RBM10 promotes transformation-associated processes in small cell lung cancer and is directly regulated by RBM5

PLoS One. 2017 Jun 29;12(6):e0180258. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180258. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Lung cancers are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) being the most aggressive type. At the time of diagnosis, SCLC has usually already metastasized, and an astonishing 95% of patients eventually succumb to the disease. This highlights the need for more effective SCLC screening and treatment options. Interestingly, the earliest and most frequent genetic alteration associated with lung cancers involves a lesion in the region to which the RNA binding protein RBM5 maps. We have recently shown that a decrease in RBM5 expression may be a key step in SCLC development, as RBM5 regulated many transformation-associated processes in SCLC cells. RBM5 is structurally and functionally similar to another RNA binding protein, RBM10. Both proteins have tumor-suppressor properties in a variety of cancer cell lines, and it has been suggested that RBM5 expression can influence RBM10. Due to their similarities, and the recent evidence that RBM10 is mutated in up to 21% of lung cancers, we hypothesized that RBM10 would share RBM5's tumor-suppressor properties in SCLC. Using transcriptome analysis and functional assays, we show, however, that RBM10's function was opposite to what we hypothesized; in the endogenously RBM5-null GLC20 SCLC cell line, RBM10 actually promoted cell proliferation and other transformation-associated processes. Using RNA immunoprecipitation followed by next generation sequencing (RIP-Seq) and Western blotting, we demonstrate that RBM5 post-transcriptionally regulated RBM10 expression via direct interaction with specific RBM10 splice variants. We propose a working model describing the impact of this interaction on cellular processes. Our results provide evidence that RBM10 expression, in RBM5-null tumors, may contribute to tumor growth and metastasis. Measurement of both RBM10 and RBM5 expression in clinical samples may therefore hold prognostic and/or potentially predictive value.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Proteins / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Proteins / physiology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic*
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Mutation
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / pathology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RBM10 protein, human
  • RBM5 protein, human
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) (JJL) (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/BellandPostgrad-BelletSuperieures_eng.asp). Discovery Grant #9043429 from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) (LCS) (http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Professors-Professeurs/Grants-Subs/DGIGP-PSIGP_eng.asp). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.