Starved epithelial cells uptake extracellular matrix for survival

Taru Muranen (), Marcin P. Iwanicki, Natasha L. Curry, Julie Hwang, Cory D. DuBois, Jonathan L. Coloff, Daniel S. Hitchcock, Clary B. Clish, Joan S. Brugge and Nada Y. Kalaany ()
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Taru Muranen: Harvard Medical School
Marcin P. Iwanicki: Harvard Medical School
Natasha L. Curry: Center for Basic and Translational Obesity Research, Boston Children’s Hospital
Julie Hwang: Harvard Medical School
Cory D. DuBois: Center for Basic and Translational Obesity Research, Boston Children’s Hospital
Jonathan L. Coloff: Harvard Medical School
Daniel S. Hitchcock: Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT
Clary B. Clish: Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT
Joan S. Brugge: Harvard Medical School
Nada Y. Kalaany: Center for Basic and Translational Obesity Research, Boston Children’s Hospital

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Extracellular matrix adhesion is required for normal epithelial cell survival, nutrient uptake and metabolism. This requirement can be overcome by oncogene activation. Interestingly, inhibition of PI3K/mTOR leads to apoptosis of matrix-detached, but not matrix-attached cancer cells, suggesting that matrix-attached cells use alternate mechanisms to maintain nutrient supplies. Here we demonstrate that under conditions of dietary restriction or growth factor starvation, where PI3K/mTOR signalling is decreased, matrix-attached human mammary epithelial cells upregulate and internalize β4-integrin along with its matrix substrate, laminin. Endocytosed laminin localizes to lysosomes, results in increased intracellular levels of essential amino acids and enhanced mTORC1 signalling, preventing cell death. Moreover, we show that starved human fibroblasts secrete matrix proteins that maintain the growth of starved mammary epithelial cells contingent upon epithelial cell β4-integrin expression. Our study identifies a crosstalk between stromal fibroblasts and epithelial cells under starvation that could be exploited therapeutically to target tumours resistant to PI3K/mTOR inhibition.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13989

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