Open AccessOverexpression of TRAF4 promotes lung cancer growth and EGFR ‐dependent phosphorylation of ERK5
Author(s) -
He Siwei,
Dong Danfeng,
Lin Jiafei,
Wu Beiying,
Nie Xiaomeng,
Cai Gang
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
febs open bio
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.718
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 2211-5463
DOI - 10.1002/2211-5463.13458
Subject(s) - epidermal growth factor receptor , cancer research , kinase , phosphorylation , signal transduction , epidermal growth factor , carcinogenesis , protein kinase a , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , cancer , biochemistry , genetics
Tumor necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 4 (TRAF4) is overexpressed in a variety of carcinomas of different origins, but its role in tumorigenesis remains incompletely understood. Previous studies suggest that TRAF4 promotes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the downstream signaling pathway of TRAF4‐mediated EGFR activation, as well as its effects on tumor cells, have not been fully elucidated. Here we report that TRAF4 overexpression is associated with increased activity of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in NSCLC tissues. Activation of ERK5 was dependent on TRAF4‐mediated EGFR activation, since inhibition of either TRAF4 or EGFR dramatically abolished phosphorylation of ERK5. Mechanistically, EGFR recruited mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3), an upstream kinase of ERK5, in a TRAF4‐dependent manner. Thus, our data suggest that an EGFR‐TRAF4‐MEKK3‐ERK5 axis promotes the proliferation of tumor cells, and this may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention of NSCLC.