Inactivation of TRPM7 Kinase Targets AKT Signaling and Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Human CML Cells.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a key regulator of inflammation. High constitutive COX-2 expression enhances survival and proliferation of cancer cells, and adversely impacts antitumor immunity. The expression of COX-2 is modulated by various signaling pathways. Recently, we identified the melastatin-like transient-receptor-potential-7 (TRPM7) channel-kinase as modulator of immune homeostasis. TRPM7 protein is essential for leukocyte proliferation and differentiation, and upregulated in several cancers. It comprises of a cation channel and an atypical α-kinase, linked to inflammatory cell signals and associated with hallmarks of tumor progression. A role in leukemia has not been established, and signaling pathways are yet to be deciphered. We show that inhibiting TRPM7 channel-kinase in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells results in reduced constitutive COX-2 expression. By utilizing a CML-derived cell line, HAP1, harboring CRISPR/Cas9-mediated TRPM7 knockout, or a point mutation inactivating TRPM7 kinase, we could link this to reduced activation of AKT serine/threonine kinase and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (SMAD2). We identified AKT as a direct in vitro substrate of TRPM7 kinase. Pharmacologic blockade of TRPM7 in wildtype HAP1 cells confirmed the effect on COX-2 via altered AKT signaling. Addition of an AKT activator on TRPM7 kinase-dead cells reconstituted the wildtype phenotype. Inhibition of TRPM7 resulted in reduced phosphorylation of AKT and diminished COX-2 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from CML patients, and reduced proliferation in patient-derived CD34+ cells. These results highlight a role of TRPM7 kinase in AKT-driven COX-2 expression and suggest a beneficial potential of TRPM7 blockade in COX-2-related inflammation and malignancy.

TRPM7 Kinase Is Essential for Neutrophil Recruitment and Function via Regulation of Akt/mTOR Signaling.

During inflammation, neutrophils are one of the first responding cells of innate immunity, contributing to a fast clearance of infection and return to homeostasis. However, excessive neutrophil infiltration accelerates unsolicited disproportionate inflammation for instance in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The transient-receptor-potential channel-kinase TRPM7 is an essential regulator of immune system homeostasis. Naïve murine T cells with genetic inactivation of the TRPM7 enzyme, due to a point mutation at the active site, are unable to differentiate into pro-inflammatory T cells, whereas regulatory T cells develop normally. Moreover, TRPM7 is vital for lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced activation of murine macrophages. Within this study, we show that the channel-kinase TRPM7 is functionally expressed in neutrophils and has an important impact on neutrophil recruitment during inflammation. We find that human neutrophils cannot transmigrate along a CXCL8 chemokine gradient or produce reactive oxygen species in response to gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide LPS, if TRPM7 channel or kinase activity are blocked. Using a recently identified TRPM7 kinase inhibitor, TG100-115, as well as murine neutrophils with genetic ablation of the kinase activity, we confirm the importance of both TRPM7 channel and kinase function in murine neutrophil transmigration and unravel that TRPM7 kinase affects Akt1/mTOR signaling thereby regulating neutrophil transmigration and effector function. Hence, TRPM7 represents an interesting potential target to treat unwanted excessive neutrophil invasion.