Loss of WNK2 expression by promoter gene methylation occurs in adult gliomas and triggers Rac1-mediated tumour cell invasiveness

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Sonia Moniz (Author) Other; Olga Martinho (Author) Other; Filipe Pinto (Author) Other; Barbara Sousa (Author) Other; Claudia Loureiro (Author) Other; Maria Jose Oliveira (Author) FEUP; Luis Ferreira Moita (Author) Other; Mrinalini Honavar (Author) Other; Celia Pinheiro (Author) Other; Manuel Pires (Author) ICBAS; Jose Manuel Lopes (Author) FMUP; Chris Jones (Author) Other; Joseph F Costello (Author) Other; Joana Paredes (Author) FMUP; Rui Manuel Reis (Author) Other; Peter Jordan (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Human Molecular Genetics

Vol. 22

Pages: 84-95

ISSN: 0964-6906

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 44 Citations

Scopus - 44 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-235

DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds405

Abstract (EN): The gene encoding protein kinase WNK2 was recently identified to be silenced by promoter hypermethylation in gliomas and meningiomas, suggesting a tumour-suppressor role in these brain tumours. Following experimental depletion in cell lines, WNK2 was further found to control GTP-loading of Rac1, a signalling guanosine triphosphatase involved in cell migration and motility. Here we show that WNK2 promoter methylation also occurs in 17.5 (29 out of 166) of adult gliomas, whereas it is infrequent in its paediatric forms (1.6; 1 out of 66). Re-expression of WNK2 in glioblastoma cells presenting WNK2 gene silencing reduced cell proliferation in vitro, tumour growth in vivo and also cell migration and invasion, an effect correlated with reduced activation of Rac1. In contrast, when endogenous WNK2 was depleted from glioblastoma cells with unmethylated WNK2 promoter, changes in cell morphology, an increase in invasion and activation of Rac1 were observed. Together, these results validate the WNK2 gene as a recurrent target for epigenetic silencing in glia-derived brain tumours and provide first mechanistic evidence for a tumour-suppressing role of WNK2 that is related to Rac1 signalling and tumour cell invasion and proliferation.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12