Dephosphorylation Of Bad Research Articles

Sensitization of TNF-induced cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells by concurrent suppression of the NF-κB and Akt pathways

Blockage of either nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) or Akt sensitizes cancer cells to TNF-induced apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the undetermined effect of concurrent blockage of these two survival pathways on TNF-induced cytotoxicity in lung cancer cells. The results show that Akt contributes to TNF-induced NF-κB activation in lung cancer cells through regulating phosphorylation of the p65/RelA subunit of NF-κB. Although individually blocking IKK or Akt partially suppressed TNF-induced NF-κB activation, concurrent suppression of these pathways completely inhibited TNF-induced NF-κB activation and downstream anti-apoptotic gene expression, and synergistically potentiated TNF-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, suppression of Akt inhibited the Akt-mediated anti-apoptotic pathway through dephosphorylation of BAD. These results indicate that concurrent suppression of NF-κB and Akt synergistically sensitizes TNF-induced cytotoxicity through blockage of distinct survival pathways downstream of NF-κB and Akt, which may be applied in lung cancer therapy.

Arsenic Trioxide in Hematological Malignancies: The New Discovery of an Ancient Drug

Currently, Arsenic Trioxide (ATO) is considered the treatment of choice for patients with relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Recently, a durable remission with minimal toxicity by single agent ATO or ATO + ATRA in newly diagnosed APL was reported by different groups. These regimens have minimal toxicity and can be administered on an outpatient basis after remission induction, thus they could become a real, less toxic and more economic option to ATRA + anthracyclines in particular in low risk APL, or in patients that cannot undergo chemotherapy because of age or comorbid conditions and in patients that refuse chemotherapy. Significantly, these therapies are a successful attempt to cure a tumoral disease without chemotherapy. The results of clinical trials of ATO administration as single agent in multiple myeloma (MM) and myelodisplastic syndromes (MDS) were encouraging and showed clinical effects but they were not close to APL success. On the contrary, results of clinical trials to treat non-APL acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were disappointing. We suggest that a combination therapy with drugs targeting specific pro-survival molecules or capable to enhance pro-apoptotic pathways may lead to an improvement of ATO efficacy against hematological malignancies, in particular AML. Our pre-clinical studies showed that ATO is capable to induce cell death in acute leukemia cells but the apoptotic function is limited since it can induce also a mechanism of cell defense by activating pro-survival molecules such as MEK-ERK, Bcl-xL, Bcl-2. By combining ATO with specific MEK inhibitors, we demonstrated that the block of MEK-ERK phosphorylation, the induction of Bad de-phosphorylation, and activation of p53AIP1 apoptotic pathway interrupt the pro-survival mechanisms of ATO and kill the leukemic cells by apoptotic synergism. Our results provide an experimental basis for combined or sequential treatment with MEK inhibitors and ATO in AML. The renaissance of ATO as a drug in moderne medicine may be considered, together with ATRA success, a victory of empirical analysis, that had (and has) great impact on Chinese culture.

Suppression of survivin expression in glioblastoma cells by the Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid promotes caspase-dependent apoptosis

The Ras inhibitor farnesylthiosalicylic acid (FTS) has been shown to induce apoptosis in glioblastoma multiforme, but its mechanism of action was unknown. We show that FTS or dominant-negative Ras, by deregulating extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Akt signaling, decreases survivin gene transcripts in U87 glioblastoma multiforme, leading to disappearance of survivin protein and cell death. FTS affected both Ras-controlled regulators of survivin transcription and Ras-regulated survival signals. Thus, Ras inhibition by FTS resulted in release of the survivin "brake" on apoptosis and in activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway: dephosphorylation of Bad, activation of Bax, release of cytochrome c, and caspase activation. FTS-induced apoptosis of U87 cells was strongly attenuated by forced expression of survivin or by caspase inhibitors. These results show that resistance to apoptosis in glioblastoma multiforme can be abolished by a single Ras inhibitor, which targets both survivin, a critical inhibitor of apoptosis, and the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic machinery.

Calmodulin mediates sulfur mustard toxicity in human keratinocytes

Sulfur mustard (SM) causes blisters in the skin through a series of cellular changes that we are beginning to identify. We earlier demonstrated that SM toxicity is the result of induction of both death receptor and mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis in human keratinocytes (KC). Because of its importance in apoptosis in the skin, we tested whether calmodulin (CaM) mediates the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway induced by SM. Of the three human CaM genes, the predominant form expressed in KC was CaM1. RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis revealed upregulation of CaM expression following SM treatment. To delineate the potential role of CaM1 in the regulation of SM-induced apoptosis, retroviral vectors expressing CaM1 RNA in the antisense (AS) orientation were used to transduce and derive stable CaM1 AS cells, which were then exposed to SM and subjected to immunoblot analysis for expression of apoptotic markers. Proteolytic activation of executioner caspases-3, -6, -7, and the upstream caspase-9, as well as caspase-mediated PARP cleavage were markedly inhibited by CaM1 AS expression. CaM1 AS depletion attenuated SM-induced, but not Fas-induced, proteolytic processing and activation of caspase-3. Whereas control KC exhibited a marked increase in apoptotic nuclear fragmentation after SM, CaM1 AS cells exhibited normal nuclear morphology up to 48 h after SM, indicating that suppression of apoptosis in CaM1 AS cells increases survival and does not shift to a necrotic death. CaM has been shown to activate the phosphatase calcineurin, which can induce apoptosis by Bad dephosphorylation. Interestingly, whereas SM-treated CaM1-depleted KC expressed the phosphorylated non-apoptotic sequestered form of Bad, Bad was present in the hypophosphorylated apoptotic form in SM-exposed control KC. To determine if pharmacological CaM inhibitors could attenuate SM-induced apoptosis via Bad dephosphorylation, KC were pretreated with the CaM-specific antagonist W-13 or its less active structural analogue W-12. Following SM exposure, KC exhibited Bad dephosphorylation, which was inhibited in the presence of W-13, but not with W-12. Consequently, W-13 but not W-12 markedly suppressed SM-induced proteolytic processing and activation of caspase-3, as well as apoptotic nuclear fragmentation. Finally, while the CaM antagonist W-13 and the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporin A attenuated SM-induced caspase-3 activation, inhibitors for CaM-dependent protein kinase II (KN62 and KN93) did not. These results indicate that CaM, calcineurin, and Bad also play a role in SM-induced apoptosis, and may therefore be targets for therapeutic intervention to reduce SM injury.

Dexamethasone Induces Cell Death in Insulin-Secreting Cells, an Effect Reversed by Exendin-4

Glucocorticoid excess induces hyperglycemia, which may result in diabetes. The present experiments explored whether glucocorticoids trigger apoptosis in insulin-secreting cells. Treatment of mouse beta-cells or INS-1 cells with the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (0.1 micromol/l) over 4 days in cell culture increased the number of fractionated nuclei from 2 to 7 and 14%, respectively, an effect that was reversed by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 (1 micromol/l). In INS-1 cells, dexamethasone increased the number of transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-staining positive cells, caspase-3 activity, and poly-(ADP-) ribose polymerase protein cleavage; decreased Bcl-2 transcript and protein abundance; dephosphorylated the proapoptotic protein of the Bcl-2 family (BAD) at serine155; and depolarized mitochondria. Dexamethasone increased PP-2B (calcineurin) activity, an effect abrogated by FK506. FK506 (0.1 micromol/l) and another calcineurin inhibitor, deltamethrin (1 micromol/l), attenuated dexamethasone-induced cell death. The stable glucagon-like peptide 1 analog, exendin-4 (10 nmol/l), inhibited dexamethasone-induced apoptosis in mouse beta-cells and INS-1 cells. The protective effect of exendin-4 was mimicked by forskolin (10 micromol/l) but not mimicked by guanine nucleotide exchange factor with the specific agonist 8CPT-Me-cAMP (50 micromol/l). Exendin-4 did not protect against cell death in the presence of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibition by H89 (10 micromol/l) or KT5720 (5 micromol/l). In conclusion, glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in insulin-secreting cells is accompanied by a downregulation of Bcl-2, activation of calcineurin with subsequent dephosphorylation of BAD, and mitochondrial depolarization. Exendin-4 protects against glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis, an effect mimicked by forskolin and reversed by PKA inhibitors.

Maintenance of Bad Phosphorylation Prevents Apoptosis of Rat Hepatic Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

To elucidate the mechanism of apoptosis of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs), we examined the phosphorylation status of Bad and its upstream signaling molecules during apoptosis in culture and after ischemia-reperfusion injury. Rat SECs were isolated by the immunomagnetic method, and 2 days after culture, most SECs underwent apoptosis, which was associated with decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. Addition of orthovanadate (OV), a protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sustained cellular protein phosphorylation and strongly inhibited apoptosis. Bad was dephosphorylated at Ser-112 and Ser-136 during apoptosis, but the phosphorylation status of Bad was maintained in the presence of OV. OV activated the Akt, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, which are involved in Bad phosphorylation. In the absence of OV, depletion of Bad by RNA interference conferred resistance to apoptosis. Hepatic injury after ischemia-reperfusion was alleviated by OV treatment, with significant inhibition of SEC apoptosis. SEC apoptosis in vivo was associated with dephosphorylation of Bad, Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, which was blocked by OV treatment. Our data suggest that maintenance of Bad phosphorylation is important in the prevention of SEC apoptosis and that the anti-apoptotic property of OV might have therapeutic utility.

Targeting the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway in the Treatment of Malignant Melanoma

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK; i.e., Ras-Raf-Erk) pathway is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in melanoma due to its integral role in the regulation of proliferation, invasiveness, and survival and the recent availability of pharmaceutical agents that inhibit the various kinases and GTPases that comprise the pathway. Genetic studies have identified activating mutations in either B-raf or N-ras in most cutaneous melanomas. Other studies have delineated the contribution of autocrine growth factors (e.g., hepatocyte growth factor and fibroblast growth factor) to MAPK activation in melanoma. Still, others have emphasized the consequences of the down-modulation of endogenous raf inhibitors, such as Sprouty family members (e.g., SPRY2) and raf-1 kinase inhibitory protein, in the regulation of the pathway. The diversity of molecular mechanisms used by melanoma cells to ensure the activity of the MAPK pathway attests to its importance in the evolution of the disease and the likelihood that inhibitors of the pathway may prove to be highly effective in melanoma treatment. MAPK inhibition has been shown to result in the dephosphorylation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bad and Bim. This process in turn leads to caspase activation and, ultimately, the demise of melanoma cells through the induction of apoptosis. Several recent studies have identified non-mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase-binding partners of raf and suggested that the prosurvival effects of raf and the lethality of raf inhibition are mediated through these alternative targets, independent of the MAPK pathway. Other studies have suggested that endothelial cells are the primary targets of raf inhibitors in vivo and that the antitumor effect of these agents are largely attributable to angiogenesis inhibition. This article reviews the genetic and biochemical factors contributing to MAPK activation in melanoma, the mechanisms by which inhibition of the pathway might prove deleterious to tumor cells, and the potential of MAPK inhibitors in the treatment of the disease.

DHCR24-Knockout Embryonic Fibroblasts Are Susceptible to Serum Withdrawal-Induced Apoptosis Because of Dysfunction of Caveolae and Insulin-Akt-Bad Signaling

The DHCR24 gene encodes an enzyme catalyzing the last step of cholesterol biosynthesis, the conversion of desmosterol to cholesterol. To elucidate the physiological significance of cholesterol biosynthesis in mammalian cells, we investigated proliferation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) prepared from DHCR24(-/-) mice. Both DHCR24(-/-) and wild-type MEFs proliferated in the presence of serum in culture media. However, the inhibition of external cholesterol supply by serum withdrawal induced apoptosis of DHCR24(-/-) MEFs, which was associated with a marked decrease in the intracellular and plasma membrane cholesterol levels, Akt inactivation, and Bad dephosphorylation. Insulin is an antiapoptotic factor capable of stimulating the Akt-Bad cascade, and its receptor (IR) is enriched in caveolae, cholesterol-rich microdomains of plasma membrane. We thus analyzed the association of IR and caveolae in the cholesterol-depleted MEFs. Subcellular fractionation and immunocytochemical analyses revealed that the IR and caveolin-1 contents were markedly reduced in the caveolae fraction of the MEFs, suggesting the disruption of caveolae, and that large amounts of IR were present apart from caveolin-1 on plasma membrane, indicating the uncoupling of IR with caveolae. Consistent with these findings, insulin-dependent phosphorylations of insulin receptor substrate-1, Akt, and Bad were impaired in the cholesterol-depleted MEFs. However, this impairment was partial because treatment of the MEFs with insulin restored Akt activation and prevented apoptosis. Cholesterol supply also prevented apoptosis. These results demonstrate that the cellular cholesterol biosynthesis is critical for the activation and maintenance of the Akt-Bad cell survival cascade in response to growth factors such as insulin.

The Raf Inhibitor BAY 43-9006 (Sorafenib) Induces Caspase-Independent Apoptosis in Melanoma Cells

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is activated in the majority of melanomas, and its activity is essential for cell survival. In this report, we examined the effects of a novel raf inhibitor BAY 43-9006 on melanoma cell viability and intracellular signaling and found that it induces apoptosis through a caspase-independent mechanism. At concentrations that suppress extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, BAY 43-9006 dephosphorylates Bad on Ser(75) and Ser(99), activates Bak and Bax, and reduces the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. BAY 43-9006 (sorafenib) down-modulates the levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L) in a MAPK-independent manner in A2058 and SKMEL5 melanoma cells but not in the more resistant A375 cells. Of the three lines tested, only A375 cells were rescued from BAY 43-9006-induced apoptosis by knocking down Bad. BAY 43-9006 induced poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and the mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and SMAC. However, the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk had only a modest protective effect against the drug, suggesting that BAY 43-9006-induced apoptosis is largely caspase independent. BAY 43-9006 but not the MAP/ERK kinase inhibitors PD98059 or U0126 induced the nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in A2058 and SKMEL5 cells, and the introduction of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) for AIF partially protected these cells from BAY 43-9006-induced apoptosis. The AIF siRNA had little effect in A375 cells, in which drug-induced AIF release was negligible. These data indicate that in sensitive cell lines, BAY 43-9006-induced apoptosis is independent of Bad dephosphorylation and caspase activation and largely mediated through the nuclear translocation of AIF.

Bad Phosphorylation Is Reduced in Response to Inhibition of Constitutively Activated FLT3.

Constitutively activating internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutations of the receptor tyrosine kinase FLT3 play an important role in leukemogenesis and their presence is associated with poor prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Previously we showed that human leukemia-derived myeloid cell lines having constitutive activation of FLT3 undergo apoptotic cell death when treated with FLT3 inhibitors. Examining the anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins in constitutively activated FLT3 signaling in BaF3/ITD, MOLM-14 and MV4-11 cell lines, we found that the level of Bad phosphorylation was greatly decreased by FLT3 inhibitor treatment. Bad is a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family that can displace Bax from binding to Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, resulting in cell death. Survival factors such as IL-3 inhibit the apoptotic activity of Bad by activating intracellular signaling pathways that result in the phosphorylation of Bad at Ser112 and Ser136. Both Ser112 and Ser136 are rapidly dephosphorylated after treatment with FLT3 inhibitors in BaF3/ITD, MOLM-14, and MV4-11 cells. We also found Bad to be highly phosphorylated in both wild-type and mutant FLT3 primary AML samples. In confirmation of the cell line data, Bad was rapidly dephosphorylated after treatment of the primary samples with lestaurtinib (CEP-701). Upstream molecules responsible for phosphorylation of Bad include Akt, Erk/MAPK, Pim-1, and Pim-2. We previously reported Pim-1 as one of the genes whose expression is induced by constitutively activated FLT3. We and other groups have also shown that constitutively activated FLT3 induces multiple signaling pathways, including PI3/Akt, Erk/MAPK, and Jak/STAT. The dephosphorylation of Bad in response to FLT3 inhibition also correlates with deactivation of Stat5, MEK1/2 and Akt kinase activities and decreased expression of Pim-1. Thus, Bad may be one of the points that these multiple signaling pathways converge in FLT3-mediated cell survival. Thus, it appears that activated FLT3 phosphorylates Bad, resulting in the inability of Bad to bind to Bcl-xL, therefore blocking apoptosis. This is the first report of deactivation of a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member induced by constitutively activated FLT3.

SU11657, a FLT3-Targeted Tyrosine Kinase, Has Pro-Apoptotic Activity on Leukemia Cells In Vitro.

Fms-related tyrosine kinase3 (Flt3) is the most commonly mutated gene in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and has implicated in its pathogenesis. Constitutive activation of the Flt3 receptor tyrosine kinase, have been linked either by internal tandem duplication (ITD) of the juxtamembrane region or by point mutation in the second tyrosine kinase domain (TKD). To investigate the effect in vitro of SU11657, a new compound FLT3 kinase inhibitors, we analyzed human cell lines from AML patients (MV4-11 and HL60) and blast from patients AML using a wide range of concentrations (1nM-10μM) of this novel agent. In HL-60, FLT3-wt cell line, used as negative control does not show relevant effect after treatment with SU11657. Instead, in MV4-11, FLT3-ITD cell line, we observed a decrease dose-dependent in cell viability after treatment with SU11657. The effects of this compound on cell cycle progression show an accumulation of G1/S phase and an induction of apoptosis at 1-10nM concentration after 24h of treatment. First we observed a dephosphorylation of FLT3 on Tyr591 in whole cell extracts from MV4-11 cells after treatment with SU11657 100nM. We also demonstrated a hypophosphorylation of AKT on Ser473 and a consequently dephosphorylation of BAD on Ser136 at nanomolar concentration. We observed a dephosphorylation of STAT-5 to 100nM of SU11657 at 24h.We evaluated the effects of this new compound in AML primary progenitors that showed FLT3-ITD, FLt3-TKD and FLT3-wt. In the patients with mutation ITD and TKD was evident a modification of cell cycle progression with a decrease in G2/M phase and an increase of subdiploid peak. The effect of SU11657 in patients FLT3-wt was not relevant.Our study thus showed a potential therapeutic usefulness of the drug in treatment of AML. Study of signal transductions and gene profile expression will contribute to further understanding of the drug mechanisms.

P210 Tyrosine Kinase Regulates the Expression of 14-3-3sigma in Hematopoietic Progenitors Expressing the bcr-abl Fusion Gene.

Abstract The 14-3-3sigma is a member of a highly conserved family of acidic proteins that bind to serine/threonine-phosphorylated residues in a context specific manner analogous to the Src homology 2 (SH2)- and phospho-tyrosine- binding domains. Its central role in the subcellular distribution and transcriptional activity of partners molecules controlling cell cycle progression, survival, senescence, adhesion and metabolism made 14-3-3sigma isoform the most directly linked to cancer pathogensis and progression. Here we provide evidence for its involvement in deregulated proliferation and extended survival of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) hematopoietic progenitors. In LAMA cell line and CD34+ cells of CML patients at clinical diagnosis p210 bcr-abl dephosphorylation and enzymatic activity inhibition induced by in vitro exposure to 1 microM tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitor Imatinib mesylate (IM) were associated with a significant reduction of 14-3-3sigma transcript and protein. 14-3-3sigma reduced expression arises from transcriptional mechanisms and involves epigenetic modifications of chromatin structure. In LAMA cell line PCR amplification of DNA from immunoprecipitated chromatin (ChIP) revealed histone H4 deacetylation at a discrete region of 14-3-3sigma promoter critical for gene transcription since 2nd up to 24th hour of IM treatment. Conversely, bisulfite-SSCP sequencing of PCR amplification of gene 5′ coding sequences encompassing the transcription start site did not show significant differences in CpG methylation status relative to p210 TK activity. Up-modulation and increased nuclear import of p27Kip1, downmodulation of cyclin D1 and Cdc25A levels, Bad dephosphorylation at Ser136 and Bax translocation to mitochondria proceeding from 14-3-3sigma reduction gave rise to cell cycle arrest in late G1-/early S-phase and committment to apoptotic death. Interestingly, higher levels of 14-3-3sigma protein were associated with the development of IM resistance in vitro and in vivo. To conclude, our study supports a role of 14-3-3sigma in the pathogenesis of CML hematopoiesis as well as in the disease progression towards a drug-resistant phenotype mostly due to its regulatory control on pro-apoptotic and growth-arrest proteins downstream of forkhead transcription factor Foxo3a and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).

Calcineurin cleavage is triggered by elevated intraocular pressure, and calcineurin inhibition blocks retinal ganglion cell death in experimental glaucoma

Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) leads, by an unknown mechanism, to apoptotic retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death in glaucoma. We now report cleavage of the autoinhibitory domain of the protein phosphatase calcineurin (CaN) in two rodent models of increased IOP. Cleaved CaN was not detected in rat or mouse eyes with normal IOP. In in vitro systems, this constitutively active cleaved form of CaN has been reported to lead to apoptosis via dephosphorylation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member, Bad. In a rat model of glaucoma, we similarly detect increased Bad dephosphorylation, increased cytoplasmic cytochrome c (cyt c), and RGC death. Oral treatment of rats with increased IOP with the CaN inhibitor FK506 led to a reduction in Bad dephosphorylation and cyt c release. In accord with these biochemical results, we observed a marked increase in both RGC survival and optic nerve preservation. These data are consistent with a CaN-mediated mechanism of increased IOP toxicity. CaN cleavage was not observed at any time after optic nerve crush, suggesting that axon damage alone is insufficient to trigger cleavage. These findings implicate this mechanism of CaN activation in a chronic neurodegenerative disease. These data demonstrate that increased IOP leads to the initiation of a CaN-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in glaucoma and support neuroprotective strategies for this blinding disease.

BAD Detects Coincidence of G2/M Phase and Growth Factor Deprivation to Regulate Apoptosis

BAD, a member of the Bcl-2 protein family, promotes mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Here, we report that BAD dissociates from 14-3-3zeta at each G2/M phase of proliferating lymphoid cells. The cell cycle-dependent dissociation of BAD was associated with phosphorylation at Ser-128, whereas mutant S128A-BAD, in which Ser-128 was converted to alanine, remained associated with 14-3-3zeta throughout the cell cycle. Although the cell cycle-dependent dissociation of BAD per se did not induce apoptosis, growth factor deprivation induced prompt apoptosis at the G2/M phase but not at the G1 phase. In cells expressing S128A-BAD, growth factor deprivation-induced apoptosis was markedly delayed and was accompanied by a delayed dephosphorylation of growth factor-dependent regulatory serine residues. These results indicate that BAD induces apoptosis upon detecting the coincidence of G2/M phase and growth factor deprivation.

The role of calcineurin in amyloid-β-peptides-mediated cell death

Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is widely held to be associated with Alzheimer's disease. It was previously demonstrated by our group that Aβ induces cell death by an apoptotic process. We report here that activation of the caspase-3 apoptotic cascade is regulated by calcineurin-mediated BAD dephosphorylation. Calcineurin inhibitors were also proven to be effective by preventing the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) induced by Aβ, not allowing cytochrome c release from mitochondria and subsequently caspase-3 activation. Considering the results presented, we argue that calcineurin activation and BAD dephosphorylation are upstream in premitochondrial signaling events leading to caspase-3 activation in Aβ-peptide-treated cells.

Involvement of Ras/extracellular signal-regulated kinase, but not Akt pathway in risedronate-induced apoptosis of U937 cells and its suppression by cytochalasin B

Although risedronate, a nitrogen containing bisphosphonate (BPs), strongly inhibits bone resorption by enhanced apoptosis of osteoclasts, its mechanism remained unclear. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of risedronate-induced apoptosis of U937 cells, with a focus on extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and protein kinase B (Akt) pathways, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, and the effect of disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. Risedronate facilitated the relocation of Ras from membrane to cytosol through inhibited isoprenylation. Accordingly, risedronate suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, a downstream survival signaling kinase of Ras, affected the intracellular distribution of Bcl-xL, and induced the mitochondrial membrane depolarization, cytochrome c release, activated caspase cascade and DNA fragmentation. The risedronate-induced apoptosis was effectively suppressed with cyclosporine A plus trifluoperazine, potent inhibitors of mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (MPT). The risedronate-induced apoptosis was independent of Akt, another cAMP-dependent survival signaling kinase. Risedronate facilitated dephosphorylation of Bad at Ser112, an ERK phosphorylation site, but not at Ser136, an Akt phosphorylation site. All of these apoptosis-related changes induced by risedronate were strongly suppressed by cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of actin filament polymerization. These results indicate that risedronate-induced apoptosis in U937 cells involves Ras/ERK, but not Akt signaling pathway, and is dependent on MPT, and that disruption of the actin cytoskeleton inhibits the risedronate-induced apoptosis at its early step.

Simultaneous Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Signaling and Enhanced Activation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-related Apoptosis-inducing Ligand (TRAIL) Receptor-mediated Apoptosis Induction by an scFv:sTRAIL Fusion Protein with Specificity for Human EGFR

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling inhibition by monoclonal antibodies and EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors has shown clinical efficacy in cancer by restoring susceptibility of tumor cells to therapeutic apoptosis induction. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising anti-cancer agent with tumor-selective apoptotic activity. Here we present a novel approach that combines EGFR-signaling inhibition with target cell-restricted apoptosis induction using a TRAIL fusion protein with engineered specificity for EGFR. This fusion protein, scFv425:sTRAIL, comprises the EGFR-blocking antibody fragment scFv425 genetically fused to soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL). Treatment with scFv425:sTRAIL resulted in the specific accretion to the cell surface of EGFR-positive cells only. EGFR-specific binding rapidly induced a dephosphorylation of EGFR and down-stream mitogenic signaling, which was accompanied by cFLIP(L) down-regulation and Bad dephosphorylation. EGFR-specific binding converted soluble scFv425:sTRAIL into a membrane-bound form of TRAIL that cross-linked agonistic TRAIL receptors in a paracrine manner, resulting in potent apoptosis induction in a series of EGFR-positive tumor cell lines. Co-treatment of EGFR-positive tumor cells with the EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor Iressa resulted in a potent synergistic pro-apoptotic effect, caused by the specific down-regulation of c-FLIP. Furthermore, in mixed culture experiments binding (L)of scFv425:sTRAIL to EGFR-positive target cells conveyed a potent apoptotic effect toward EGFR-negative bystander tumor cells. The favorable characteristics of scFv425:sTRAIL, alone and in combination with Iressa, as well as its potent anti-tumor bystander activity indicate its potential value for treatment of EGFR-expressing cancers.

Bad-Dependent Rafts Alteration Is a Consequence of an Early Intracellular Signal Triggered by Interleukin-4 Deprivation

Many molecules are inducibly localized in lipid rafts, and their alteration inhibits early activation events, supporting a critical role for these domains in signaling. Using confocal microscopy and cellular fractionation, we have shown that the pool of Bad, attached to lipid rafts in proliferating cells, is released when cells undergo apoptosis. Kinetic studies indicate that rafts alteration is a consequence of an intracellular signal triggered by interleukin-4 deprivation. Growth factor deprivation in turn induces PP1alpha phosphatase activation, responsible for cytoplasmic Bad dephosphorylation as well as caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation. Caspases translocate to rafts and induce their modification followed by translocation of Bad from rafts to mitochondria, which correlates with apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest that alteration of lipid rafts is an early event in the apoptotic cascade indirectly induced by interleukin-4 deprivation via PP1alpha activation, dephosphorylation of cytoplasmic Bad, and caspase activation.

Chronically elevated glucose-induced apoptosis is mediated by inactivation of Akt in cultured Müller cells

Hyperglycemia induces apoptotic cell death in a variety of cell types in diabetes, and the mechanism remains unclear. We report here that culture of rat retinal glial Müller cells in 25 mM glucose for 72 h significantly inactivated Akt and induced apoptosis. Likewise, hyperglycemia caused a significant dephosphorylation of Akt at serine-473 in Müller cells in the retina of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Inactivation of Akt was associated with dephosphorylation of BAD, increased cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9. Upregulation of Akt activity by overexpression of constitutively active Akt inhibited elevated glucose-induced apoptosis, whereas downregulation of Akt activity by overexpression of dominant negative Akt exacerbated elevated glucose-induced apoptosis, as assessed by caspase activity and nucleic acid staining. These data suggest that apoptosis induced by chronically elevated glucose is at least in part mediated by downregulation of Akt survival pathway in cultured Müller cells. It has been reported that antiapoptotic effect of Akt requires glucose in growth factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis. Our data suggest that although acutely elevated glucose may be beneficial to the cell survival, chronically elevated glucose can cause apoptosis via downregulation of Akt survival signaling.

MEK1 Inhibition and Arsenic Trioxide Synergize To Induce Apoptosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Blasts.

We recently demonstrated that the combined treatment with PD184352, a highly selective inhibitor of MEK1 phosphorylation and activation (kindly provided to us by Dr J. S. Sebolt-Leopold, Cancer Molecular Sciences, Pfizer Global Research & Development, Ann Arbor, MI) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) strikingly potentiates apoptotic cell death induced by ATO in K562 and NB4 leukemic cells through the up-regulation of the proapoptotic p53AIP1 protein (p53-regulated Apoptosis-Inducing Protein 1), via p73 activation (Blood 104: 519–525, 2004). Moreover, we showed that MEK1 inhibition sensitizes both parental and arsenic resistant NB4 cell lines to ATO-induced apoptosis through the MEK1 inhibition-mediated dephosphorylation of Bad, increasing its capacity to heterodimerize with Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 thereby blocking theirs antiapoptotic functions (ASH 2003, Abstract 61). p53AIP1 interacts with Bcl-2, affecting p53AIP1-mediated apoptosis through regulation of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, thus supporting a model in which both pathways (p73-p53AIP1 and Bad phosphorylation) contribute to ATO induced apoptosis and its enhancement by MEK1 inhibitor co-treatment. Collectively, our results prompted us to investigate whether the combination of PD184352 and ATO was effective in inducing apoptosis of primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts. Twenty primary AML samples with different FAB classification were analyzed at diagnosis. Immunological and genetic characteristics were defined. Primary AML samples were cultured in presence of escalating doses of PD184352 (0.1–20 μM), ATO (0.125–10 μM) or combinations of the 2 agents at a 1:1 ratio (0.25/0.25, 0.5/0.5, 1/1, 1.5/1.5, 2/2). After 48 h of treatment the cells were harvested for mitochondrial transmembrane potential, annexin V and sub-G1 DNA content detection. Combination Index (CI) plots were then generated using the Chou-Talalay method and Calcusyn software (Biosoft, Ferguson, MO). CI less than 1.0 indicates synergism; CI = 1.0 indicates additive effect; CI more than 1.0 indicates antagonistic effect. Interestingly, MEK1 inhibition strikingly increased the apoptosis induced by ATO in sixteen of twenty primary AML samples analyzed. Isobologram analysis confirmed the additive or synergistic nature of this interaction. Five responder patients showed additive effect (one M0, two M2, two M4), eleven synergism (one M1, three M2, three M3, two M4, two M5). In the responsive AML samples the combined treatment with PD184352 and ATO strikingly potentiated loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential induced by ATO. Treatment with MEK1 inhibitor down-modulated the steady level of ERK and Bad phosphorylation and prevented theirs phosphorylation in rensponse to ATO treatment. Moreover, p53AIP1 expression was enhanced after PD184352 plus ATO treatment compared to ATO alone. In conclusion these results demonstrated a cooperation between these two agents in this setting, and could provide an experimental basis for combined or sequential MEK1 inhibition plus ATO therapy in AML.