EMT activates ER-to-Golgi trafficking through upregulation of REEP2 to promote lung cancer progression

Abstract

Membrane trafficking governs the transport of molecules to both intracellular and extracellular locations, thereby maintaining cell homeostasis. During cancer progression, alterations in membrane trafficking are frequently observed. However, the mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of membrane trafficking in cancer progression remain largely unresolved. Recent evidence has demonstrated that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) employs a membrane trafficking program to coordinate cancer cell invasion and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). To further dissect the pro-tumorigenic membrane trafficking program, here we conducted a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) in vivo screen for membrane trafficking regulators in a syngeneic mouse model with a complete immune system. This screen identified REEP2, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) shaping protein, as a novel regulator of the EMT-dependent membrane trafficking program, which is associated with a poor prognosis in LUAD patients and is required for LUAD metastasis in a syngeneic orthotopic LUAD mouse model. Mechanistically, the EMT activator ZEB1 upregulates REEP2 expression through miR-183- and miR-193a-mediated regulation that promotes the transportation of secretory cargoes from the ER exit site (ERES) to the Golgi, thereby augmenting the secretion of pro-tumorigenic factors. The REEP2-driven secretion promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration, and the infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the TME. These findings identify REEP2 as a critical mediator of the EMT-driven pro-metastatic membrane trafficking program, revealing a specific vulnerability in mesenchymal LUAD.