NUMB phosphorylation destabilizes p53 and promotes self-renewal of tumor-initiating cells by a NANOG-dependent mechanism in liver cancer

Stem cell populations are maintained through self-renewing divisions in which one daughter cell commits to a particular fate whereas the other retains the multipotent characteristics of its parent. The NUMB, a tumor suppressor, in conjunction with another tumor-suppressor protein, p53, preserves this property and acts as a barrier against deregulated expansion of tumor-associated stem cells. In this context, NUMB-p53 interaction plays a crucial role to maintain the proper homeostasis of both stem cells, as well as differentiated cells. Because the molecular mechanism governing the assembly and stability of the NUMB-p53 interaction/complex are poorly understood, we tried to identify the molecule(s) that govern this process. Using cancer cell lines, tumor-initiating cells (TICs) of liver, the mouse model, and clinical samples, we identified that phosphorylations of NUMB destabilize p53 and promote self-renewal of TICs in a pluripotency-associated transcription factor NANOG-dependent manner. NANOG phosphorylates NUMB by atypical protein kinase C zeta (aPKC), through the direct induction of Aurora A kinase (AURKA) and the repression of an aPKC inhibitor, lethal (2) giant larvae. By radioactivity-based kinase activity assays, we showed that NANOG enhances kinase activities of both AURKA and aPKC, an important upstream process for NUMB phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of NUMB by aPKC destabilizes the NUMB-p53 interaction and p53 proteolysis and deregulates self-renewal in TICs. Conclusion: Post-translational modification of NUMB by the NANOG-AURKA-aPKC pathway is an important event in TIC self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Hence, the NANOG-NUMB-p53 signaling axis is an important regulatory pathway for TIC events in TIC self-renewal and liver tumorigenesis, suggesting a therapeutic strategy by targeting NUMB phosphorylation. Further in-depth in vivo and clinical studies are warranted to verify this suggestion. (Hepatology 2015;62:1466-1479)