Open AccessVHL Inactivation Induces HEF1 and Aurora Kinase A
Author(s) -
Jian Xu,
Huapeng Li,
Bo Wang,
Yan Xu,
Jiayin Yang,
Xiaofei Zhang,
Sarah K. Harten,
Deepa Shukla,
Patrick H. Maxwell,
Duanqing Pei,
Miguel A. Esteban
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of the american society of nephrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.451
H-Index - 279
eISSN - 1533-3450
pISSN - 1046-6673
DOI - 10.1681/asn.2010040345
Subject(s) - cilium , centrosome , aurora a kinase , microbiology and biotechnology , ciliogenesis , biology , cancer research , focal adhesion , invadopodia , kinase , cancer cell , signal transduction , cell , cell cycle , cancer , genetics
The ciliary hypothesis for cystic renal diseases postulates that most of these conditions result from abnormalities in the primary cilium, a microtubule-based structure that acts as a sensor for extracellular cues. Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene predisposes to renal cysts and clear cell renal cell carcinoma. VHL plays a critical role in the formation of primary cilia in kidney epithelium, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that VHL inactivation induces HEF1/Cas-L/NEDD9 and Aurora kinase A via the stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factors 1 and 2. Aurora kinase A is a mitotic kinase commonly upregulated in cancer that causes regression of the primary cilium by promoting histone deacetylase-dependent tubulin depolymerization of the ciliary axoneme. HEF1/Cas-L/NEDD9 is a component of focal adhesions that has a prominent role in inducing metastasis and that colocalizes with Aurora kinase A at the centrosome, thereby enhancing the harmful effect of Aurora kinase A on the cilium. Suppression of this pathway improved the formation of primary cilia and reduced cell motility in VHL-defective renal cancer cells. Our results highlight the gatekeeper role of VHL in the kidney epithelium.