Nestin mediates hedgehog pathway tumorigenesis

Peng Li, Eric H. Lee, Fang Du, Renata E. Gordon, Larra W. Yuelling, Yongqiang Liu, Jessica M.Y. Ng, Hao Zhang, Jinhua Wu, Andrey Korshunov, Stefan M. Pfister, Tom Curran, Zeng Jie Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

The intermediate filament protein Nestin serves as a biomarker for stem cells and has been used to identify subsets of cancer stem-like cells. However, the mechanistic contributions of Nestin to cancer pathogenesis are not understood. Here, we report that Nestin binds the hedgehog pathway transcription factor Gli3 to mediate the development of medulloblastomas of the hedgehog subtype. In a mouse model system, Nestin levels increased progressively during medulloblastoma formation, resulting in enhanced tumor growth. Conversely, loss of Nestin dramatically inhibited proliferation and promoted differentiation. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the tumor-promoting effects of Nestin were mediated by binding to Gli3, a zinc finger transcription factor that negatively regulates hedgehog signaling. Nestin binding to Gli3 blocked Gli3 phosphorylation and its subsequent proteolytic processing, thereby abrogating its ability to negatively regulate the hedgehog pathway. Our findings show how Nestin drives hedgehog pathway-driven cancers and uncover in Gli3 a therapeutic target to treat these malignancies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5573-5583
Number of pages11
JournalCancer Research
Volume76
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 15 2016

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