Dependence receptors are a new class of pro-apoptotic receptor able to induce a survival signal in presence of their ligand and, on the opposite site to induce apoptosis in abaence of their ligand. Among them, UNC5H receptors (i.e UNC5H1-4) and their ligand Netrin-1 are implicated in morphogenesis of branched organs, angiogenesis and nervous system development but also in tumorigenesis control and homeostasis regulation. Indeed, this couple of ligand/receptors could control proliferation and cell survival by inducing a state of cellular dependance to the ligand presence for cell expressing UNC5H receptors. First, we have discovered a particular tumorigenic inhibition of UNC5H apoptotic activity due to Netrin-1 overexpression by tumor cells. In this context we have shown that this overexpression is a selective advantage for tumor cells as they loss their dependence to Netrin-1 and could (i) survive and proliferate without any ligand limitation and could also (ii) migrate and form metastasis. In a second part, we started to study UNC5H apoptotic pathway using and RNAi screening and 47 new potential effectors have been identified. Among them, PR65β/PP2A complex have been characterised as an essential actor of UNC5H2 induced apoptosis through the regulation of DAP-kinase by phosphorylation and particularly in angiogenesis regulation mediated by UNC5H2/Netrin-1.
