Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which accounts for approximately 85% of all renal cancers, is resistant to a variety of cancer therapies and is highly lethal. A hallmark of ccRCC is the inactivation of the von Hippel Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene, which is inactivated either by mutation or hypermethylation in up to 90% of ccRCC. While pVHL functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase adaptor protein that promotes the degradation of hypoxia inducible (HIF?) transcription factors, other key pVHL substrates are only now emerging and their functional roles in renal cancer remains undefined. Here we identify a zinc-finger/homeodomain protein ZHX2 as a potential novel pVHL substrate by using a newly developed genome-wide in vitro expression strategy coupled with GST-binding screening. Our preliminary data suggests that pVHL interacts with and degrades ZHX2 in a hydroxylase activity-dependent manner, similar to regulation of the HIF? proteins. Functionally, knockdown of ZHX2 blocks cell proliferation, soft agar growth and xenograft tumor growth of pVHL-deficient renal cancer cells. Importantly, ZHX2 expression levels are strongly elevated in ccRCC tumors compared to normal patients. Mechanistically, ZHX2 interacts with the RelA/p65 subunit of NF-kB and positively regulates pVHL-loss induced RelA/p65 nuclear localization. Integrated analyses of ChIP-Seq and microarray also reveal that ZHX2 regulates both NF-kB-dependent and independent pathways in ccRCC. Therefore, we hypothesize that ZHX2 promotes renal oncogenesis through both NF-kB dependent and independent pathways following VHL inactivation. This is the first study directed at a pro-oncogenic function for ZHX2, with the focus on its key role downstream of the loss of pVHL in renal cancer.
In Specific Aim 1, we will study the mechanism by which ZHX2 is regulated by pVHL in a hydroxylation-dependent manner.
In Specific Aim 2, we will determine the functional significance of deregulated ZHX2 in pVHL-deficient renal cancer.
In Specific Aim 3, we will determine the mechanisms by which ZHX2 regulates NF-kB-dependent and -independent signaling and renal tumorigenesis upon pVHL loss. Successful completion of this proposal would provide significant new molecular insight into oncogenic mechanisms associated with the great majority of ccRCC as well as the potential for new therapies for this typically lethal disease.

Public Health Relevance

Loss of expression of the key E3 ubiquitin ligase component pVHL is a driving oncogenic event in the great majority of clear cell renal carcinoma. pVHL is known to downregulate the key transcription factor HIF, but reports exist that HIF-independent functions may be critical for the development of renal cancer upon loss of pVHL. Here we provide evidence for a novel substrate of pVHL, ZHX2, and show that ZHX2 functions as a critical oncoprotein in pVHL-deficient renal cancer potentially via NF-kB dependent and independent signaling pathways. The studies, if successful, will provide critical insight into the development of pVHL deficient renal cancer and also provide a foundation for new therapeutic approaches for this lethal disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA211732-05
Application #
9991806
Study Section
Cancer Molecular Pathobiology Study Section (CAMP)
Program Officer
Salnikow, Konstantin
Project Start
2019-12-06
Project End
2022-08-31
Budget Start
2020-09-01
Budget End
2021-08-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Sw Medical Center Dallas
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
800771545
City
Dallas
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75390
Zhang, Jing; Zhang, Qing (2018) VHL and Hypoxia Signaling: Beyond HIF in Cancer. Biomedicines 6:
Bryant, Jeffrey D; Brown, Michael C; Dobrikov, Mikhail I et al. (2018) Regulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1? during Hypoxia by DAP5-Induced Translation of PHD2. Mol Cell Biol 38:
Durand, Joel K; Zhang, Qing; Baldwin, Albert S (2018) Roles for the IKK-Related Kinases TBK1 and IKK? in Cancer. Cells 7:
Wang, Li; Wrobel, John A; Xie, Ling et al. (2018) Novel RNA-Affinity Proteogenomics Dissects Tumor Heterogeneity for Revealing Personalized Markers in Precision Prognosis of Cancer. Cell Chem Biol 25:619-633.e5
Zhang, Jing; Wu, Tao; Simon, Jeremy et al. (2018) VHL substrate transcription factor ZHX2 as an oncogenic driver in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Science 361:290-295
Takada, Mamoru; Zhang, Weiguo; Suzuki, Aussie et al. (2017) FBW7 Loss Promotes Chromosomal Instability and Tumorigenesis via Cyclin E1/CDK2-Mediated Phosphorylation of CENP-A. Cancer Res 77:4881-4893
Zhang, Weiguo; Karpen, Gary H; Zhang, Qing (2017) Exploring the role of CENP-A Ser18 phosphorylation in CIN and Tumorigenesis. Cell Cycle 16:2323-2325