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Published on: September 15, 2023
Cellular ITAM-containing proteins are oncoproteins in nonhematopoietic cells
S M Grande1, E Katz, J E Crowley
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Non-viral ITAM proteins can transform cells, causing loss of anchorage dependence and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. This transformation is reversed by mutations in ITAMs or Syk kinase inhibition, highlighting ITAMs as potent oncoproteins.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) are crucial for signaling in hematopoietic cells.
- Viral ITAM-containing proteins can transform non-hematopoietic cells, but the ITAM's direct role is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the transforming potential of non-viral ITAM-containing proteins.
- To elucidate the role of functional ITAMs in cell transformation.
Main Methods:
- Expressed a recombinant B-cell antigen receptor ITAM construct in murine mammary epithelial and fibroblast cells.
- Analyzed cellular morphology, anchorage dependence, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers.
- Utilized tyrosine to phenylalanine substitutions in ITAMs and Syk tyrosine kinase inhibition.
Main Results:
- Mammary epithelial cells showed depolarized morphology, lost anchorage dependence, and exhibited EMT hallmarks.
- Fibroblasts lost contact inhibition and anchorage dependence.
- ITAM mutations and Syk inhibition abrogated the transformed phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Expression of non-viral ITAM-containing proteins is sufficient for cell transformation.
- ITAM-containing proteins act as oncoproteins by scaffolding downstream mediators, despite lacking intrinsic enzymatic activity.
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