Stress-Induced ADGRL4 Orchestrates Tumor Progression and Metastasis by Inhibiting YAP1 Signaling and Activating Angiogenesis

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface signal transducers that regulate diverse physiological and pathological processes. Here, we identified the adhesion GPCR family member ADGRL4 as a key orchestrator of tumor adaptation to stress. Cellular stress induced ADGRL4 expression via the canonical JNK-ATF2/c-Jun pathway. Elevated ADGRL4 limited tumor expansion and enforced a tumor suppressive state, whereas its loss accelerated tumor growth and metastasis. Mechanistically, stress-induced shedding of the N-terminal fragment activated the C-terminal fragment of ADGRL4, which coupled with Gαs to stimulate cAMP-PKA signaling and consequently suppress YAP1 activity. In the absence of ADGRL4, hyperactivated YAP1 formed a transcriptional complex with β-catenin, reprogramming extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling to bypass tumor suppression and drive growth. Notably, while restraining tumor growth by compromising proliferative activity, stress-induced ADGRL4 simultaneously diminished chemosensitivity and promoted angiogenesis, thereby heightening relapse risk. Thus, ADGRL4 emerges as a stress sensor that integrates YAP1 signaling with tumor angiogenesis to govern the balance between tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting states, providing mechanistic insight into therapy-induced tumor progression.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cancer Research
Published
2026-02-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.can-25-4574
Primary Topic
Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
Type
article
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article

Stress-Induced ADGRL4 Orchestrates Tumor Progression and Metastasis by Inhibiting YAP1 Signaling and Activating Angiogenesis

Guo Li, Junfeng Zhang, Fujun Dai, Huixia Liu et al.
Cancer Research
Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
article

Stress-Induced ADGRL4 Orchestrates Tumor Progression and Metastasis by Inhibiting YAP1 Signaling and Activating Angiogenesis

Guo Li, Junfeng Zhang, Fujun Dai, Huixia Liu, Mengdi Cao, Yanxue Mei
article en

Abstract

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface signal transducers that regulate diverse physiological and pathological processes. Here, we identified the adhesion GPCR family member ADGRL4 as a key orchestrator of tumor adaptation to stress. Cellular stress induced ADGRL4 expression via the canonical JNK-ATF2/c-Jun pathway. Elevated ADGRL4 limited tumor expansion and enforced a tumor suppressive state, whereas its loss accelerated tumor growth and metastasis. Mechanistically, stress-induced shedding of the N-terminal fragment activated the C-terminal fragment of ADGRL4, which coupled with Gαs to stimulate cAMP-PKA signaling and consequently suppress YAP1 activity. In the absence of ADGRL4, hyperactivated YAP1 formed a transcriptional complex with β-catenin, reprogramming extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling to bypass tumor suppression and drive growth. Notably, while restraining tumor growth by compromising proliferative activity, stress-induced ADGRL4 simultaneously diminished chemosensitivity and promoted angiogenesis, thereby heightening relapse risk. Thus, ADGRL4 emerges as a stress sensor that integrates YAP1 signaling with tumor angiogenesis to govern the balance between tumor-suppressing and tumor-promoting states, providing mechanistic insight into therapy-induced tumor progression.

Cancer Research
Central South University (CN), Hunan University (CN), Changsha University (CN), Henan University of Technology (CN), Henan University of Engineering (CN), South University (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 45%
Hippo pathway signaling and YAP/TAZ
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