HGAL, a germinal center specific protein, decreases lymphoma cell motility by modulation of the RhoA signaling pathway

Blood. 2010 Dec 9;116(24):5217-27. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-04-281568. Epub 2010 Sep 15.

Abstract

HGAL is a germinal center (GC)-specific gene that negatively regulates lymphocyte motility and whose expression predicts improved survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). We demonstrate that HGAL serves as a regulator of the RhoA signaling pathway. HGAL enhances activation of RhoA and its down-stream effectors by a novel mechanism - direct binding to the catalytic DH-domain of the RhoA-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RhoGEFs) PDZ-RhoGEF and LARG that stimulate the GDP-GTP exchange rate of RhoA. We delineate the structural domain of HGAL that mediates its interaction with the PDZ-RhoGEF protein. These observations reveal a novel molecular mechanism underlying the inhibitory effects of GC-specific HGAL protein on the motility of GC-derived lymphoma cells. This mechanism may underlie the limited dissemination and better outcome of patients with HGAL-expressing DLBCL and cHL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Movement*
  • Germinal Center / pathology
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lymphoma / pathology*
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Signal Transduction
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • GCSAM protein, human
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein