38). Among these HGF-inducible genes, induction of MMP1 and MMP3, but not MMP7 or UPA, was significantly blunted in MLL-deficient cells (Figure 4A). Accordingly, expression of Mmp3 was also decreased in the hindbrain of Mll–/– embryos (Figure 4B). We subsequently sought to determine whether MLL-dependent induction of MMP1 and MMP3 is necessary for HGF-triggered cell invasion. Indeed, knockdown of MMP1 or MMP3, but not of MMP7, significantly impaired the invasion of HepG2 cells (Figure 4C and Supplemental Figure 5A). Furthermore, MLL-depleted HepG2 cells reconstituted with MMP1 or MMP3 significantly restored their capacity to invade (Figure 4D and Supplemental Figure 5B). Together, our data demonstrated that MLL is required for the proper induction of MMP1 and MMP3 by HGF-MET for cell invasion.
MLL and ETS2 are essential for HGF-induced transactivation of MMP1 and MMP3 for cell invasion. (A) HepG2 cells transfected with the indicated siRNA oligos were treated with or without HGF for 12 hours, and total RNA was harvested for quantitative RT-PCR analysis for the indicated genes. Transcript levels without HGF treatment were assigned as 1.0. (B) Quantitative RT-PCR analyses of Mmp1a and Mmp3 in WT and Mll–/– E10.5 mouse hindbrain tissues. (C) HepG2 cells transfected with the indicated siRNA oligos were subjected to invasion assays on Matrigel transwells using 20 ng/ml HGF. (D) HepG2 cells were cotransfected with the indicated siRNA oligos and constructs expressing HA-tagged MMP1 or MMP3 (or vector control) and subjected to invasion assays using 20 ng/ml HGF. (E) Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of MMP1 and MMP3 on HepG2 cells transfected with the indicated siRNA oligos in the presence or absence of HGF treatment. Data are mean ± SD from at least 3 independent experiments. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.
HGF-MET signals through ETS2 to transactivate MMP1 and MMP3. Since MLL does not encompass a sequence-specific DNA-binding domain (DB), MLL likely licenses HGF-MET–induced transcription of MMP1 and MMP3 through transcription factors. Prior studies of the HGF-MET pathway have recognized ETS1 and ETS2 as key transcription factors that target MMP genes (39). Accordingly, ETS1 and/or ETS2 are prime candidates that collaborate with MLL. We therefore investigated whether ETS1 and/or ETS2 are required for the transactivation of MMP1 and/or MMP3. HepG2 cells with knockdown of ETS1 or ETS2 were treated with HGF, and the transcript levels of MMP1 and MMP3 were examined. Deficiency in ETS2 severely compromised induction of MMP1 and MMP3 by HGF, whereas deficiency in ETS1 had minor effects (Figure 4E and Supplemental Figure 5, C and D). Notably, endogenous expression of ETS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells was low and could not be detectable by commonly used anti-ETS1 Ab. In fact, HepG2 cells deficient in ETS2, but not ETS1, exhibited a marked invasion defect in response to HGF (Figure 4C). These data support the notion that ETS2 functions as the key downstream transcription factor of the HGF-MET signaling pathway to activate MMP1 and MMP3 for the invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
The HGF-MET signal induces protein expression of ETS2. Thus far, our data demonstrated that both ETS2 and MLL are integral in the transcriptional induction of MMP1 and MMP3 upon HGF-MET signals. However, how HGF-MET signals through MLL and ETS2, and whether MLL and ETS2 function in concert, in parallel, or in sequence to activate MMP1 and MMP3, have yet to be determined. First, we examined whether MLL and/or ETS2 can be induced upon HGF-MET engagement. Interestingly, ETS2 protein was induced approximately 4-fold upon HGF treatment, whereas MLL remained basically unchanged (Figure 5, A and B). We further investigated how HGF-MET activation results in ETS2 accumulation. ETS2 was induced within 30 minutes upon HGF treatment and continued to accumulate over the following 6 hours (Figure 5B). The relatively rapid induction of ETS2 protein (<30 minutes) most likely results from blocked degradation, consistent with our finding that cells pretreated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 exhibited increased baseline expression of ETS2 protein (3.1-fold; Figure 5B). However, additional mechanisms such as increased transcription must be in place to account for the continuous accumulation of ETS2 observed in the presence of MG132 (Figure 5B). We therefore assessed whether ETS2 transcript levels increase upon HGF treatment. A approximately 2-fold induction of ETS2 mRNA was observed at 2 hours after HGF treatment, preceding the peak expression of ETS2 protein at 3 hours (Figure 5, B and C). In summary, HGF-MET enlists ETS2 by disrupting degradation and enhancing transcription. Conversely, no change in MLL protein level was noted in HGF-treated HepG2 cells. We consequently sought to determine whether MLL functions to directly induce ETS2 protein upon HGF-MET activation. No impairment of ETS2 accumulation was observed in MLL-deficient HepG2 cells upon HGF treatment (Figure 5D). Hence, MLL must employ other mechanisms to participate in the HGF-MET pathway.
ETS2 protein accumulates upon HGF-MET signaling through blocked degradation and enhanced transcription. (A) MLL protein remained constant upon HGF treatment. HepG2 cells were incubated with 20 ng/ml HGF for the indicated times and subjected to anti-MLLC180 IB analysis. (B) ETS2 protein accumulated upon HGF treatment. HepG2 cells treated with HGF for the indicated times without or with MG132 pretreatment (10 μM for 4 hours) were harvested and subjected to anti-ETS2 IB analysis. Numbers below lanes indicate relative protein levels of ETS2, measured by densitometry and normalized against nonspecific cross-reactive bands (asterisks). (C) ETS2 quantitative RT-PCR on HepG2 cells treated with HGF for the indicated times showed an induction peak at 2 hours. Data are mean ± SD from 3 independent experiments. (D) MLL knockdown had no effect on HGF-induced ETS2 accumulation. HepG2 cells transfected with the indicated siRNA oligos were treated with HGF for 3 hours and subjected to anti-ETS2 IB analysis. Asterisk denotes nonspecific cross-reactive band.
MLL complexes with and functions as a transcription coactivator of ETS2. As MLL is a transcription coactivator and ETS2 a sequence-specific DNA binding factor, we envisioned that MLL and ETS2 could assemble a transcription complex in hepatocellular carcinoma cells that directly activates MMP1 and MMP3. To examine this hypothesis, co-IP assays were performed. In the absence of HGF, a low but detectable level of MLL was coprecipitated with ETS2, likely due to the scarce amount of ETS2 in untreated HepG2 cells (Figure 6A). Upon HGF treatment, ETS2 was induced and readily complexed with MLL (Figure 6A). Hence, the relative abundance of assembled MLL-ETS2 complex is apparently dictated by the ETS2 protein, which can be induced by active HGF-MET signals. To probe into the function of the MLL-ETS2 complex in gene activation, a GAL4-based luciferase reporter assay was used. A construct consisting of ETS2 fused with the DB of the yeast GAL4 transcription factor (referred to herein as GAL4DB) was transiently coexpressed with or without MLL, and the resulting luciferase activity served as a surrogate for transcription of a GAL4 response element–containing luciferase reporter. The GAL4DB-ETS2 fusion construct activated the GAL4 luciferase reporter approximately 4-fold, which was strongly augmented by coexpressed MLL, resulting in approximately 20-fold induction (Figure 6B).
MLL interacts with ETS2 to target the MMP1 and MMP3 promoters upon HGF signaling. (A) Lysates of HepG2 cells treated with or without HGF for 3 hours were subjected to anti-ETS2 or mock IP and analyzed by Western blot for ETS2 and MLL. (B) Luciferase reporter assay. 293T cells were transiently transfected with a luciferase reporter containing GAL4 binding sites, GAL4DB-ETS2 fusion or GAL4DB expression construct, MLLC180 or empty vector construct, and a LacZ reporter. Luciferase activities were quantified using a luminometer and normalized against β-galactosidase activity. Data are mean ± SD from 3 independent experiments. (C) Deletion mapping co-IP to identify the critical domain in ETS2 for complexing with MLLC180. The domain structures of FLAG-tagged ETS2 constructs used are outlined at left. FL, full-length. 293T cells were cotransfected with MYC-tagged MLLC180 and the indicated FLAG-tagged ETS2 deletion mutants. Cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-FLAG M2 agarose beads and analyzed by anti-MYC and anti-FLAG Western blot. (D) ChIP assays on MMP1 and MMP3 promoters. HepG2 cells transfected with the indicated siRNA oligos were treated with 20 ng/ml HGF for 1 hour and subjected to ChIP assays using ETS2, MLL, and H3K4me3 Abs. IgG served as a control. Precipitated DNA was analyzed by PCR using primers amplifying regions corresponding to an upstream nonregulatory region (probes #1 and #3) and EBSs (probes #2 and #4).
MLL interacts with the activation domain 2 of ETS2. Our results thus far favored a model in which HGF-MET induces ETS2, which readily complexes with MLL to activate the transcription of MMP1 and MMP3. To provide mechanistic insights as how MLL interacts with ETS2, we performed deletion mapping to identify critical regions of ETS2 required for its association with MLL. Domain compositions have been characterized within the ETS family proteins, including the conserved activation domain 1 (AD1), the pointed domain (PD), the DB, and the diverged activation domain 2 (AD2) (Figure 6C and ref. 40). Co-IP assays using N-terminal deletion mutants of ETS2 demonstrated that deletion of AD1 and PD did not affect MLL-ETS2 interaction, whereas deletion of AD2 in addition to AD1 and PD completely abrogated it (Figure 6C). The importance of AD2 in mediating the MLL-ETS2 interaction was further corroborated when C-terminal deletion mutants were analyzed: deletion of DB had no effect, whereas deletion of DB plus AD2 completely disrupted the interaction (Figure 6C). Since AD2 is the least conserved domain among ETS family proteins (40), it is tempting to speculate that this divergence may contribute to the differential selection of interaction partners by individual ETS transcription factors in response to specific signaling relays.
HGF-MET signals the accumulation of MLL-ETS2 complex at MMP1 and MMP3 promoters. To determine whether the HGF-MET–induced MLL-ETS2 complex directly targets promoters of MMP1 and MMP3 for gene activation, we performed ChIP assays. Both MMP1 and MMP3 promoters contain ETS-binding sites (EBSs) (12, 13). The chromatin association of MLL and ETS2, as well as the H3K4me3 status, at EBSs (probes #2 and #4) and upstream nonregulatory regions (probes #1 and #3) were examined before and after addition of HGF. Prior to treatment, binding of ETS2 to EBSs was barely detectable, whereas HGF markedly increased the occupancy of ETS2 at EBSs (Figure 6D). HGF treatment also induced chromatin association of MLL at EBSs and increased H3K4me3 (Figure 6D). We next sought to determine whether MLL targets EBSs mainly through ETS2. Indeed, MLL failed to accumulate at EBSs upon HGF treatment in ETS2-deficient cells, which concurred with the failed induction of H3K4me3 at MMP1 and MMP3 promoters (Figure 6D). In agreement with a model in which MLL targets promoters through accumulated ETS2 upon HGF-MET signals, knockdown of MLL had no effect on HGF-induced ETS2 accumulation at EBSs of MMP1 and MMP3 promoters (Figure 6D).
MLL deficiency reduces metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Our data thus far demonstrated a critical role for MLL in HGF-MET–orchestrated cell invasion. Because HGF-MET dysregulation contributes to metastatic phenotypes in various cancers, we investigated whether MLL-deficient liver cancer cells exhibit compromised capacity in metastasis. HepG2 cells stably expressing firefly luciferase were subjected to shRNA-mediated stable knockdown of MLL before xenografting in immunocompromised NOD-SCID Il2rg–/– (NSG) mice via tail vein injection. Mice were monitored for tumor metastasis by bioluminescence imaging (BLI) for 6 weeks and then sacrificed for necropsy (Figure 7A). Control HepG2 cells exhibited prevalent metastatic cancer cell growth compared with MLL-deficient HepG2 cells (86% vs. 25%; P = 0.0195; Table 1), which confirmed the role of MLL in invasive tumor growth.
MLL silencing severely compromised metastatic growth of HepG2 cells. (A) MLL was stably knocked down in HepG2 cells by retrovirus carrying MLL shRNA in HepG2 cells (right). NSG mice were xenografted with HepG2 cells by tail vein injection. Representative images of livers harvested at necropsy and BLI of xenografted mice are shown (left). Color scale depicts photon flux. shScr, scrambled shRNA control. (B) Proposed model by which active HGF-MET signals lead to increased occupancy of the MLL-ETS2 complex on MMP1 and MMP3 promoters, where MLL induces H3K4me3, thereby activating target gene expression.
Frequencies and sites of metastasis from xenografted HepG2 cells