Oncogene-induced DNA damage: cyclic AMP steps into the ring
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
Authors: Fagin, James A.; Petrini, John H.
Abstract
Growth hormone-secreting (GH-secreting) pituitary tumors are driven by oncogenes that induce cAMP signaling. In this issue of the JCI, Ben-Shlomo et al. performed a whole-exome study of pituitary adenomas. GH-secreting tumors had a high frequency of whole chromosome or chromosome arm copy number alterations and were associated with an increase in the tumor protein p53 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1), which are findings consistent with induction of a response to DNA damage. Further, treatment of mouse pituitary cells with cAMP pathway agonists in vitro and in vivo elicited biomarkers of DNA replication stress or double-strand breaks. The findings of Ben Shlomo et al. indicate that oncoproteins that drive constitutively high cAMP signaling pathway output in susceptible cell types can elicit DNA replication stress and may promote genomic instability.
G3BP1 controls the senescence-associated secretome and its impact on cancer progression
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
Authors: Omer, Amr; Barrera, Monica Cruz; Moran, Julian L.; Lian, Xian J.; Di Marco, Sergio; Beausejour, Christian; Gallouzi, Imed-Eddine
Abstract
Cellular senescence is a known driver of carcinogenesis and age-related diseases, yet senescence is required for various physiological processes. However, the mechanisms and factors that control the negative effects of senescence while retaining its benefits are still elusive. Here, we show that the rasGAP SH3-binding protein 1 (G3BP1) is required for the activation of the senescent-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). During senescence, G3BP1 achieves this effect by promoting the association of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) with cytosolic chromatin fragments. In turn, G3BP1, through cGAS, activates the NF-kappa B and STAT3 pathways, promoting SASP expression and secretion. G3BP1 depletion or pharmacological inhibition impairs the cGAS-pathway preventing the expression of SASP factors without affecting cell commitment to senescence. These SASPless senescent cells impair senescence-mediated growth of cancer cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Our data reveal that G3BP1 is required for SASP expression and that SASP secretion is a primary mediator of senescence-associated tumor growth. The mechanisms that control the deleterious behaviour of senescent cells is unclear. Here, the authors show that G3BP1 is required for the induction of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), without affecting senescence, and that SASP secretion is a primary mediator of senescence-associated tumour growth.