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Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus miRNAs suppress CASTOR1-mediated mTORC1 inhibition to promote tumorigenesis
Tingting Li, … , Enguo Ju, Shou-Jiang Gao
Tingting Li, … , Enguo Ju, Shou-Jiang Gao
Published July 15, 2019
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2019;129(8):3310-3323. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI127166.
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Research Article AIDS/HIV Virology

Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus miRNAs suppress CASTOR1-mediated mTORC1 inhibition to promote tumorigenesis

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Abstract

Cytosolic arginine sensor for mTORC1 subunits 1 and 2 (CASTOR1 and CASTOR2) inhibit the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) upon arginine deprivation. mTORC1 regulates cell proliferation, survival, and metabolism and is often dysregulated in cancers, indicating that cancer cells may regulate CASTOR1 and CASTOR2 to control mTORC1 signaling and promote tumorigenesis. mTORC1 is the most effective therapeutic target of Kaposi sarcoma, which is caused by infection with the Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Hence, KSHV-induced cellular transformation is a suitable model for investigating mTORC1 regulation in cancer cells. Currently, the mechanism of KSHV activation of mTORC1 in KSHV-induced cancers remains unclear. We showed that KSHV suppressed CASTOR1 and CASTOR2 expression to activate the mTORC1 pathway. CASTOR1 or CASTOR2 overexpression and mTOR inhibitors abolished cell proliferation and colony formation in soft agar of KSHV-transformed cells by attenuating mTORC1 activation. Furthermore, the KSHV-encoded miRNA miR-K4-5p, and probably miR-K1-5p, directly targeted CASTOR1 to inhibit its expression. Knockdown of miR-K1-5p and -K4-5p restored CASTOR1 expression and thereby attenuated mTORC1 activation. Overexpression of CASTOR1 or CASTOR2 and mTOR inhibitors abolished the activation of mTORC1 and growth transformation induced by pre–miR-K1 and -K4. Our results define the mechanism of KSHV activation of the mTORC1 pathway and establish the scientific basis for targeting this pathway to treat KSHV-associated cancers.

Authors

Tingting Li, Enguo Ju, Shou-Jiang Gao

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Figure 6

CASTOR1 and CASTOR2 inhibit proliferation and cellular transformation of KSHV-transformed cells.

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CASTOR1 and CASTOR2 inhibit proliferation and cellular transformation of...
(A) Dose-dependent expression of CASTOR1 and CASTOR2 in MM and KMM cells. Western blot analysis of CASTOR1 and CASTOR2 in MM and KMM cells transduced with increasing doses of lentiviruses of CASTOR1, CASTOR2, or vector control at 2, 4, or 6 MOI. Three independent experiments were repeated with similar results, and results from 1 representative experiment are shown. (B and C) Overexpression of either CASTOR1 or CASTOR2 impaired the proliferation and cellular transformation of KMM but not MM cells. MM and KMM cells transduced with different MOI of lentiviruses of CASTOR1, CASTOR2, or vector control, as described in A, were assessed for cell proliferation (B) and colony formation in soft agar (C). Representative images acquired with a x4 objective are shown. Graph shows the quantification of colonies with a diameter of greater than 50 μm. Three independent experiments were repeated with similar results, and results from 1 representative experiment with 4 biological replicates (B) or 3 combined experiments (C) are shown as the mean ± SEM. (D and E) Overexpression of either CASTOR1 or CASTOR2 induced cell-cycle arrest in KMM cells but had a weak effect on MM cells and weak apoptosis in KMM but not MM cells. MM and KMM cells transduced with increasing doses of lentiviruses of CASTOR1, CASTOR2, or a vector control at 2, 4, or 6 MOI for 48 hours were examined for cell-cycle progression (D) and apoptosis (E). Three independent experiments were repeated with similar results, and results from 1 representative experiment with 3 biological replicates are shown as the mean ± SEM. Data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test for P values below 0.05. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001.

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