Reciprocal regulation of extracellular matrix proteins by EWS-FLI1 and AP-1 in Ewing sarcoma cells

Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides and the target of multiple chemotherapy drugs, including gemcitabine and hydroxyurea. In previous work, we identified that inhibition of RNR in Ewing sarcoma tumors upregulates the expression levels of multiple members of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor family, including c-Jun and c-Fos, and downregulates the expression of c-Myc. However, the broader functions and downstream targets of AP-1, which are highly context- and cell-dependent, are unknown in Ewing sarcoma tumors. Consequently, in this work, we used genetically defined models, transcriptome profiling, and gene set enrichment analysis to identify that AP-1 and EWS-FLI1, the driver oncogene in most Ewing sarcoma tumors, reciprocally regulate the expression of multiple extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectins, integrins, and collagens. AP-1 expression in Ewing sarcoma cells also drives, coincident with these perturbations in gene and protein expression, changes in cell morphology and phenotype. Furthermore, we also identified that the EWS-FLI1 oncoprotein dysregulates the expression of multiple AP-1 proteins, aligning with previous reports demonstrating genetic and physical interactions between EWS-FLI1 and AP-1. Overall, these results provide novel insight into the distinct, EWS-FLI1-dependent features of Ewing sarcoma tumors and identify a novel, reciprocal regulation of extracellular matrix components by EWS-FLI1 and AP-1.