Inhibition of the SLC35B2–TPST2 Axis of Tyrosine Sulfation Attenuates the Growth and Metastasis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinom

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Tyrosine sulfation, catalyzed by the tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase 2 (TPST2), is a post-translational modification essential for protein–protein interactions and cellular functions. Solute carrier family 35 member B (SLC35B2) is a key transporter that transports the universal sulfate donor 3’-phosphoadenosine 5’-phosphosulfate into the Golgi apparatus where the protein sulfation occurs. The goal of this study was to determine whether and how the SLC35B2–TPST2 axis of tyrosine sulfation plays a role in PDAC. METHODS: Gene expression was analyzed in PDAC patients and mice. Human PDAC MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells were used for in vitro studies. TPST2-deficient MIA PaCa-2 cells were generated to assess xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Mouse PDAC cells derived from the Kras(LSL-G12D/+);Tp53(L/+);Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mice were used to generate Tpst2 knockout KPC cells to evaluate tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. RESULTS: High expressions of SLC35B2 and TPST2 were correlated with poor PDAC patient survival. Knocking down SLC35B2 or TPST2, or pharmacologicically inhibiting sulfation, resulted in the inhibition of PDAC cell proliferation and migration in vitro. TPST2-deficient MIA PaCa-2 cells showed inhibited xenograft tumor growth. Orthotopic inoculation of Tpst2 knockout KPC cells in mice showed inhibition of primary tumor growth, local invasion, and metastasis. Mechanistically, the integrin β4 was found to be a novel substrate of TPST2. Inhibition of sulfation destabilizes integrin β4 protein, which may have accounted for the suppression of metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting the SLC35B2–TPST2 axis of tyrosine sulfation may represent a novel approach for therapeutic intervention of PDAC.