Chemotaxis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma metastasis: An unexpected role of N-WASP in response of cells to self-generated gradients and LPA receptor trafficking

ABSTRACT: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the most invasive and metastatic cancers and has a dismal 5-year survival rate. Here we show that N-WASP is required for the metastatic process, with roles in both chemotaxis, steering cells out of primary tumours, and matrix remodelling, allowing them to escape. Lysophosphatidic acid, a signalling lipid abundant in blood and ascites fluid, is both a mitogen and chemoattractant for PDAC cells. Pancreatic cancer cells efficiently break LPA down as they respond to it, setting up a self-generated gradient that directs cells out of the tumour. N-WASP depleted cells are unable to respond to LPA gradients and show altered RhoA activation, leading to a loss of cell contractility and traction forces, and reduced metastasis in vitro and in vivo. N-WASP couples LPA receptor signalling to RhoA via the endocytic adapter SNX18, and promotes sensitivity by preventing receptor degradation and promoting recycling of the LPA receptor back to the cell surface. Coordinated by N-WASP, the LPA-LPAR signalling loop promotes RhoA-mediated contractility and force generation. Perturbing this pathway chemically, or by CRISPR deletion severely impairs invasion through complex 3D environments or peritoneal explants, and impairs remodelling of fibrillar collagen. We thus reveal N-WASP as a central controller of a chemotactic loop between PDAC cells and microenvironmental conditions that drives metastasis.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive

ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)

TISSUE(S): Pancreatic Ductal Cell

DISEASE(S): Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma

SUBMITTER: Sergio Lilla  

LAB HEAD: Sara Rossana Zanivan

PROVIDER: PXD014506 | Pride | 2020-03-06

REPOSITORIES: Pride