IKKα inactivation promotes Kras-initiated lung adenocarcinoma development through disrupting major redox regulatory pathways

Na Young Song, Feng Zhu, Zining Wang, Jami Willette-Brown, Sichuan Xi, Zhonghe Sun, Ling Su, Xiaolin Wu, Buyong Ma, Ruth Nussinov, Xiaojun Xia, David S. Schrump, Peter F. Johnson, Michael Karin*, Yinling Hu

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are two distinct and predominant types of human lung cancer. IκB kinase α (IKKα) has been shown to suppress lung SCC development, but its role in ADC is unknown. We found inactivating mutations and homologous or hemizygous deletions in the CHUK locus, which encodes IKKα, in human lung ADCs. The CHUK deletions significantly reduced the survival time of patients with lung ADCs harboring KRAS mutations. In mice, lung-specific Ikkα ablation (IkkαΔLu) induces spontaneous ADCs and promotes KrasG12D -initiated ADC development, accompanied by increased cell proliferation, decreased cell senescence, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. IKKα deletion up-regulates NOX2 and down-regulates NRF2, leading to ROS accumulation and blockade of cell senescence induction, which together accelerate ADC development. Pharmacologic inhibition of NADPH oxidase or ROS impairs KrasG12D-mediated ADC development in IkkαΔLu mice. Therefore, IKKα modulates lung ADC development by controlling redox regulatory pathways. This study demonstrates that IKKα functions as a suppressor of lung ADC in human and mice through a unique mechanism that regulates tumor cell-associated ROS metabolism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E812-E821
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume115
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 23 Jan 2018
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
Center for Cancer Research
Gastrointestinal Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research
Guangdong Esophageal Cancer CenterM201607
Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.
National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research
National Institute for Environmental Health Studies Superfund Research ProgramP42ES010337
National Institutes of HealthR01 A1043477, HHSN261200800001E, R01 CA163798, 06-C-0014
National Institutes of Health
National Cancer InstituteZIABC011115, ZIA BC 011391, ZIA BC011212
National Cancer Institute
National Sun Yat-sen UniversityYB2017-023
National Sun Yat-sen University
University of California, San Diego
Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research
National Natural Science Foundation of China81472578
National Natural Science Foundation of China

    Keywords

    • Cell senescence
    • IKKα
    • Lung adenocarcinoma
    • ROS
    • Tumor progression

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'IKKα inactivation promotes Kras-initiated lung adenocarcinoma development through disrupting major redox regulatory pathways'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this