ADAM17 is required for EGF-R-induced intestinal tumors via IL-6 trans-signaling

Schmidt, Stefanie; Schumacher, Neele; Schwarz, Jeanette; Tangermann, Simone; Kenner, Lukas; Schlederer, Michaela; Sibilia, Maria; Linder, Markus; Altendorf-Hofmann, Annelore; Knoesel, Thomas; Gruber, Elisabeth S.; Oberhuber, Georg; Bolik, Julia; Rehman, Ateequr; Sinha, Anupam; Lokau, Juliane; Arnold, Philipp; Cabron, Anne-Sophie; Zunke, Friederike; Becker-Pauly, Christoph; Preaudet, Adele; Nguyen, Paul; Huynh, Jennifer; Afshar-Sterle, Shoukat; Chand, Ashwini L.; Westermann, Jürgen; Dempsey, Peter J.; Garbers, Christoph; Schmidt-Arras, Dirk; Rosenstiel, Philip; Putoczki, Tracy; Ernst, Matthias; Rose-John, Stefan (2018): ADAM17 is required for EGF-R-induced intestinal tumors via IL-6 trans-signaling. In: Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol. 215, No. 4: pp. 1205-1225

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is treated with antibodies blocking epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), but therapeutic success is limited. EGF-R is stimulated by soluble ligands, which are derived from transmembrane precursors by ADAM17-mediated proteolytic cleavage. In mouse intestinal cancer models in the absence of ADAM17, tumorigenesis was almost completely inhibited, and the few remaining tumors were of low-grade dysplasia. RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated down-regulation of STAT3 and Wnt pathway components. Because EGF-R on myeloid cells, but not on intestinal epithelial cells, is required for intestinal cancer and because IL-6 is induced via EGF-R stimulation, we analyzed the role of IL-6 signaling. Tumor formation was equally impaired in IL-6(-/-) mice and sgp130Fc transgenic mice, in which only trans-signaling via soluble IL-6R is abrogated. ADAM17 is needed for EGF-R-mediated induction of IL-6 synthesis, which via IL-6 trans-signaling induces beta-catenin-dependent tumorigenesis. Our data reveal the possibility of a novel strategy for treatment of colorectal cancer that could circumvent intrinsic and acquired resistance to EGF-R blockade.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Medicine
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 0022-1007
• Language: English