P65 DNA Binding Activity Research Articles

Andrographolide Inhibits ICAM-1 Expression and NF-κB Activation in TNF-α-Treated EA.hy926 Cells

Several lines of evidence indicate that inflammation and endothelial cell dysfunction are important initiating events in atherosclerosis. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, induces the expression of cell adhesion molecules and results in monocyte adherence and atheromatous plaque formation. Andrographolide (AP) is a major bioactive diterpene lactone in Andrographis paniculata that has anti-inflammatory activity. A previous study demonstrated the role of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in the inhibition of TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression by AP. The present study investigated the effect of AP on the IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway, which mediates TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression in EA.hy926 cells. Similar to the previous study, AP inhibited TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 mRNA and protein levels, its expression on the cell surface, and subsequent adhesion of HL-60 cells to EA.hy926 cells. AP inhibited TNF-α-induced κB inhibitor (IκB) kinase (IKK) and IκBα activation, p65 nuclear translocation, NF-κB and DNA binding activity, and promoter activity of ICAM-1. Although AP increased the intracellular cAMP concentration and induced the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), knocking down CREB protein expression by transfecting the cells with CREB-specific small interfering RNA did not relieve the inhibition of ICAM-1 expression by AP. Taken together, these results suggest that AP down-regulates TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 expression at least in part via attenuation of activation of NF-κB in EA.hy926 cells rather than through activation of CREB. The results suggest that AP may have potential as a cardiovascular-protective agent.

Abstract 3090: Inhibition of p53 DNA binding function by the MDM2 acidic domain

Abstract MDM2 is an important regulator of p53, acting in part by promoting p53 ubiquitination. However, MDM2 has also been implicated in regulation of p53 through ubiquitination-independent mechanisms. Here we show that MDM2 inhibits p53 DNA binding activity in vitro and in vivo. MDM2 binding promotes p53 to adopt a mutant-like conformation, losing reactivity to antibody Pab1620, while exposing the Pab240 epitope. The acidic domain of MDM2 is required to induce p53 conformational change and inhibit p53 DNA binding, possibly by interacting with the p53 DNA binding domain. ARF binding to the MDM2 acidic domain restores p53 wild type conformation and rescues DNA binding activity. Furthermore, histone methyl transferase SUV39H1 binding to the MDM2 acidic domain also restores p53 wild type conformation and allows p53-MDM2-SUV39H1 complex to bind DNA. These results provide further evidence for an ubiquitination-independent mechanism of p53 regulation by MDM2, and reveal how MDM2-interacting repressors gain access to p53 target promoters and repress transcription. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3090. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3090

P53 Binds to and Is Required for the Repression of Arf Tumor Suppressor by HDAC and Polycomb

The expression of tumor suppressor Arf is tightly repressed during normal cell growth at a young age and is activated by oncogenic insults, and during aging, results in p53 activation and cell-cycle arrest to prevent hyperproliferation. The mechanisms of both transcriptional repression and activation of Arf are not understood. We show that p53 binds to and represses Arf expression and that this repression requires the function of both histone deacetylases (HDAC) and polycomb group (PcG) proteins. Inactivation of p53 leads to increased Arf transcription in both mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) cultured in vitro and in tissues and organs of p53 null mice. Activation of endogenous p53 enhances Arf repression, and reintroduction of p53 back into p53 null MEFs restores Arf repression. Both DNA binding and transactivation activities of p53 are required for Arf repression. We show that p53 is required for both HDAC and PcG to repress Arf expression. Bindings of both HDAC and PcG to Arf are disrupted by inactivation of p53 and can be restored in p53 null MEFs by the reintroduction of wild-type, but not mutant, p53. These results indicate that p53 recruits both HDAC and PcG to Arf locus to repress its expression, and this repression constitutes a second feedback loop in p53 regulation.

Anti-inflammatory activity of structurally related flavonoids, Apigenin, Luteolin and Fisetin

Flavonoids are widely distributed in many fruits and plants, and it has been shown that most flavonoids have anti-inflammatory activity; however, the mechanisms of how the flavonoids exhibit their anti-inflammatory activity have not been clarified. We therefore focus on flavonoids Apigenin, Luteolin and Fisetin because of their related structure. We found that these compounds significantly inhibited TNFα-induced NF-κB transcriptional activation; however, they had no effect on the degradation of IκB proteins and the nuclear translocation and DNA binding activity of NF-κB p65. Interestingly, the suppression of NF-κB activation by these flavonoids is due to inhibition of the transcriptional activation of NF-κB, since the compounds markedly inhibited the transcriptional activity of GAL4-NF-κB p65 fusion protein. In addition, while Apigenin and Luteolin slightly inhibited TNFα-induced JNK activation, they had no effect on TNFα-induced activation of ERK and p38. Unexpectedly, Fisetin enhanced and sustained activation of ERK and JNK but not p38 in response to TNFα. Strikingly, TNFα-induced expression of CCL2/MCP-1 and CXCL1/KC was significantly inhibited by Apigenin and Luteolin but not Fisetin. Furthermore, the administration of Apigenin and Luteolin markedly inhibited acute carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice; however, Fisetin failed to have an effect. These observations strongly suggest that the slight structural difference in flavonoids may cause a defective effect of Fisetin on these inflammatory responses, and this may be due to the differences in their direction of the effect on the activation pathways of MAP kinases.

Role of p53 in Cell Death and Human Cancers

p53 is a nuclear transcription factor with a pro-apoptotic function. Since over 50% of human cancers carry loss of function mutations in p53 gene, p53 has been considered to be one of the classical type tumor suppressors. Mutant p53 acts as the dominant-negative inhibitor toward wild-type p53. Indeed, mutant p53 has an oncogenic potential. In some cases, malignant cancer cells bearing p53 mutations display a chemo-resistant phenotype. In response to a variety of cellular stresses such as DNA damage, p53 is induced to accumulate in cell nucleus to exert its pro-apoptotic function. Activated p53 promotes cell cycle arrest to allow DNA repair and/or apoptosis to prevent the propagation of cells with serious DNA damage through the transactivation of its target genes implicated in the induction of cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Thus, the DNA-binding activity of p53 is tightly linked to its tumor suppressive function. In the present review article, we describe the regulatory mechanisms of p53 and also p53-mediated therapeutic strategies to cure malignant cancers.

Suppression of p53 Activity through the Cooperative Action of Ski and Histone Deacetylase SIRT1

Ski was originally identified as an oncogene based on the fact that Ski overexpression transformed chicken and quail embryo fibroblasts. Consistent with these proposed oncogenic roles, Ski is overexpressed in various human tumors. However, whether and how Ski functions in mammalian tumorigenesis has not been fully investigated. Here, we show that Ski interacts with p53 and attenuates the biological functions of p53. Ski overexpression attenuated p53-dependent transactivation, whereas Ski knockdown enhanced the transcriptional activity of p53. Interestingly, Ski bound to the histone deacetylase SIRT1 and stabilized p53-SIRT1 interaction to promote p53 deacetylation, which subsequently decreased the DNA binding activity of p53. Consistent with the ability of Ski to inactivate p53, overexpressing Ski desensitized cells to genotoxic drugs and Nutlin-3, a small-molecule antagonist of Mdm2 that stabilizes p53 and activates the p53 pathway, whereas knocking down Ski increased the cellular sensitivity to these agents. These results indicate that Ski negatively regulates p53 and suggest that the p53-Ski-SIRT1 axis is an attractive target for cancer therapy.

Niacin attenuates lung inflammation and improves survival during sepsis by downregulating the nuclear factor-κB pathway*

To examine whether niacin attenuates lung inflammation and improves survival during sepsis and to determine whether the beneficial effects of niacin are associated with downregulation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway. Prospective laboratory study. University laboratory. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 119). To induce endotoxemia in rats, lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli, O26:B6) at a dosage of 10 mg/kg was injected into a tail vein and 10 mins later, vehicle, a low dose of niacin (360 mg/kg), or a high dose of niacin (1180 mg/kg) was administered once through an orogastric tube, respectively. We observed the survival of the subjects for 72 hrs. At 6 hrs postlipopolysaccharide, we euthanized animals and measured cytoplasmic phosphorylated inhibitor κB-α and inhibitor κB-α expressions, nuclear NF-κB p65 expression, NF-κB p65 DNA-binding activity, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 gene expressions and histologic damages in lung tissues. We also measured nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde levels in lung tissues. High dose of niacin suppressed NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokine gene expressions in lung tissues, reduced histologic lung damages, and improved survival in endotoxemic rats. Furthermore, it increased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, and glutathione levels and decreased malondialdehyde level in lung tissues. High dose of niacin attenuated lung inflammation, reduced histologic lung damages, and improved survival during sepsis in rats. These therapeutic benefits were associated with downregulation of the NF-κB pathway.

Curcumin suppresses the production of interleukin-6 inPrevotella intermedialipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells

PurposeCurcumin is known to exert numerous biological effects including anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin on the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by murine macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Prevotella intermedia, a major cause of inflammatory periodontal disease, and sought to determine the underlying mechanisms of action.MethodsLPS was prepared from lyophilized P. intermedia ATCC 25611 cells by the standard hot phenol-water method. Culture supernatants were collected and assayed for IL-6. We used real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect IL-6 mRNA expression. IκB-α degradation, nuclear translocation of NF-κB subunits, and STAT1 phosphorylation were characterized via immunoblotting. DNA-binding of NF-κB was also analyzed.ResultsCurcumin strongly suppressed the production of IL-6 at both gene transcription and translation levels in P. intermedia LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. Curcumin did not inhibit the degradation of IκB-α induced by P. intermedia LPS. Curcumin blocked NF-κB signaling through the inhibition of nuclear translocation of NF-κB p50 subunit. Curcumin also attenuated DNA binding activity of p50 and p65 subunits and suppressed STAT1 phosphorylation.ConclusionsAlthough further study is required to explore the detailed mechanism of action, curcumin may contribute to blockade of the host-destructive processes mediated by IL-6 and appears to have potential therapeutic values in the treatment of inflammatory periodontal disease.

Relationships Between Aberrant Activity of the NF-κB Subunits and Outcome In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: The Dual Role of DNA Damage Sensor Enzymes

AbstractAbstract 3588Poor prognosis patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) can be identified by cytogenetic abnormalities such as del(17p), and del(11q) and corresponding mutations in TP53 and ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated kinase) respectively, which are associated with chemoresistance by virtue of defects in the DNA damage response pathway. We have demonstrated that overexpression of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), which mediates non-homologous end joining, is also associated with poor prognosis CLL1. Recent data show that constitutive activation of the p65 subunit of the transcription factor, NF-κB, confers poor survival in CLL. Since the repertoire of genes activated by NF-κB includes anti-apoptotic and pro-survival genes, NF-κB therefore represents an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. The parthenolide analogue, LC-1, has been shown to be synergisitic with fludarabine in ex vivo studies on CLL cells2, and has validated the concept of targeting NF-κB and prompted clinical trials in CLL patients. Previous data from our laboratory using cell line models demonstrated that DNA damage-induced NF-κB activation requires the base excision repair protein, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), to confer radioresistance3. The DNA damage sensor, ATM, also mediates the response to DNA damage, via phosphorylation of IKK-γ (Inhibitory κ-Kinase/NEMO). In fact, we demonstrated that radio-sensitization by an ATM inhibitor is mediated via NF-κB, rather than by the inhibition of double strand break repair4. Since these observations identify key DNA damage response proteins as regulators of NF-κB activity, we hypothesized that inhibitors of PARP, ATM and DNA-PK, could chemosensitize CLL cells via inhibition of NF-κB.Here, we analyzed NF-κB activity by quantifying NF-κB subunit DNA binding (measured by ELISA) in an unselected CLL cohort. Constitutive activation of the p65 and p50 subunits correlated closely (P= 0.001, n= 57), and predicted shorter time to first treatment (TTFT) and overall survival (OS). Importantly, higher activation occurred in del(17p) (e.g. p50; P= 0.05, n= 49) cases and in those cases that had received treatment. p52 and c-Rel activation correlated with p65 and p50 activation. However, although high p65 and p50 activation predicted shorter OS and TTFT, increased p52 and c-Rel activation were associated with a longer TTFT (up to 40 months) demonstrating the complex crosstalk between the NF-κB subunits in CLL.We were able to correlate p50 and p65 subunit activation with ex vivo resistance to fludarabine and chlorambucil in 12 cases: the most chemoresistant cases had higher p50 and p65 DNA binding activity. Preliminary data indicates that levels of activated NF-κB binding seen in the ELISA correlates with protein expression in nuclear extracts isolated from CLL cells (P= 0.0013, n=26). Here we make the novel observation that the increase in DNA damage-induced NF-κB activation is linked to increased DNA-PK activation. DNA-PK catalytic subunit levels were significantly higher in patients with high p65 activation (P= 0.02, n= 30), regardless of treatment status. Furthermore, a selective inhibitor of DNA-PK, NU7441, increased mitoxantrone-induced cytotoxicity in CLL cells (up to 50-fold) and reduced p65 and p50 DNA binding, indicating a direct link between DNA-PK and NF-κB activation. Ongoing studies are investigating this mechanistic link further, using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and using siRNA knockdown. CLL cells were radiosensitized by either the DNA-PK inhibitor, NU7441 or the pan IKK inhibitor, BAY 11–7082. Strikingly, a combination of these two inhibitors had no further effect on radiosensitization, suggesting that DNA-PK and NF-κB act in a common pathway. We have demonstrated that inhibition of ATM sensitizes CLL cells to DNA damage, and future work will assess the impact of ATM and PARP inhibition on NF-κB activity in CLL cells. These data present a novel role for DNA-PK in the regulation of NF-κB and highlight important new therapeutic avenues for the use of DNA-PK inhibitors, which may prove useful in overcoming NF-κB mediated therapeutic resistance in CLL.Willmore E, et al, Clin Cancer Res. 2008.Hewamana S, et al, Clin Cancer Res. 2008.Hunter JE, et al, Proceedings of the AACR. 2009.Veuger SJ et al, Under review, DNA repair. 2010. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase deficiency in mice leads to organ-specific increase in oxidatively damaged DNA and NF-κB1 protein activity.

Earlier experimental studies have demonstrated that: i) Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase deficiency leads to oxidative stress and carcinogenesis; ii) dysregulation of NF-κB pathway can mediate a wide variety of diseases, including cancer. Therefore, we decided, for the first time, to examine the level of oxidative DNA damage and the DNA binding activity of NF-κB proteins in SOD1 knockout, heterozygous and wild-type mice. Two kinds of biomarkers of oxidatively damaged DNA: urinary excretion of 8-oxodG and 8-oxoGua, and the level of oxidatively damaged DNA were analysed using HPLC-GC-MS and HPLC-EC. The DNA binding activity of p50 and p65 proteins in a nuclear extracts was assessed using NF-κB p50/p65 EZ-TFA transcription factor assay. These parameters were determined in the brain, liver, kidney and urine of SOD1 knockout, heterozygous and wild-type mice. The level of 8-oxodG in DNA was higher in the liver and kidney of knockout mice than in wild type. No differences were found in urinary excretion of 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodG between wild type and the SOD1-deficient animals. The activity of the p50 protein was higher in the kidneys, but surprisingly not in the livers of SOD1-deficient mice, whereas p65 activity did not show any variability. Our results indicate that in Cu,Zn-SOD-deficient animals the level of oxidative DNA damage and NF-κB1 activity are elevated in certain organs only, which may provide some explanation for organ-specific ROS-induced carcinogenesis.

USP7/HAUSP Promotes the Sequence-Specific DNA Binding Activity of p53

The p53 tumor suppressor invokes cellular responses to stressful stimuli by coordinating distinct gene expression programs. This function relies heavily on the ability of p53 to function as a transcription factor by binding promoters of target genes in a sequence specific manner. The DNA binding activity of the core domain of p53 is subject to regulation via post-translational modifications of the C-terminal region. Here we show that the ubiquitin specific protease, USP7 or HAUSP, known to stabilize p53, also regulates the sequence-specific DNA binding mediated by the core domain of p53 in vitro. This regulation is contingent upon interaction between USP7 and the C-terminal regulatory region of p53. However, our data suggest that this effect is not mediated through the N-terminal domain of USP7 previously shown to bind p53, but rather involves the USP7 C-terminal domain and is independent of the deubiquitylation activity of USP7. Consistent with our in vitro observations, we found that overexpression of catalytically inactive USP7 in cells promotes p53 binding to its target sequences and p21 expression, without increasing the levels of p53 protein. We also found that the USP7 C-terminal domain was sufficient for p21 induction. Our results suggest a novel mode of regulation of p53 function by USP7, which is independent of USP7 deubiquitylating activity.

A new pathway encompassing calpain 3 and its newly identified substrate cardiac ankyrin repeat protein is involved in the regulation of the nuclear factor‐κB pathway in skeletal muscle

A multiprotein complex encompassing a transcription regulator, cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP), and the calpain 3 protease was identified in the N2A elastic region of the giant sarcomeric protein titin. The present study aimed to investigate the function(s) of this complex in the skeletal muscle. We demonstrate that CARP subcellular localization is controlled by the activity of calpain 3: the higher the calpain 3, the more important the sarcomeric retention of CARP. This regulation would occur through cleavage of the N-terminal end of CARP by the protease. We show that, upon CARP over-expression, the transcription factor nuclear factor NF-κB p65 DNA-binding activity decreases. Taken as a whole, CARP and its regulator calpain 3 appear to occupy a central position in the important cell fate-governing NF-κB pathway. Interestingly, the expression of the atrophying protein MURF1, one of NF-κB main targets, remains unchanged in presence of CARP, suggesting that the pathway encompassing calpain 3/CARP/NF-κB does not play a role in muscle atrophy. With NF-κB also having anti-apoptotic effects, the inability of calpain 3 to lower CARP-driven inhibition of NF-κB could reduce muscle cell survival, hence partly accounting for the dystrophic pattern observed in limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2A, a pathology resulting from the protease deficiency.

A-kinase-interacting Protein 1 (AKIP1) Acts as a Molecular Determinant of PKA in NF-κB Signaling

A-kinase-interacting Protein 1 (AKIP1) Acts as a Molecular Determinant of PKA in NF-κB Signaling

Inhibition of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein δ expression by chrysin in microglial cells results in anti‐inflammatory and neuroprotective effects

The control of neuroinflammation is a potential target to be considered in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It is therefore important to find anti-inflammatory drugs and study new targets that inhibit neuroinflammation. We designed an experimental model of neuroinflammation in vitro to study the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of the flavonoid chrysin and the involvement of nuclear factor-κB p65 and CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) β and δ transcription factors in its mechanism of action. We used primary cultures of mouse embryonic cortical neurons and cultures of BV2 (murine microglial cell line) or mouse primary microglia. We induced neuronal death in neuronal-BV2/microglial co-cultures using lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli and interferon-γ. Chrysin pre-treatment inhibited nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α production, as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in lipopolysaccharide E. coli and interferon-γ-treated microglial cells, but did not affect cyclooxygenase-2 expression. Chrysin pre-treatment also protected neurons against the neurotoxicity induced by reactive microglial cells. These effects were associated to a decrease in C/EBPδ protein level, mRNA expression, and DNA-binding activity, with no effect on C/EBPβ and p65 nuclear protein levels or DNA-binding activity, pointing out C/EBPδ as a possible mediator of chrysin effects. Consequently, C/EBPδ is a possible target to act against neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative processes.

Effects of Cigarette Smoke on the Activation of Oxidative Stress-Related Transcription Factors in Female A/J Mouse Lung

Cigarette smoke contains a high concentration of free radicals and induces oxidative stress in the lung and other tissues. Several transcription factors are known to be activated by oxidative stress, including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), activator protein-1 (AP-1), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). Studies were therefore undertaken to examine whether cigarette smoke could activate these transcription factors, as well as other transcription factors that may be important in lung carcinogenesis. Female A/J mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 42, or 56 d (6 hr/d, 5 d/wk). Cigarette smoke did not increase NF-κB activation at any of these times, but NF-κB DNA binding activity was lower after 15 d and 56 d of smoke exposure. The DNA binding activity of AP-1 was lower after 10 d and 56 d but was not changed after 42 d of smoke exposure. The DNA binding activity of HIF was quantitatively increased after 42 d of smoke exposure but decreased after 56 d. Whether the activation of other transcription factors in the lung could be altered after exposure to cigarette smoke was subsequently examined. The DNA binding activities of FoxF2, myc-CF1, RORE, and p53 were examined after 10 d of smoke exposure. The DNA binding activities of FoxF2 and p53 were quantitatively increased, but those of myc-CF1 and RORE were unaffected. These studies show that cigarette smoke exposure leads to quantitative increases in DNA binding activities of FoxF2 and p53, while the activations of NF-κB, AP-1, and HIF are largely unaffected or reduced.

Zinc modulates the innate immune response in vivo to polymicrobial sepsis through regulation of NF-κB

Zinc is an essential element that facilitates coordination of immune activation during the host response to infection. We recently reported that zinc deficiency increases systemic inflammation, vital organ damage, and mortality in a small animal model of sepsis. To investigate potential mechanisms that cause these phenomena, we used the same animal model and observed that zinc deficiency increases bacterial burden and enhances NF-kappaB activity in vital organs including the lung. We conducted further studies in the lung to determine the overall impact of zinc deficiency. At the molecular level, NF-kappaB p65 DNA-binding activity was enhanced by zinc deficiency in response to polymicrobial sepsis. Furthermore, expression of the NF-kappaB-targeted genes IL-1beta, TNFalpha, ICAM-1, and the acute phase response gene SAA1/2 were elevated by zinc deficiency. Unexpectedly, the amount of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA and protein was increased in the lung including alveolar epithelia of zinc-deficient mice. These events occurred with a significant and concomitant increase in caspase-3 activity within 24 h of sepsis onset in zinc-deficient mice relative to control group. Short-term zinc supplementation reversed these effects. Reconstitution of zinc deficiency in lung epithelial cultures resulted in similar findings in response to TNFalpha. Taken together, zinc deficiency systemically enhances the spread of infection and NF-kappaB activation in vivo in response to polymicrobial sepsis, leading to enhanced inflammation, lung injury, and, as reported previously, mortality. Zinc supplementation immediately before initiation of sepsis reversed these effects thereby supporting the plausibility of future studies that explore zinc supplementation strategies to prevent sepsis-mediated morbidity and mortality.

Characterization of Functional Domains Necessary for Mutant p53 Gain of Function

Tumor cells, including SW480 carcinoma cells that carry a mutant p53, are addicted to the mutant for their survival and resistance to growth suppression by chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we investigated whether various classes of p53 mutants share a common property and functional domains necessary for mutant p53 gain of function. To test this, we generated SW480 cell lines in which endogenous mutant R273H/P309S can be inducibly or stably knocked down, whereas a small interfering RNA-resistant mutant p53 along with a mutated functional domain can be inducibly or stably expressed. We found that both contact-site (R248W and R273H) and conformation (G245S and R249S) mutants are able to maintain the transformed phenotypes of SW480 cells conferred by endogenous mutant p53. We also found that activation domains 1-2 and the proline-rich domain are required for mutant p53 gain of function. Interestingly, we showed that the C-terminal basic domain, which is required for wild-type p53 activity, is an inhibitory domain for mutant p53. Furthermore, we showed that deletion of the basic domain enhances, whereas a mutation in activation domains 1-2 and deletion of the proline-rich domain abolish mutant p53 to regulate Gro1 and Id2, both of which are regulated by and mediate endogenous mutant p53 gain of function. These results indicate that both conformation and contact-site mutants share a property for cell transformation, and the domains critical for wild-type p53 tumor suppression are also required for mutant p53 tumor promotion. Thus, the inhibitory basic domain and the common property for p53 mutants can be explored for targeting tumors with mutant p53.

Abstract 5052: TGF-β activates NF-κB through a TAK1-dependent and Smad7-regulated mechanism in head and neck cancer

Abstract The TGF-β signaling pathway plays a dual role in epithelial malignancies. While attenuated function of TGF-β signaling enables the development of epithelial cancers, activation of alternative TGF-β signaling in established cancer promotes a more invasive and metastatic phenotype. While the loss of its tumor suppressor function may be due to a variety of defects in the TGF-β Smad-dependent signal transduction pathway, the mechanisms responsible for the pro-oncogenic effects are less well characterized. Since aberrant activation of transcription factor Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-κB) promotes the malignant phenotype in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), we examined whether TGF-β cross-activates NF-κB. Here, we show that TGFβ-1 treatment induced NF-κB activation and gene expression in HNSCC lines. TGFβ-1 and TNFα-induced NF-κB activation was mediated through TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), since knocking down of TAK1 using siRNA decreased both TGFβ-1 and TNFα induced NF-κB-dependent reporter gene activity. Furthermore, TAK1 knockdown decreased degradation of IκBα, the inhibitor of NF-κB, and promoted nuclear translocation of the transactivating NF-κB subunit p65 (RELA). Consequently, p65 DNA binding activity and transcription of NF-κB downstream genes was attenuated. As TGFβ-1 treatment of HNSCC cells with mutated TGF-β Receptor II (TβRII) did not affect NF-κB-dependent reporter gene expression, functional TβRII signaling was required for activation of TAK1. Transient transfection and expression of the inhibitor SMAD7 was able to attenuate NF-κB activation as shown by NF-κB-dependent reporter gene activity, however SMAD7 preferentially decreased TGFβ-1 over TNFα induced NF-κB activation. Conversely, knocking down of SMAD7 using siRNA increased TGFβ-1 induced NF-κB activation to a greater extent than that induced by TNFα. Furthermore, TGFβ-1 treatment increased SMAD7 mRNA and overexpression of SMAD7 nearly abrogated TGF-β-induced reporter gene activity, indicating SMAD7 provides a negative feedback loop preferentially suppressing canonical TGF-β signaling. Knockdown of the NF-κB subunit p65 using siRNA decreased SMAD7 mRNA, indicating that NF-κB activation further contributes to the expression and greater inhibitory effect of SMAD7 upon TGF-β signaling. In conclusion, we show that both TGFβ-1 and TNFα can induce NF-κB activation through TAK1. Although SMAD7 was able to attenuate this TAK1/NF-κB activation, the inhibitory effect on canonical TGF-β signaling was more potent, favoring increased NF-κB-mediated cell growth and survival signaling in HNSCC. This study helps explain the dual role of TGF-β signaling, which involves activation of NF-κB and suppression of canonical TGF-β signaling in HNSCC.(Supported by NIDCD intramural project ZIADC-000016) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5052.

Abstract 5041: Aspirin acetylates and activates p53 in HT-29 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells

Abstract Increasing evidences from human epidemiological studies, animal models and in vitro experiments suggest that regular use of aspirin may reduce the risk of cancer of the colon; however, the mechanisms are not well understood. Since aspirin's protective effect is mainly observed in epithelial cell types which are more resistant to chemotherapy, an urgent need exists to identify the primary targets and cancer preventive pathways affected by aspirin. We hypothesized that aspirin's anti-cancer effect may involve acetylation of the tumor suppressor protein p53 and modulation of target gene expression. In the present study, we demonstrate that exposure of HT-29 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells to aspirin caused acetylation of p53 at lysine 382 (K382). HT-29 cells harbor a mutant form of p53 (R273H), whereas HCT-116 contain wild type p53. Acetylated p53 was mainly localized to the nucleus. In both cell types aspirin induced acetylation of p53 in a concentration dependent manner, and this was associated with increased p53 DNA binding activity. Consistent with this, we also observed induction of p21, a protein involved in cell cycle arrest as well as Bax, a mitochondrial proapoptotic protein. Aspirin also caused acetylation of bacterially expressed recombinant p53 in vitro, suggesting that it is a non-enzymatic reaction. Our observation that aspirin acetylates p53 leading to induction of target gene expression suggest that its anti-cancer effect may involve activation of the p53 pathway. Since p53 is mutated in nearly 50% of all tumors which leads to loss of its function, our observation also suggests that aspirin may find use in chemotherapy to reactivate mutant p53. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5041.

SCH529074, a Small Molecule Activator of Mutant p53, Which Binds p53 DNA Binding Domain (DBD), Restores Growth-suppressive Function to Mutant p53 and Interrupts HDM2-mediated Ubiquitination of Wild Type p53

Abrogation of p53 function occurs in almost all human cancers, with more than 50% of cancers harboring inactivating mutations in p53 itself. Mutation of p53 is indicative of highly aggressive cancers and poor prognosis. The vast majority of mutations in p53 occur in its core DNA binding domain (DBD) and result in inactivation of p53 by reducing its thermodynamic stability at physiological temperature. Here, we report a small molecule, SCH529074, that binds specifically to the p53 DBD in a saturable manner with an affinity of 1-2 microm. Binding restores wild type function to many oncogenic mutant forms of p53. This small molecule reactivates mutant p53 by acting as a chaperone, in a manner similar to that previously reported for the peptide CDB3. Binding of SCH529074 to the p53 DBD is specifically displaced by an oligonucleotide with a sequence derived from the p53-response element. In addition to reactivating mutant p53, SCH529074 binding inhibits ubiquitination of p53 by HDM2. We have also developed a novel variant of p53 by changing a single amino acid in the core domain of p53 (N268R), which abolishes binding of SCH529074. This amino acid change also inhibits HDM2-mediated ubiquitination of p53. Our novel findings indicate that through its interaction with p53 DBD, SCH529074 restores DNA binding activity to mutant p53 and inhibits HDM2-mediated ubiquitination.