Abstract 3679: Klotho suppresses colon cancer through modulation of the Wnt pathway and unfolded protein response

Abstract

Abstract Aberrant activation of the canonical Wnt pathway is implicated in colorectal cancer (CC) development and progression. β-catenin, the key effector of this pathway, functions with T-cell factor/lymphoid-enhancer-factor (TCF/LEF) to activate expression of Wnt target genes. Klotho is a transmembrane protein, which can be shed and act as a circulating hormone. Klotho-deficient mice manifest a syndrome resembling accelerated aging, while klotho overexpression extends life span. We previously identified klotho as a breast and pancreatic tumor suppressor (TS). Recent data indicate klotho as a TS in an array of malignancies, including CC. Among other activities, klotho inhibits the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and Wnt pathways. We aimed to decipher the role of klotho as a TS in CC. We first noted that klotho overexpression inhibited CC cell colony formation. Next, we examined in vivo effects using the azoxymethane mouse model, and found that klotho inhibited colon polyp formation. We then used an orthotopic model by injecting MC38 cells to mice colons, and found that klotho inhibited colonic obstruction and tumor formation. While we did not see an effect of klotho on the IGF-1 pathway, klotho did affect the Wnt pathway. Klotho reduced Wnt3A and β-catenin levels as measured by Western blotting, and inhibited TFC/LEF transcriptional activation in luciferase assay. As transcriptional inhibition was abrogated by a constitutively active β-catenin, we suspected that klotho inhibited the pathway upstream of β-catenin. Indeed, co-immunoprecipitation analyses indicated direct interaction between klotho and Wnt3A. As the inhibitory effect of klotho on CC cell colony formation was only partially rescued by a constitutively active β-catenin, additional mechanisms may be involved. Thus, we conducted a cDNA expression microarray and involvement of klotho in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) was observed. Further studies showed that klotho induced elevation in XBP1 RNA, GRP78 protein levels, and eIF2α phosphorylation, all indicative of a role klotho plays in UPR regulation. Our data indicate klotho as a potent TS in CC, and suggest its role at early stages of tumor formation. The Wnt pathway partially mediates klotho effects in CC, however additional mechanisms, including ER stress response regulation, are involved. Citation Format: Tami Rubinek, Tammi Rubinstein, Shiri Shahmoon, Chen Varol, Ehud Zigmond, Rina Rosin-Absesfelf, Iris Barshack, Ido Wolf. Klotho suppresses colon cancer through modulation of the Wnt pathway and unfolded protein response. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3679.