Geneviève Coulombe

Epithelial Tyrosine Phosphatase SHP-2 Protects against Intestinal Inflammation in Mice

ABSTRACT Polymorphisms of PTPN11 encoding SHP-2 are biomarkers for ulcerative colitis (UC) susceptibility. However, their functional relevance is unknown. We thus investigated the role of epithelial SHP-2 in the control of intestinal homeostasis. Mice with an intestinal epithelial cell-specific SHP-2 deletion (SHP-2IEC-KO mice) were generated. Control and SHP-2IEC-KO mice were monitored for clinical symptoms and sacrificed for histological staining and Western blot analyses. Cytokines and chemokines, as well as intestinal permeability, were quantified. SHP-2 mRNA expression was evaluated in control and UC patients. SHP-2IEC-KO mice showed growth retardation compared to control littermates and rapidly developed severe colitis. Colon architecture was markedly altered with infiltration of immune cells, crypt abscesses, neutrophil accumulation, and reduced goblet cell numbers. Decreased expression of claudins was associated with enhanced intestinal permeability in mutant SHP-2IEC-KO mice. Inflammatory transcription factors Stat3 and NF-κB were hyperactivated early in the mutant colonic epithelium. Levels of several epithelial chemokines and cytokines were markedly enhanced in SHP-2IEC-KO mice. Of note, antibiotic treatment remarkably impaired the development of colitis in SHP-2IEC-KO mice. Finally, SHP-2 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in intestinal biopsy specimens from UC patients. Our results establish intestinal epithelial SHP-2 as a critical determinant for prevention of gut inflammation.

SHP-1 inhibits β-catenin function by inducing its degradation and interfering with its association with TATA-binding protein

β-catenin plays a dual role both as a key effector in the regulation of adherens junctions and as a transcriptional coactivator. Tyrosine phosphorylation of β-catenin is implicated as a means for its release from E-cadherin complexes and correlates with enhanced transcriptional activity. However, it remains unclear whether or not tyrosine phosphorylated β-catenin degrades slower or faster than its unphosphorylated form or transactivates the downstream target genes differently. We have recently demonstrated that tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 negatively regulates the nuclear transcriptional function of β-catenin. The mechanism by which SHP-1 specifically inhibits β-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity remains, however, to be elucidated. Herein, we demonstrate that inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases with pervanadate induced both c-src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Moreover, ectopic expression of SHP-1 but not the inactive form of SHP-1 (C453S) inhibited src-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of β-catenin on tyrosines 86 and 654. SHP-1 expression and mutations of tyrosine-86 and tyrosine-654 to phenylalanine significantly and similarly decreased the transactivation potential of β-catenin on the TOPFLASH reporter. SHP-1 expression as well as mutations of tyrosine-86 and tyrosine-654 to phenylalanine also significantly interfered with the association of β-catenin with TBP. Mutations of tyrosine-86 and/or tyrosine-654 did not markedly alter β-catenin stability whereas SHP-1 expression promoted proteasomal β-catenin degradation through a GSK3β-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, SHP-1 negatively regulates β-catenin transcriptional activity i) by dephosphorylating β-catenin on tyrosines 86 and 654, ii) by impairing its capacity to interact with the basal transcriptional factor TBP and iii) by promoting β-catenin degradation in a GSK3β-dependent manner.

Activation of Cdk2 Stimulates Proteasome-dependent Truncation of Tyrosine Phosphatase SHP-1 in Human Proliferating Intestinal Epithelial Cells

SHP-1 is expressed in the nuclei of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Increased SHP-1 expression and phosphatase activity coincide with cell cycle arrest and differentiation in these cells. Suspecting the tumor-suppressive properties of SHP-1, a yeast two-hybrid screen of an IEC cDNA library was conducted using the full-length SHP-1 as bait. Characterization of many positive clones revealed sequences identical to a segment of the Cdk2 cDNA sequence. Interaction between SHP-1 and Cdk2 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitations whereby co-precipitated Cdk2 phosphorylated SHP-1 protein. Inhibition of Cdk2 (roscovitine) or proteasome (MG132) was associated with an enhanced nuclear punctuate distribution of SHP-1. Double labeling localization studies with signature proteins of subnuclear domains revealed a co-localization between the splicing factor SC35 and SHP-1 in bright nucleoplasmic foci. Using Western blot analyses with the anti-SHP-1 antibody recognizing the C terminus, a lower molecular mass species of 45 kDa was observed in addition to the full-length 64–65-kDa SHP-1 protein. Treatment with MG132 led to an increase in expression of the full-length SHP-1 protein while concomitantly leading to a decrease in the levels of the lower mass 45-kDa molecular species. Further Western blots revealed that the 45-kDa protein corresponds to the C-terminal portion of SHP-1 generated from proteasome activity. Mutational analysis of Tyr208 and Ser591 (a Cdk2 phosphorylation site) residues on SHP-1 abolished the expression of the amino-truncated 45-kDa SHP-1 protein. In conclusion, our results indicate that Cdk2-associated complexes, by targeting SHP-1 for proteolysis, counteract the ability of SHP-1 to block cell cycle progression of IECs.

SHP-2 Phosphatase Prevents Colonic Inflammation by Controlling Secretory Cell Differentiation and Maintaining Host-Microbiota Homeostasis.

Polymorphisms in the PTPN11 gene encoding for the tyrosine phosphatase SHP‐2 were described in patients with ulcerative colitis. We have recently demonstrated that mice with an intestinal epithelial cell‐specific deletion of SHP‐2 (SHP‐2IEC‐KO) develop severe colitis 1 month after birth. However, the mechanisms by which SHP‐2 deletion induces colonic inflammation remain to be elucidated. We generated SHP‐2IEC‐KO mice lacking Myd88 exclusively in the intestinal epithelium. The colonic phenotype was histologically analyzed and cell differentiation was determined by electron microscopy and lysozyme or Alcian blue staining. Microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S sequencing. Results show that innate defense genes including those specific to Paneth cells were strongly up‐regulated in SHP‐2‐deficient colons. Expansion of intermediate cells (common progenitors of the Goblet and Paneth cell lineages) was found in the colon of SHP‐2IEC‐KO mice whereas Goblet cell number was clearly diminished. These alterations in Goblet/intermediate cell ratio were noticed 2 weeks after birth, before the onset of inflammation and were associated with significant alterations in microbiota composition. Indeed, an increase in Enterobacteriaceae and a decrease in Firmicutes were observed in the colon of these mice, indicating that dysbiosis also occurred prior to inflammation. Importantly, loss of epithelial Myd88 expression inhibited colitis development in SHP‐2IEC‐KO mice, rescued Goblet/intermediate cell ratio, and prevented NFκB hyperactivation and inflammation. These data indicate that SHP‐2 is functionally important for the maintenance of appropriate barrier function and host‐microbiota homeostasis in the large intestine. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 2529–2540, 2016.

SHP-2 phosphatase contributes to KRAS-driven intestinal oncogenesis but prevents colitis-associated cancer development

A major risk factor of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) is the presence of chronic inflammation in the colon. In order to understand how inflammation contributes to CRC development, the present study focused on SHP-2, a tyrosine phosphatase encoded by PTPN11 gene in which polymorphisms have been shown to be markers of colitis susceptibility. Conversely, gain-of-function mutations in PTPN11 gene (E76 residue) have been found in certain sporadic CRC. Results shown herein demonstrate that SHP-2 expression was markedly increased in sporadic human adenomas but not in advanced colorectal tumors. SHP-2 silencing inhibited proliferative, invasive and tumoral properties of both intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) transformed by oncogenic KRAS and of human CRC cells. IEC-specific expression of a SHP-2E76K activated mutant in mice was not sufficient to induce tumorigenesis but markedly promoted tumor growth under the ApcMin/+ background. Conversely, mice with a conditional deletion of SHP-2 in IECs developed colitis-associated adenocarcinomas with age, associated with sustained activation of Wnt/β-catenin, NFκB and STAT3 signalings in the colonic mucosae. Moreover, SHP-2 epithelial deficiency considerably increased tumor load in ApcMin/+ mice, shifting tumor incidence toward the colon. Overall, these results reveal that SHP-2 can exert opposing functions in the large intestine: it can promote or inhibit tumorigenesis depending of the inflammatory context.

New and Unexpected Biological Functions for the Src-Homology 2 Domain-Containing Phosphatase SHP-2 in the Gastrointestinal Tract

SHP-2 is a tyrosine phosphatase expressed in most embryonic and adult tissues. SHP-2 regulates many cellular functions including growth, differentiation, migration, and survival. Genetic and biochemical evidence show that SHP-2 is required for rat sarcoma viral oncogene/extracellular signal-regulated kinases mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway activation by most tyrosine kinase receptors, as well as by G-protein–coupled and cytokine receptors. In addition, SHP-2 can regulate the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, nuclear factor-κB, phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase/Akt, RhoA, Hippo, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Emerging evidence has shown that SHP-2 dysfunction represents a key factor in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases, in particular in chronic inflammation and cancer. Variations within the gene locus encoding SHP-2 have been associated with increased susceptibility to develop ulcerative colitis and gastric atrophy. Furthermore, mice with conditional deletion of SHP-2 in intestinal epithelial cells rapidly develop severe colitis. Similarly, hepatocyte-specific deletion of SHP-2 induces hepatic inflammation, resulting in regenerative hyperplasia and development of tumors in aged mice. However, the SHP-2 gene initially was suggested to be a proto-oncogene because activating mutations of this gene were found in pediatric leukemias and certain forms of liver and colon cancers. Moreover, SHP-2 expression is up-regulated in gastric and hepatocellular cancers. Notably, SHP-2 functions downstream of cytotoxin-associated antigen A (CagA), the major virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori, and is associated with increased risks of gastric cancer. Further compounding this complexity, most recent findings suggest that SHP-2 also coordinates carbohydrate, lipid, and bile acid synthesis in the liver and pancreas. This review aims to summarize current knowledge and recent data regarding the biological functions of SHP-2 in the gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract 5281: Role of SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase in colorectal carcinogenesis

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA SHP-2 (Src homology-2 domain-containing phosphatase 2) is a tyrosine phosphatase ubiquitously expressed. Previous work done in SHP-2-/- fibroblasts demonstrated its implication in proliferation and migration as well as in the regulation of many signaling pathways including the Ras-Raf/MEK/ERK, the PI3K/AKT and the Jak/STAT pathways(1). Importantly, gain-of-function mutations were discovered in some colorectal cancers (CRCs)(2). However, the role of SHP-2 in intestinal tumorigenesis has never been investigated. Methods: SHP-2 expression and catalytic activity were analyzed by Western blot, qPCR and immunohistochemistry in human CRC cells and in human tumours from different stages. SHP-2 expression was also analyzed in polyps (adenomas) from mice bearing a mutation in Apc gene (APCMin/+ mice). To elucidate the role of SHP-2, RNA interference was used to specifically downregulate its expression in intestinal epithelial cells transformed or not by the oncogenic form of KRASG12V (IEC/KRas). Proliferation (cell counting), invasion (through Matrigel in Boyden chamber), anchorage-independent growth (soft agar) and tumor formation in nude mice (xenograft assays) were analyzed. Results: 1- SHP-2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased in human CRC cells and tumors, especially in adenomas, in comparison to healthy adjacent tissues. 2- Interestingly, polyps from APCMin/+ mice also exhibited marked increase in SHP-2 protein expression in comparison to normal adjacent intestinal epithelium. 3- SHP-2 silencing in IEC/KRAS cells markedly reduced their proliferation rate, their growth in soft agar, their capacity to migrate and invade Matrigel and finally, their capacity to form tumor in vivo, in nude mice. 4- Of note, phosphorylated and activated levels of MEK and ERK kinases were significantly decreased following SHP-2 silencing in IECs particularly in those expressing the mutated form of KRAS. Conclusion: Our data suggest that SHP-2 promotes malignancy of intestinal epithelial cells by sustaining the oncogenic activation of MEK/ERK signalling during intestinal tumorigenesis. (1)Shi ZQ, Lu W, Feng GS., J Biol Chem. 1998 Feb 27;273(9):4904-8. (2)Bentires-Alj M. et al., Cancer Res. 2004 Dec 15;64(24):8816-20. Citation Format: Jessica Gagne Sansfacon, Genevieve Coulombe, Nadia Bourdages, Nathalie Rivard. Role of SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase in colorectal carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 5281. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-5281

Activation of Cdk2 stimulates proteasome-dependent truncation of tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in human proliferating intestinal epithelial cells. VOLUME 283 (2008) PAGES 25544-25556

On page 25551, a Western blot for another protein (not SHP-1) was inadvertently printed in Fig. 4B. The correct figure is shown below. The results were not affected by this error.​error.