The ganglioside GD2 induces the constitutive activation of c-Met in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells expressing the GD3 synthase.
Résumé
We have recently established and characterized cellular clones deriving from MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells that express the human G(D3) synthase, the enzyme that controls the biosynthesis of b- and c-series gangliosides. The G(D3) synthase positive clones show a proliferative phenotype in absence of serum or growth factors and an increased tumor growth in severe immunodeficient mice. This phenotype results from the constitutive activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met in spite of the absence of ligand, and subsequent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt pathways. Here, we show by mass spectrometry analysis of total glycosphingolipids that G(D3) and G(D2) are the main gangliosides expressed by the G(D3) synthase positive clones. Moreover, G(D2) colocalized with c-Met at the plasma membrane and siRNA silencing of the G(M2)/G(D2) synthase (β4GalNAc T1) efficiently reduced the expression of G(D2) as well as c-Met phosphorylation, and reversed the proliferative phenotype. Competition assays using anti-G(D2) monoclonal antibodies also inhibit proliferation and c-Met phosphorylation of G(D3) synthase positive clones in serum-free conditions. Altogether, these results demonstrate the involvement of the disialoganglioside G(D2) in MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation via the constitutive activation of c-Met. The accumulation of G(D2) in c-Met expressing cells could therefore reinforce the tumorigenicity and aggressiveness of breast cancer tumors.