YAP1 is amplified and up-regulated in hedgehog-associated medulloblastomas and mediates Sonic hedgehog-driven neural precursor proliferation Journal Article


Authors: Fernandez-L, A.; Northcott, P. A.; Dalton, J.; Fraga, C.; Ellison, D.; Angers, S.; Taylor, M.; Kenney, A. M.
Article Title: YAP1 is amplified and up-regulated in hedgehog-associated medulloblastomas and mediates Sonic hedgehog-driven neural precursor proliferation
Abstract: Medulloblastoma is the most common solid malignancy of childhood, with treatment side effects reducing survivors' quality of life and lethality being associated with tumor recurrence. Activation of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is implicated in human medulloblastomas. Cerebellar granule neuron precursors (CGNPs) depend on signaling by the morphogen Shh for expansion during development, and have been suggested as a cell of origin for certain medulloblastomas. Mechanisms contributing to Shh pathway-mediated proliferation and transformation remain poorly understood. We investigated interactions between Shh signaling and the recently described tumor-suppressive Hippo pathway in the developing brain and medulloblastomas. We report up-regulation of the oncogenic transcriptional coactivator yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), which is negatively regulated by the Hippo pathway, in human medulloblastomas with aberrant Shh signaling. Consistent with conserved mechanisms between brain tumorigenesis and development, Shh induces YAP1 expression in CGNPs. Shh also promotes YAP1 nuclear localization in CGNPs, and YAP1 can drive CGNP proliferation. Furthermore, YAP1 is found in cells of the perivascular niche, where proposed tumor-repopulating cells reside. Post-irradiation, YAP1 was found in newly growing tumor cells. These findings implicate YAP1 as a new Shh effector that may be targeted by medulloblastoma therapies aimed at eliminating medulloblastoma recurrence. © 2009 by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Keywords: signal transduction; controlled study; human tissue; protein expression; nonhuman; cell proliferation; mouse; animals; mice; animal tissue; cerebellum; cells, cultured; gene overexpression; gene amplification; gene expression; sonic hedgehog protein; hedgehog proteins; protein interaction; neurons; cell population; carcinogenesis; transcription factors; molecular mechanics; oncogene; brain development; tumor recurrence; medulloblastoma; protein transport; irradiation; tumor cell; upregulation; up-regulation; hippo; sonic hedgehog; tead1; yap1; transcription factor yap1; nerve cell; nuclear localization signal; population dynamics; precursor; cerebellar neoplasms; insulin receptor substrate proteins; erinaceidae
Journal Title: Genes and Development
Volume: 23
Issue: 23
ISSN: 0890-9369
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press  
Date Published: 2009-12-01
Start Page: 2729
End Page: 2741
Language: English
DOI: 10.1101/gad.1824509
PUBMED: 19952108
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC2788333
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 14" - "Export Date: 30 November 2010" - "CODEN: GEDEE" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Anna Marie Kenney
    34 Kenney