MTSS1 Suppresses NF-kB Activity in Lung Adenocarcinoma through Repression of RelA/p65 Phosphorylation

Metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1) is a 755 amino acid protein found in the cell cytoplasm which binds to actin and promotes cytoskeleton organization and is a known suppressor of lung adenocarcinoma metastasis This study demonstrated that preservation of MTSS1 protein expression in lung adenocarcinoma was associated with a 20% 5-year survival advantage in patients. Furthermore, overexpression of MTSS1 was found to reduce metastasis and disease progression in an in-vivo orthotopic lung adenocarcinoma mouse model. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), an important nuclear transcription factor, has been shown to be constitutively active in lung adenocarcinoma and strongly associated with the development of metastasis. The NF-kB RelA/p65 subunit is involved in NF-kB heterodimer formation and subsequent nuclear translocation leading to activation of NF-kB responsive gene transcription. Phosphorylation and acetylation of p65 are critical post-translational modifications required for NF-kB activation. In this study, we demonstrate that MTSS1 expression leads to decreased NF-κB mediated gene transcription through inhibition of p65 phosphorylation. These findings uncover a novel mechanism through which MTSS1 may regulate lung adenocarcinoma metastasis by impairment of NF-κB regulated gene transcription.