Co-dependency of PKCδ and K-Ras: inverse association with cytotoxic drug sensitivity in KRAS mutant lung cancer.

Recent studies suggest that the presence of a KRAS mutation may be insufficient for defining a clinically homogenous molecular group, as many KRAS mutant tumors lose reliance on K-Ras for survival. Identifying pathways that support K-Ras dependency may define clinically relevant KRAS subgroups and lead to the identification of new drug targets. We have analyzed a panel of 17 KRAS mutant lung cancer cell lines classified as K-Ras-dependent or -independent for co-dependency on protein kinase C δ (PKCδ). We show that functional dependency on K-Ras and PKCδ co-segregate, and that dependency correlates with a more epithelial-like phenotype. Furthermore, we show that the pro-apoptotic and pro-tumorigenic functions of PKCδ also segregate based on K-Ras dependency, as K-Ras-independent cells are more sensitive to topoisomerase inhibitors, and depletion of PKCδ in this subgroup suppresses apoptosis through increased activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In contrast, K-Ras-dependent lung cancer cells are largely insensitive to topoisomerase inhibitors, and depletion of PKCδ can increase apoptosis and decrease activation of ERK in this subgroup. We have previously shown that nuclear translocation of PKCδ is necessary and sufficient for pro-apoptotic signaling. Our current studies show that K-Ras-dependent cells are refractive to PKCδ-driven apoptosis. Analysis of this subgroup showed increased PKCδ expression and an increase in the nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio of PKCδ. In addition, targeting PKCδ to the nucleus induces apoptosis in K-Ras-independent, but not K-Ras-dependent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Our studies provide tools for identification of the subset of patients with KRAS mutant tumors most amenable to targeting of the K-Ras pathway, and identify PKCδ as a potential target in this tumor population. These subgroups are likely to be of clinical relevance, as high PKCδ expression correlates with increased overall survival and a more epithelial tumor phenotype in patients with KRAS mutant lung adenocarcinomas.

Context-dependent role for chromatin remodeling component PBRM1/BAF180 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

A subset of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumors exhibit a HIF1A gene mutation, yielding two ccRCC tumor types, H1H2 type expressing both HIF1α and HIF2α, and H2 type expressing HIF2α, but not functional HIF1α protein. However, it is unclear how the H1H2 type ccRCC tumors escape HIF1's tumor-suppressive activity. The polybromo-1 (PBRM1) gene coding for the BAF180 protein, a component of the SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex, is inactivated in 40% ccRCCs, the function and mechanism of BAF180 mutation is unknown. Our previous study indicates that BAF180-containing SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex is a co-activator for transcription factor HIF to induce HIF target genes. Thus, our questions are if BAF180 is involved in HIF-mediated hypoxia response and if PBRM1/BAF180 mutation has any association with the HIF1A retention in H1H2 type ccRCC. We report here that BAF180 is mutated in H1H2 ccRCC cell lines and tumors, and BAF180 re-expression in H1H2 ccRCC cell lines reduced cell proliferation/survival, indicating that BAF180 has tumor-suppressive role in these cells. However, BAF180 is expressed in HIF1-deficient H2 ccRCC cell lines and tumors, and BAF180 knockdown in H2 type ccRCC cell lines reduced cell proliferation/survival, indicating that BAF180 has tumor-promoting activity in these cells. In addition, our data show that BAF180 functions as co-activator for HIF1- and HIF2-mediated transcriptional response, and BAF180's tumor-suppressive and -promoting activity in ccRCC cell lines depends on co-expression of HIF1 and HIF2, respectively. Thus, our studies reveal that BAF180 function in ccRCC is context dependent, and that mutation of PBRM1/BAF180 serves as an alternative strategy for ccRCC tumors to reduce HIF1 tumor-suppressive activity in H1H2 ccRCC tumors. Our studies define distinct functional subgroups of ccRCCs based on expression of BAF180, and suggest that BAF180 inhibition may be a novel therapeutic target for patients with H2, but not H1H2, ccRCC tumors.

PTTG1 Levels Are Predictive of Saracatinib Sensitivity in Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines.

Src kinase is recognized as a key target for molecular cancer therapy. However, methods to efficiently select patients responsive to Src inhibitors are lacking. We explored the sensitivity of ovarian cancer cell lines to the Src kinase inhibitor saracatinib to identify predictive markers of drug sensitivity using gene microarrays. Pituitary tumor transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) was selected as a potential biomarker as mRNA levels were correlated with saracatinib resistance, as well as higher PTTG1 protein expression. PTTG1 expression was correlated with proliferation, cell division, and mitosis in ovarian cancer tissues data sets. In sensitive cell lines, saracatinib treatment decreased PTTG1 and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) protein levels. Downregulating PTTG1 by siRNAs increased saracatinib sensitivity in two resistant cell lines. Our results indicate PTTG1 may be a valuable biomarker in ovarian cancer to predict sensitivity to saracatinib, and could form the basis of a targeted prospective saracatinib trial for ovarian cancer.

Small molecule perturbations of septins.

Progress on the study of the molecular and cellular biology of septins would be greatly accelerated by the development of small molecules that directly inhibit higher-order septin assembly in vivo. By comparison, molecules like latrunculin, paclitaxil, benomyl, etc. allow researchers to acutely perturb the actin or tubulin cytoskeletal networks. Two small molecules, forchlorfenuron (FCF; N-(2-chloro-4pyridyl)-N-phenylurea) and 1-ethyl-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-6-methylpyrimido[5,4-e][1,2,4]triazine-5,7-dione (PubChem CID 906558), have documented effects on septin localization and/or function, although for each molecule there is also strong evidence for off-target effects. In this chapter we provide a summary of ways to utilize FCF to alter higher-order septin assembly properties in living cells.

A mechanism of resistance to gefitinib mediated by cellular reprogramming and the acquisition of an FGF2-FGFR1 autocrine growth loop.

Despite initial and often dramatic responses of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-addicted lung tumors to the EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), gefitinib and erlotinib, nearly all develop resistance and relapse. To explore novel mechanisms mediating acquired resistance, we employed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines bearing activating mutations in EGFR and rendered them resistant to EGFR-specific TKIs through chronic adaptation in tissue culture. In addition to previously observed resistance mechanisms including EGFR-T790M 'gate-keeper' mutations and MET amplification, a subset of the seven chronically adapted NSCLC cell lines including HCC4006, HCC2279 and H1650 cells exhibited marked induction of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 and FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) mRNA and protein. Also, adaptation to EGFR-specific TKIs was accompanied by an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) as assessed by changes in CDH1, VIM, ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression and altered growth properties in Matrigel. In adapted cell lines exhibiting increased FGF2 and FGFR1 expression, measures of growth and signaling, but not EMT, were blocked by FGFR-specific TKIs, an FGF-ligand trap and FGFR1 silencing with RNAi. In parental HCC4006 cells, cell growth was strongly inhibited by gefitinib, although drug-resistant clones progress within 10 days. Combined treatment with gefitinib and AZD4547, an FGFR-specific TKI, prevented the outgrowth of drug-resistant clones. Thus, induction of FGF2 and FGFR1 following chronic adaptation to EGFR-specific TKIs provides a novel autocrine receptor tyrosine kinase-driven bypass pathway in a subset of lung cancer cell lines that are initially sensitive to EGFR-specific TKIs. The findings support FGFR-specific TKIs as potentially valuable additions to existing targeted therapeutic strategies with EGFR-specific TKIs to prevent or delay acquired resistance in EGFR-driven NSCLC.

Mer or Axl receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition promotes apoptosis, blocks growth and enhances chemosensitivity of human non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a prevalent and devastating disease that claims more lives than breast, prostate, colon and pancreatic cancers combined. Current research suggests that standard chemotherapy regimens have been optimized to maximal efficiency. Promising new treatment strategies involve novel agents targeting molecular aberrations present in subsets of NSCLC. We evaluated 88 human NSCLC tumors of diverse histology and identified Mer and Axl as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) overexpressed in 69% and 93%, respectively, of tumors relative to surrounding normal lung tissue. Mer and Axl were also frequently overexpressed and activated in NSCLC cell lines. Ligand-dependent Mer or Axl activation stimulated MAPK, AKT and FAK signaling pathways indicating roles for these RTKs in multiple oncogenic processes. In addition, we identified a novel pro-survival pathway-involving AKT, CREB, Bcl-xL, survivin, and Bcl-2-downstream of Mer, which is differentially modulated by Axl signaling. We demonstrated that short hairpin RNA (shRNA) knockdown of Mer or Axl significantly reduced NSCLC colony formation and growth of subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice. Mer or Axl knockdown also improved in vitro NSCLC sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents by promoting apoptosis. When comparing the effects of Mer and Axl knockdown, Mer inhibition exhibited more complete blockade of tumor growth while Axl knockdown more robustly improved chemosensitivity. These results indicate that Mer and Axl have complementary and overlapping roles in NSCLC and suggest that treatment strategies targeting both RTKs may be more effective than singly-targeted agents. Our findings validate Mer and Axl as potential therapeutic targets in NSCLC and provide justification for development of novel therapeutic compounds that selectively inhibit Mer and/or Axl.

Adding to the mix: fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor pathways as targets in non-small cell lung cancer.

The treatment of advanced non � small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) increasingly involves the use of molecularly targeted therapy with activity against either the tumor directly, or indirectly, through activity against host-derived mechanisms of tumor support such as angiogenesis. The most well studied signaling pathway associated with angiogenesis is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, and the only antiangiogenic agent currently approved for the treatment of NSCLC is bevacizumab, an antibody targeted against VEGF. More recently, preclinical data supporting the role of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling in angiogenesis have been reported. The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathways may also stimulate tumor growth directly through activation of downstream mitogenic signaling cascades. In addition, 1 or both of these pathways have been associated with resistance to agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and VEGF. A number of agents that target FGF and/or PDGF signaling are now in development for the treatment of NSCLC. This review will summarize the potential molecular roles of PDGFR and FGFR in tumor growth and angiogenesis, as well as discuss the current clinical status of PDGFR and FGFR inhibitors in clinical development.

Isoforms of Jun kinase are differentially expressed and activated in human monocyte/macrophage (THP-1) cells.

Ten isoforms of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) have been described that arise by differential mRNA splicing of three genes. In that the relative expression and function of these different JNK proteins in human monocytic cells is not known, we have examined the JNK isoforms in THP-1 monocyte/macrophage cells. Differentiation of THP-1 cells by exposure to 10(-8) M PMA for 42-48 h enhances cellular responses to LPS, including enhanced activation of total JNK activity and increased phosphorylation of p54 JNK as well as p46 JNK. Examination of JNK proteins on Western blots reveals a predominance of p46 JNK1 and p54 JNK2 proteins. Clearing of lysates by immunoprecipitation of JNK1(99% effective) removes 46% of the JNK enzymatic activity (p < 0.01), whereas clearing of JNK1 plus JNK2 (70% effective) depletes the sample of 72% of the JNK activity (p < 0.01). Further analysis, undertaken with real-time RT-PCR, revealed that 98% of the JNK messages code for three isoforms: JNK1beta1, JNK2alpha1, and JNK2alpha2. The p54 JNK that is phosphorylated in LPS-stimulated, PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells is most likely JNK2alpha2 because 97% of the p54 JNK-encoding messages code for JNK2alpha2. By analogous reasoning, the p46 JNKs that are not heavily phosphorylated, but account for approximately half of the N-terminal c-jun kinase enzymatic activity, are most likely either JNK1beta1 or JNK2alpha1 because they account for 98% of the messages that can code for 46kDa JNKS:

Autocrine and paracrine signaling through neuropeptide receptors in human cancer.

Autocrine and paracrine signaling leading to stimulation of tumor cell growth is a common theme in human cancers. In addition to polypeptide growth factors such as EGF family members which signal through receptor tyrosine kinases, accumulating evidence supports the autocrine and paracrine involvement of specific neuropeptides with defined physiologic actions as neurotransmitters and gut hormones in lung, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic and prostatic cancers. These neuropeptides, including gastrin-releasing peptide, neuromedin B, neurotensin, gastrin, cholecystokinin and arginine vasopressin bind seven transmembrane-spanning receptors that couple to heterotrimeric G proteins. Studies with human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells support a requirement for balanced signaling through G(q) and G(12/13) proteins leading to intracellular Ca2+ mobilization, PKC activation and regulation of the ERK and JNK MAP kinase pathways. While specific neuropeptide antagonists offer promise for interrupting the single neuropeptide autocrine systems operating in pancreatic and prostatic cancers, SCLC is exemplified by multiple, redundant neuropeptide autocrine systems such that tumor growth cannot be inhibited with a single specific antagonist. However, a novel class of neuropeptide derivatives based on the substance P sequence have been defined that exhibit broad specificity for neuropeptide receptors and induce apoptosis in SCLC by functioning as biased agonists that stimulate discordant signal transduction. Thus, interruption of autocrine and paracrine neuropeptide signaling with specific antagonists or broad-spectrum biased agonists offer promising new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of human cancers.

Induction of cytosolic phospholipase A2 by oncogenic Ras is mediated through the JNK and ERK pathways in rat epithelial cells.

Mutations in ras genes have been detected with high frequency in nonsmall cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) and contribute to transformed growth of these cells. It has previously been shown that expression of oncogenic forms of Ras in these cells is associated with elevated expression of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), resulting in high constitutive levels of prostaglandin production. To determine whether expression of constitutively active Ras is sufficient to induce expression of these enzymes in nontransformed cells, normal lung epithelial cells were transfected with H-Ras. Stable expression of H-Ras increased expression of cPLA(2) and COX-2 protein. Transient transfection with H-Ras increased promoter activity for both enzymes. H-Ras expression also activated all three families of MAP kinase: ERKs, JNKs, and p38 MAP kinase. Expression of constitutively active Raf did not increase either cPLA(2) or COX-2 promoter activity, but inhibition of the ERK pathway with pharmacological agents or expression of dominant negative ERK partially blocked the H-Ras-mediated induction of cPLA(2) promoter activity. Expression of dominant negative JNK kinases decreased cPLA(2) promoter activity in NSCLC cell lines and inhibited H-Ras-mediated induction in normal epithelial cells, whereas expression of constructs encoding constitutively active JNKs increased promoter activity. Inhibition of p38 MAP kinase or NF-kappaB had no effect on cPLA(2) expression. Truncational analysis revealed that the region of the cPLA(2) promoter from -58 to +12 contained sufficient elements to mediate H-Ras induction. We conclude that expression of oncogenic forms of Ras directly increases cPLA(2) expression in normal epithelial cells through activation of the JNK and ERK pathways.

Akt negatively regulates the cJun N-terminal kinase pathway in PC12 cells.

The protein serine/threonine kinase Akt is a target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase that mediates many of the trophic actions of growth factors on cells. In PC12 cells, complete removal of serum leads to rapid stimulation of the cJun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Inclusion of insulin-like growth factor-1, a stimulator of Akt in PC12 cells, inhibits JNK activation in this setting, whereas addition of wortmannin to PC12 cells in the presence of serum stimulates JNK activity, suggesting that growth factor-mediated signaling through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway chronically inhibits the JNK pathway in PC12 cells. To explore the possible role of Akt as a negative regulator of JNK activity in PC12 cells, a myristoylated, gain-of-function Akt polypeptide (Myr-Akt) was expressed by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Stimulation of JNK activity by serum withdrawal or UV irradiation in PC12 cell clones stably expressing Myr-Akt was inhibited approximately 95% or 50%, respectively, relative to control transfected PC12 cells. Phosphorylation of both JNKs and a proximal activator, MAP kinase kinase 4 (MKK4), in response to UV irradiation was inhibited in Myr-Akt-expressing PC12 cells. Furthermore, transient expression of Myr-Akt strongly inhibited cJun transactivation mediated by MEKK1 or MKK7-JNK3, a gain-of-function MKK7-JNK fusion protein. Interestingly, inhibited JNK activation in the Myr-Akt-expressing PC12 cells is associated with marked induction of JNK-interacting protein-1 (JIP-1). We propose that negative regulation of the JNK pathway through Akt-dependent induction of specfic JIP proteins contributes to the antiapoptotic actions of Akt in neuronal cell types.

Prolactin stimulates activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).

In recent years the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family has expanded to include both c-jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), and the p38/HOG1 family in addition to the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) family. These kinases are activated by a variety of growth factors, as well as extra- and intracellular insults such as osmotic stress, UV light, and chemotherapeutic agents. Stimulation of the PRL-dependent Nb2 cell line with PRL results in the rapid activation of JNK as determined by the glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-jun kinase assay. Activation was maximal 30 min after stimulation with 50 nM rat PRL (rPRL) and decreased after that time. Dose response studies indicated that concentrations as low as 10 nM rPRL resulted in maximal activation. The interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent myeloid progenitor cell line 32Dcl3 was transfected with the long, Nb2, and short forms of the rat PRL receptor (rPRLR), as well as the long form of the human PRLR (hPRLR). The long and Nb2 forms of the PRLR were able to stimulate activation of JNK; however, the short form of the rPRLR was not. This corresponds with the inability of the short form of the rPRLR to stimulate proliferation of 32Dcl3 cells. Activation of JNK in 32Dcl3 cells expressing the long form of the hPRLR was maximal at 30 min after stimulation with 100 nM ovine PRL (oPRL) and declined after that time. Dose response studies indicated that activation of JNK was maximal after 30 min at a concentration of 10 nM, and the amount of activated JNK declined at the highest concentration of oPRL, 100 nM. Immunoblot analysis with an antibody that recognizes the activated (phosphorylated) forms of JNK1 and JNK2 indicated that both JNK1 and JNK2 isoforms were activated in 32D/hPRLR cells stimulated with oPRL. A recombinant human adenovirus expressing a kinase-inactive mutant of JNK1 (APF mutant) was used to determine the biological effect of blocking JNK activity in Nb2 cells. Expression of the JNK1-APF mutant inhibited cellular proliferation and induced DNA fragmentation typical of cells undergoing apoptosis. These data suggest that activation of JNKs may be important in mitogenic signaling and/or suppression of apoptosis in Nb2 cells.

MAPK mediation of hypertonicity-stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expression in renal medullary collecting duct cells.

We have previously shown that hypertonicity stimulates cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in cultured medullary epithelial cells. The aims of the present study were (i) to examine the role of cytoplasmic signaling through MAPK pathways in tonicity regulation of COX-2 expression in collecting duct cells and (ii) to assess the possible contribution of COX-2 to the survival of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells under hypertonic conditions. In mIMCD-K2 cells, a cell line derived from mouse IMCDs, hypertonicity induced a marked increase in COX-2 protein expression. The stimulation was reduced significantly by inhibition of MEK1 (PD-98059, 5-50 microm) and p38 (SB-203580, 5-100 microm) and was almost abolished by the combination of the two compounds. To study the role of JNK in tonicity-stimulated COX-2 expression, IMCD-3 cell lines stably transfected with dominant-negative mutants of three JNKs (JNK-1, -2, and -3) were used. Hypertonicity-stimulated COX-2 protein expression was significantly reduced in dominant-negative JNK-2-expressing cells and was unchanged in dominant-negative JNK-1- and JNK-3-expressing cells compared with controls. The reduction of COX-2 expression was associated with greatly reduced viability of dominant-negative JNK-2-expressing cells during hypertonicity treatment. 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine (PP2) (2-8 microm), an inhibitor of Src kinases, reduced the tonicity-stimulated COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner, whereas PP3, an inactive analog of PP2, had no effect. Inhibition of COX-2 activity by NS-398 (30-90 microm) and SC-58236 (10-20 microm) significantly reduced viability of mIMCD-K2 cells subjected to prolonged hypertonic treatment. We conclude that 1) all three members of the MAPK family (ERK, JNK-2, and p38) as well as Src kinases are required for tonicity-stimulated COX-2 expression in mouse collecting duct cells and that 2) COX-2 may play a role in cell survival of medullary cells under hypertonic conditions.

TRH regulates Kv1.5 gene expression through a Galphaq-mediated PLC-independent pathway.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) decreases transcription of the Kv1.5 K(+) channel gene in GH(3) pituitary cells. Here, we examine whether TRH utilizes Gq activated phospholipase C, Gs or Gi to produce this response. We report that expression of constitutively active Galphaq mimicked and occluded the TRH effect. In contrast, expression of activated Galpha(S) or Galpha(i2) had no effect on Kv1. 5 mRNA expression. Furthermore, pertussis and cholera toxins failed to block the TRH-induced decrease in channel mRNA. Surprisingly, despite the role of Gq, the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 did not alter down-regulation of channel mRNA by TRH, although it abolished the TRH-induced increase in intracellular [Ca(2+)] and up-regulation of c-fos mRNA. Furthermore, depletion of an intracellular Ca(2+) pool or inhibition of protein kinase C did not block the TRH-induced decrease in Kv1.5 mRNA. These results indicate that TRH-induced down-regulation of Kv1.5 gene expression is mediated by Galphaq proteins, but does not require PLC activation.

New therapeutic strategies for lung cancer: biology and molecular biology come of age.

The current understanding of the biology and molecular biology of lung cancer pathogenesis and progression is reviewed. Awareness of the influence of growth factors, oncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes as well as signal transduction and angiogenesis pathways on the natural history of cancer cells has led to attempts to develop new therapeutic strategies directed at interrupting tumor cell growth. Treatments utilizing monoclonal antibodies, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, and gene transfer and alteration are currently being investigated. The rationale and effectiveness of these treatments in early trials are explored, and recommendations for future directions in cell biology research are presented. Interest in the biology and molecular biology of tumor cells has led to some important findings that may provide opportunities for new treatments. Several of these new directions for anticancer therapy are already being examined in phase I clinical trials.

Akt/protein kinase B up-regulates Bcl-2 expression through cAMP-response element-binding protein.

In our previous study we showed that insulin-like growth factor-I induces a cAMP-response element (CRE) site-containing Bcl-2 promoter through a novel signaling pathway involving mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6/p38beta mitogen-activated protein kinase/MAP kinase-activated protein kinase-3/cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) (Pugazhenthi, S., Miller, E., Sable, C., Young, P., Heidenreich, K. A., Boxer, L. M., and Reusch, J. E.-B. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 27529-27535). In the present investigation, we define a second pathway contributing to CREB-dependent up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression as a novel anti-apoptotic function of Akt signaling. To examine the role of Akt on Bcl-2 expression, a series of transient transfections using a luciferase reporter gene driven by the promoter region of Bcl-2 containing a CRE were carried out. Pharmacological inhibition of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, the upstream kinase of Akt, with LY294002 led to a 45% decrease in Bcl-2 promoter activity. The reporter activity was enhanced 2.3-fold by overexpression of active p110 subunit of PI 3-kinase and inhibited 44% by the dominant negative p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase. Cotransfection with 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase (PDK1), which is required for the full activation of Akt, resulted in enhanced luciferase activity. Insulin-like growth factor-I-mediated induction of Bcl-2 promoter activity was decreased significantly (p < 0.01) by the dominant negative forms of p85 subunit of PI 3-kinase, PDK1, and Akt. These data indicate that regulation of Bcl-2 expression by IGF-I involves a signaling cascade mediated by PI 3-kinase/PDK1/Akt/CREB. Furthermore, we measured the Bcl-2 mRNA in PC12 cells overexpressing Akt by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using the TaqMan(TM) fluorogenic probe system. We observed a 2.1-fold increase in Bcl-2 mRNA levels in the Akt cell line compared with control PC12 cells, supporting the observation that enhanced CREB activity by Akt signaling leads to increased Bcl-2 promoter activity and cell survival.

Stress- and cell type-dependent regulation of transfected c-Jun N-terminal kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase isoforms.

The cJun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are encoded by three genes generating ten protein kinase polypeptides and are activated in settings of cell stress, mitogenesis, differentiation and morphogenesis. The specific role of the JNK family members in these diverse cell programmes is largely undefined. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that individual JNK isoforms would exhibit distinct patterns of regulation within cells. The cDNAs encoding five haemagglutinin (HA)-tagged JNK isoforms (p46JNK1alpha, p54JNK2alpha, p54JNK2beta, p46JNK3 and p54JNK3) were expressed in cultured rat PC12 phaeochromocytoma cells and human small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells by retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. In addition, HA-tagged forms of the dual-specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MKKs), MKK4 and MKK7, which are specific activators of the JNK enzymes, were similarly expressed. Reverse transcription and PCR revealed that JNK3 is endogenously expressed in SCLC cells, but not in either chromaffin or neuronally differentiated PC12 cells. MKK4 and MKK7 were endogenously expressed in both PC12 cells and SHP77 cells. Immunoprecipitation and analysis of the JNKs expressed in SCLC cells revealed strong stimulation of all five JNK isoforms by UV radiation. Hypertonic stress, elicited by mannitol, also significantly stimulated these same JNKs, although the JNK3 isoforms were most strongly activated. In PC12 cell transfectants, however, selective and equal activation of p54JNK2alpha and p54JNK3 by UV and osmotic stress was observed, with little or no activation of JNK1alpha or JNK2beta. In contrast with the broad activation of the JNK enzymes by UV in SCLC cells, only HA-MKK4 was stimulated by UV exposure in these cells, whereas osmotic stress stimulated both HA-MKK4 and HA-MKK7. These findings indicate selective activation of JNK and MKK isoforms in a manner that is dependent upon the specific cell stress and the cell type.

Synergistic effects of new chemopreventive agents and conventional cytotoxic agents against human lung cancer cell lines.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells have constitutively high expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and cyclooxygenase (COX) 2. These NSCLC cells also have increased prostaglandin expression (PGE2). Many lung cancers also express 12-lipoxygenase RNA and 12-lipoxygenase protein and biosynthesize 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, which correlates with their metastatic potential. Several studies have demonstrated that COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors could inhibit the in vitro growth of human lung cancer cell lines. In this report, we evaluated the growth-inhibitory effects of sulindac sulfide, a COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor; exisulind (sulindac sulfone), a novel proapoptotic agent that does not inhibit COX enzymes; and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a lipoxygenase inhibitor on human lung cancer cell lines. We compared these effects with those of 13-cis-retinoic acid, a chemoprevention agent, and with the cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents paclitaxel and cisplatin, alone or in combination. Our goal was to develop new chemoprevention and treatment strategies. Each of the six agents tested inhibited the in vitro growth of three NSCLC and three SCLC cell lines at the highest concentration. Paclitaxel was the most potent agent (IC50 = 0.003-0.150 microM); sulindac sulfide, NDGA, and 13-cis-retinoic acid had intermediate potency (IC50 = 4-80 microM), and cisplatin and exisulind were the least potent (IC50 = 150-500 microM). Combination studies showed synergistic interactions for sulindac sulfide, exisulind, and NDGA with paclitaxel, cisplatin, and 13-cis-retinoic acid, regardless of drug-resistance phenotype. At high concentrations, the combination of 13-cis-retinoic acid and each of the five other drugs resulted in a strong synergistic effect. These studies provide a rationale for chemoprevention (exisulind +/- retinoic acid +/- NDGA) and therapeutic (exisulind +/- paclitaxel +/- cisplatin) studies in patients at risk for, or with, lung cancer.

In vivo regulation of MAP kinases in Ratus norvegicus renal papilla by water loading and restriction.

In cultured renal cells, hypertonicity activates multiple mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and enhances the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs). In rats, 24 h water restriction increased mean urinary osmolality (Uosm) from 2, 179+/-153 mOsm/kg to 2,944+/-294 mOsm/kg (P < 0.001) and was associated with significant (P < 0.05) increases in the papillary activity of c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK) by 22%, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) by 49%, and p38 MAPK by 15%. Conversely, 24 h of water-loading (Uosm 473+/-33 mOsm/kg) caused suppression of JNK activity by 43% (P < 0.001), ERK by 39% (P < 0.05), and p38 MAPK by 26% (P < 0.05). No such modulation was observed in the isotonic cortex. c-Jun phosphorylation was decreased in papilla from water-loaded rats by 45% versus controls. Expression of Hsp 110, inducible Hsp 70, and Hsp 25 was greater in the hyperosmotic papilla than the isosmotic cortex but was not affected by the animal's hydration state. In cultured inner medullary collecting duct cells, HSP expression was maximal at 500 mOsm/kg, while activation of JNK continued to increase. We conclude that under basal conditions of hydration, these HSPs are maximally expressed in the hypertonic inner medulla, while the activation of all three members of the MAPK family approaches but is not maximal.