Lim Eun Jin, Yoon Yu Jeong, Heo Jeonghoon, Kim Seungwon, Choi Yung-Hyun, Kim Young-Ho
Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, 49267, Republic of Korea.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2025 May 12. doi: 10.1007/s13402-025-01069-2.
PURPOSE: To investigate the role of neuregulin (NRG) signaling in promoting head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) migration through HER3-dependent pathways and to assess the therapeutic potential of targeting the NRG/HER3 axis in mitigating perineural invasion. METHODS: NRG-driven migration was studied using DRG co-culture, wound healing assays, and HER3 inhibition (shRNA, AV-203). The biological function and biochemical effects of the HER3/HER2/FAK axis in response to NRG were analyzed via phosphorylation assays, knockdown, western blotting, and cell staining for protein expression. RESULTS: NRG promoted directional migration of FaDu and TU138 HNSCC cells through HER3/HER2 and HER3/PI3K interactions. HER3 inhibition (shRNA or AV-203) abolished HER3 phosphorylation, disrupted HER3-HER2 interactions, and suppressed AKT and ERK signaling. Wound healing assays confirmed that NRG enhances migration via HER3 activation. NRG also induced HER3-dependent FAK phosphorylation, and FAK knockdown or inhibition with PF228 significantly reduced NRG-driven migration, highlighting the critical role of HER3-FAK signaling. CONCLUSION: NRG promotes HNSCC cell migration by activating HER3, forming HER3-HER2 and HER3-FAK complexes, and driving downstream AKT, ERK, and FAK signaling. Targeting the NRG/HER3 axis holds potential as a therapeutic strategy to address perineural invasion and associated clinical challenges in HNC.
目的:研究神经调节蛋白(NRG)信号通过HER3依赖性途径促进头颈部鳞状细胞癌(HNSCC)迁移的作用,并评估靶向NRG/HER3轴在减轻神经周围浸润方面的治疗潜力。 方法:使用背根神经节(DRG)共培养、伤口愈合试验和HER3抑制(shRNA、AV-203)研究NRG驱动的迁移。通过磷酸化试验、基因敲低、蛋白质免疫印迹和蛋白质表达细胞染色分析HER3/HER2/粘着斑激酶(FAK)轴对NRG反应的生物学功能和生化效应。 结果:NRG通过HER3/HER2和HER3/磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶(PI3K)相互作用促进FaDu和TU138 HNSCC细胞的定向迁移。HER3抑制(shRNA或AV-203)消除了HER3磷酸化,破坏了HER3-HER2相互作用,并抑制了蛋白激酶B(AKT)和细胞外信号调节激酶(ERK)信号传导。伤口愈合试验证实NRG通过HER3激活增强迁移。NRG还诱导了HER3依赖性的FAK磷酸化,并且用PF228进行FAK基因敲低或抑制显著降低了NRG驱动的迁移,突出了HER3-FAK信号传导的关键作用。 结论:NRG通过激活HER3、形成HER3-HER2和HER3-FAK复合物以及驱动下游AKT、ERK和FAK信号传导来促进HNSCC细胞迁移。靶向NRG/HER3轴作为一种治疗策略,在解决头颈部癌(HNC)的神经周围浸润和相关临床挑战方面具有潜力。
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