α6β4 integrin activates Rac-dependent p21-activated kinase 1 to drive NF-κB-dependent resistance to apoptosis in 3D mammary acini

Malignant transformation and multidrug resistance are linked to resistance to apoptosis, yet the molecular mechanisms that mediate tumor survival remain poorly understood. Because the stroma can influence tumor behavior by regulating the tissue phenotype, we explored the role of extracellular matrix signaling and tissue organization in epithelial survival. We report that elevated (α6)β4 integrin-dependent Rac-Pak1 signaling supports resistance to apoptosis in mammary acini by permitting stress-dependent activation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB through Pak1. We found that inhibiting Pak1 through expression of N17Rac or PID compromises NF-κB activation and renders mammary acini sensitive to death, but that resistance to apoptosis could be restored to these structures by overexpressing wild-type NF-κB p65. We also observed that acini expressing elevated levels of Pak1 can activate p65 and survive death treatments, even in the absence of activated Rac, yet will die if activation of NF-κB is simultaneously inhibited through expression of IκBαM. Thus, mammary tissues can resist apoptotic stimuli by activating NF-κB through α6β4 integrin-dependent Rac-Pak1 signaling. Our data emphasize the importance of the extracellular matrix stroma in tissue survival and suggest that α6β4 integrin-dependent Rac stimulation of Pak1 could be an important mechanism mediating apoptosis-resistance in some breast tumors.