Mathematical modelling unveils the essential role of cellular phosphatases in the inhibition of RAF-MEK-ERK signalling by sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
The RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK cascade is a key oncogenic signal transduction pathway activated in many types of tumours in humans. Sorafenib, the medical treatment of reference against advanced stages of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), inhibits the RAF-MEK-ERK cascade in HCC cells. Based on previous studies suggesting that this cascade is an important target of sorafenib in HCC cells, we explored its regulation using mathematical modelling and ordinary differential equations. We analysed the dynamic regulation of the core components of the RAF-MEK-ERK cascade in three human HCC cell lines (Huh7, Hep3B and PLC/PRF5) with heterogeneous responses to sorafenib. In silico predictions derived from our mathematical model suggested that the disappearance of phosphorylated MEK and ERK proteins catalysed by cellular phosphatases is an essential mechanism underlying the anti-ERK efficacy of sorafenib in HCC cells. This prediction was experimentally validated using specific inhibitors of the phosphatases PP2A (Protein Phosphatase 2A) and DUSP1/6 (Dual-specificity phosphatases 1/6). These findings highlight an unexpected mode of action of sorafenib on the kinome of HCC cells, and open new perspectives regarding the therapeutic targeting of the RAF-MEK-ERK cascade in this context.
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Centre de Biologie Humaine, CHU Sud, Amiens, France; Laboratoire Amiénois de Mathématique Fondamentale et Appliquée (LAMFA), CNRS UMR7352, UFR des Sciences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
Zuzana
Z
Saidak
Laboratoire Amiénois de Mathématique Fondamentale et Appliquée (LAMFA), CNRS UMR7352, UFR des Sciences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
Anne-Sophie
AS
Giacobbi
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Centre de Biologie Humaine, CHU Sud, Amiens, France.
Christophe
C
Louandre
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Centre de Biologie Humaine, CHU Sud, Amiens, France; EA4666, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
Chloé
C
Sauzay
Laboratoire Amiénois de Mathématique Fondamentale et Appliquée (LAMFA), CNRS UMR7352, UFR des Sciences, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
Youcef
Y
Mammeri
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Centre de Biologie Humaine, CHU Sud, Amiens, France; EA4666, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France. Electronic address: Galmiche.Antoine@chu-amiens.fr.
Antoine
A
Galmiche
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D054638:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D054642:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 6 / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077157:Sorafenib; D013997:Time Factors; D048490:raf Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D009536:Niacinamide; D000077157:Sorafenib; D048490:raf Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D054648:Protein Phosphatase 2; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; C517019:DUSP1 protein, human; C517035:DUSP6 protein, human; D054638:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1; D054642:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 6
Hepatocellular carcinoma; Mathematical modelling; Protein phosphatases; RAF-MEK-ERK cascade; Sorafenib