The retinoid signalling molecule, TRIM16, is repressed during squamous cell carcinoma skin carcinogenesis in vivo and reduces skin cancer cell migration in vitro.
Retinoid therapy is used for chemo-prevention in immuno-suppressed patients at high risk of developing skin cancer. The retinoid signalling molecule, tripartite motif protein 16 (TRIM16), is a regulator of keratinocyte differentiation and a tumour suppressor in retinoid-sensitive neuroblastoma. We sought to determine the role of TRIM16 in skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) pathogenesis. We have shown that TRIM16 expression was markedly reduced during the histological progression from normal skin to actinic keratosis and SCC. SCC cell lines exhibited lower cytoplasmic and nuclear TRIM16 expression compared with primary human keratinocyte (PHK) cells due to reduced TRIM16 protein stability. Overexpressed TRIM16 translocated to the nucleus, inducing growth arrest and cell differentiation. In SCC cells, TRIM16 bound to and down regulated nuclear E2F1, this is required for cell replication. Retinoid treatment increased nuclear TRIM16 expression in retinoid-sensitive PHK cells, but not in retinoid-resistant SCC cells. Overexpression of TRIM16 reduced SCC cell migration, which required the C-terminal RET finger protein (RFP)-like domain of TRIM16. The mesenchymal intermediate filament protein, vimentin, was directly bound and down-regulated by TRIM16 and was required for TRIM16-reduced cell migration. Taken together, our data suggest that loss of TRIM16 expression plays an important role in the development of cutaneous SCC and is a determinant of retinoid sensitivity.
Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, University of NSW, Randwick, NSW, Australia. bcheung@ccia.unsw.edu.au
Belamy B
BB
Cheung
Jessica
J
Koach
Owen
O
Tan
Patrick
P
Kim
Jessica L
JL
Bell
Carla
C
D'andreti
Selina
S
Sutton
Alena
A
Malyukova
Eric
E
Sekyere
Murray
M
Norris
Michelle
M
Haber
Maria
M
Kavallaris
Anne M
AM
Cunningham
Charlotte
C
Proby
Irene
I
Leigh
James S
JS
Wilmott
Caroline L
CL
Cooper
Gary M
GM
Halliday
Richard A
RA
Scolyer
Glenn M
GM
Marshall
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015474:Isotretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000070584:Tripartite Motif Proteins; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000070584:Tripartite Motif Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; C117731:TRIM16 protein, human; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D015474:Isotretinoin