PLEK2 mediates metastasis and invasion via α5‐nAChR activation in nicotine‐induced lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract Evidence has shown a strong relationship between smoking and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). α5‐nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α5‐nAChR) contributes to nicotine‐induced lung cancer cell EMT. The cytoskeleton‐associated protein PLEK2 is mainly involved in cytoskeletal protein recombination and cell stretch migration regulation, which is closely related to EMT. However, little is known about the link between nicotine/α5‐nAChR and PLEK2 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Here, we identified a link between α5‐nAChR and PLEK2 in LUAD. α5‐nAChR expression was correlated with PLEK2 expression, smoking status and lower survival in vivo. α5‐nAChR mediated nicotine‐induced PLEK2 expression via STAT3. α5‐nAChR/PLEK2 signaling is involved in LUAD cell migration, invasion and stemness. Moreover, PLEK2 was found to interact with CFL1 in nicotine‐induced EMT in LUAD cells. Furthermore, the functional link among α5‐nAChR, PLEK2 and CFL1 was confirmed in mouse xenograft tissues and human LUAD tissues. These findings reveal a novel α5‐nAChR/PLEK2/CFL1 pathway involved in nicotine‐induced LUAD progression.