P27 Kip1 Research Articles

Histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid suppresses the pro-oncogenic effects induced by hepatitis B virus pre-S 2 mutant oncoprotein and represents a potential chemopreventive agent in high-risk chronic HBV patients

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pre-S(2) mutant large HBV surface antigen (LHBS) in type II ground glass hepatocytes (GGHs) has been recognized as an emerging viral oncoprotein; it directly interacts with the c-Jun activation domain-binding protein 1 (JAB1) and subsequently causes hyperphosphorylation of the tumor-suppressor retinoblastoma and, consequently, leads to disturbed cell cycle progression. The interaction of the pre-S(2) mutant LHBS with JAB1 could provide a potential target for chemoprevention. In this study, we found that the preneoplastic type II GGHs showed a significant decrease of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1), which serves as a marker for pre-S(2) mutant-JAB1 complex formation. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) elevated expression of the tumor-suppressor thioredoxin-binding protein 2 (TBP2), which subsequently enhanced the JAB1-TBP2 interaction and abolished the pre-S(2) mutant LHBS-induced degradation of p27(Kip1), which, in turn, recovered the normal cell cycle checkpoint. The pre-S(2) mutant LHBS-induced pro-oncogenic effects: increased cell proliferation, nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression, were all greatly ameliorated after SAHA treatments, which suggested SAHA as a promising chemopreventive agent for the pre-S(2) mutant oncoprotein-induced HCC. In conclusion, this study provides the mechanism of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor in preventing the pre-S(2) mutant-induced oncogenic phenotype. The HDAC inhibitor SAHA is therefore a potential chemopreventive agent for high-risk chronic HBV patients who may develop HCC.

Effector mechanisms of sunitinib-induced G1 cell cycle arrest, differentiation, and apoptosis in human acute myeloid leukaemia HL60 and KG-1 cells

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease with dismal outcome. Sunitinib is an orally active inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinase receptors approved for renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumour that has also been studied for AML in several clinical trials. However, the precise mechanism of sunitinib action against AML remains unclear and requires further investigation. For this purpose, this study was conducted using human AML cell lines (HL60 and KG-1) and AML patients' mononucleated cells. Sunitinib induced G1 phase arrest associated with decreased cyclin D1, cyclin D3, and cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk)2 and increased p27(Kip1), pRb1, and p130/Rb2 expression and phosphorylated activation of protein kinase C alpha and beta (PKCα/β). Selective PKCα/β inhibitor treatment abolished sunitinib-elicited AML differentiation, suggesting that PKCα/β may underlie sunitinib-induced monocytic differentiation. Furthermore, sunitinib increased pro-apoptotic molecule expression (Bax, Bak, PUMA, Fas, FasL, DR4, and DR5) and decreased anti-apoptotic molecule expression (Bcl-2 and Mcl-1), resulting in caspase-2, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 activation and both death receptor and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that sunitinib targets AML cells through both differentiation and apoptosis pathways. More clinical studies are urgently needed to demonstrate its optimal clinical applications in AML.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Suppresses Telomerase Expression and Human Cancer Growth through MicroRNA-498

Telomerase is an essential enzyme that counteracts the telomere attrition accompanying DNA replication during cell division. Regulation of the promoter activity of the gene encoding its catalytic subunit, the telomerase reverse transcriptase, is established as the dominant mechanism conferring the high telomerase activity in proliferating cells, such as embryonic stem and cancer cells. This study reveals a new mechanism of telomerase regulation through non-coding small RNA by showing that microRNA-498 (miR-498) induced by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) decreases the mRNA expression of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase. MiR-498 was first identified in a microarray analysis as the most induced microRNA by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) in ovarian cancer cells and subsequently validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays in multiple human cancer types. A functional vitamin D response element was defined in the 5-prime regulatory region of the miR-498 genome, which is occupied by the vitamin D receptor and its coactivators. Further studies showed that miR-498 targeted the 3-prime untranslated region of human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA and decreased its expression. The levels of miR-498 expression were decreased in malignant human ovarian tumors as well as human ovarian cancer cell lines. The ability of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) to decrease human telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA and to suppress ovarian cancer growth was compromised when miR-498 was depleted using the sponges in cell lines and mouse tumor models. Taken together, our studies define a novel mechanism of telomerase regulation by small non-coding RNAs and identify miR-498 as an important mediator for the anti-tumor activity of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3).

Therapeutic Targeting of the Cyclin D3:CDK4/6 Complex in T Cell Leukemia

D-type cyclins form complexes with cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK4/6) and promote cell cycle progression. Although cyclin D functions appear largely tissue specific, we demonstrate that cyclin D3 has unique functions in lymphocyte development and cannot be replaced by cyclin D2, which is also expressed during blood differentiation. We show that only combined deletion of p27(Kip1) and retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb) is sufficient to rescue the development of Ccnd3(-/-) thymocytes. Furthermore, we show that a small molecule targeting the kinase function of cyclin D3:CDK4/6 inhibits both cell cycle entry in human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and disease progression in animal models of T-ALL. These studies identify unique functions for cyclin D3:CDK4/6 complexes and suggest potential therapeutic protocols for this devastating blood tumor.

The placenta in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: genotype-phenotype associations, excessive extravillous trophoblast and placental mesenchymal dysplasia

Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) is a rare condition which is associated with the disparate fetal outcomes of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), fetal growth restriction or intrauterine and neonatal death. We aimed to investigate the potential epigenetic/genetic anomalies associated with PMD and their relationship with the different causes of BWS. Eight archival cases in which PMD, BWS or both were diagnosed were investigated by correlating morphology with p57 Kip2 expression, XY fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis and DNA genotyping. Placentae from BWS cases caused by aberrant IC2 methylation, leading to abnormal p57 Kip2 expression, did not show PMD but had a striking excess of extravillous trophoblast. PMD in the absence of BWS was caused by androgenetic/biparental mosaicism. The single case of BWS with PMD was due to mosaic uniparental disomy of 11p15.5. In the latter two aetiologies, our results indicate that the uniparental disomy is confined to the villous mesenchyme. These results suggest that the link between PMD and BWS is uniparental disomy of genes confined to the telomeric IC1 region of 11p15.5. A strong candidate gene is IGF2, a known growth factor of placental mesenchyme.

Preventive effects of branched-chain amino acid supplementation on the spontaneous development of hepatic preneoplastic lesions in C57BL/KsJ-db/db obese mice

Obesity and its associated disorders, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), which improve protein malnutrition in patients with liver cirrhosis, reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in these patients with obesity. In the present study, the effects of BCAA supplementation on the spontaneous development of hepatic premalignant lesions, foci of cellular alteration, in db/db obese mice were examined. Male db/db mice were given a basal diet containing 3.0% of either BCAA or casein, a nitrogen-content-matched control of BCAA, for 36 weeks. On killing the mice, supplementation with BCAA significantly inhibited the development of foci of cellular alteration when compared with casein supplementation by inhibiting cell proliferation, but inducing apoptosis. BCAA supplementation increased the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, p21(CIP1) and p27(KIP1) messenger RNA and decreased the levels of c-fos and cyclin D1 mRNA in the liver. BCAA supplementation also reduced both the amount of hepatic triglyceride accumulation and the expression of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA in the liver. Increased macrophage infiltration was inhibited and the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA in the white adipose tissue were each decreased by BCAA supplementation. BCAA supplementation also reduced adipocyte size while increasing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and adiponectin mRNA in the white adipose tissue compared with casein supplementation. These findings indicate that BCAA supplementation inhibits the early phase of obesity-related liver tumorigenesis by attenuating chronic inflammation in both the liver and white adipose tissue. BCAA supplementation may be useful in the chemoprevention of liver tumorigenesis in obese individuals.

P27Kip1 Is a Microtubule-Associated Protein that Promotes Microtubule Polymerization during Neuron Migration

The migration of cortical interneurons is characterized by extensive morphological changes that result from successive cycles of nucleokinesis and neurite branching. Their molecular bases remain elusive, and the present work describes how p27(Kip1) controls cell-cycle-unrelated signaling pathways to regulate these morphological remodelings. Live imaging reveals that interneurons lacking p27(Kip1) show delayed tangential migration resulting from defects in both nucleokinesis and dynamic branching of the leading process. At the molecular level, p27(Kip1) is a microtubule-associated protein that promotes polymerization of microtubules in extending neurites, thereby contributing to tangential migration. Furthermore, we show that p27(Kip1) controls actomyosin contractions that drive both forward translocation of the nucleus and growth cone splitting. Thus, p27(Kip1) cell-autonomously controls nucleokinesis and neurite branching by regulating both actin and microtubule cytoskeletons.

Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

The homeodomain and adjacent CVC domain in the visual system homeobox (VSX) proteins are conserved from nematodes to humans. Humans with missense mutations in these regions of VSX2 have microphthalmia, suggesting both regions are critical for function. To assess this, we generated the corresponding mutations in mouse Vsx2. The homeodomain mutant protein lacked DNA binding activity and the knock-in mutant phenocopied the null mutant, ocular retardation J. The CVC mutant protein exhibited weakened DNA binding; and, although the corresponding knock-in allele was recessive, it unexpectedly caused the strongest phenotype, as indicated by severe microphthalmia and hyperpigmentation of the neural retina. This occurred through a cryptic transcriptional feedback loop involving the transcription factors Mitf and Otx1 and the Cdk inhibitor p27Kip1. Our data suggest that the phenotypic severity of the CVC mutant depends on the weakened DNA binding activity elicited by the CVC mutation and a previously unknown protein interaction between Vsx2 and its regulatory target Mitf. Our data also suggest that an essential function of the CVC domain is to assist the homeodomain in high-affinity DNA binding, which is required for eye organogenesis and unhindered execution of the retinal progenitor program in mammals. Finally, the genetic and phenotypic behaviors of the CVC mutation suggest it has the characteristics of a recessive neomorph, a rare type of genetic allele.

Early mitotic inhibitor-1, an anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome inhibitor, can control tumor cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with Skp2 stability and degradation of p27Kip1

Early mitotic inhibitor-1 (Emi1) is a key cell-cycle regulator that promotes S-phase and M-phase entry by inhibiting anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) activity. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed in 114 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples, and the data were correlated with clinicopathologic features. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed to determine the prognostic significance of the proteins. Expression of Emi1 correlated directly with the stage of HCC. More importantly, high expression of Emi1 was associated with a poor outcome. Western blot analysis showed that Emi1 was highly expressed in HCC compared with the adjacent noncancerous tissue. In vitro, after the release of HCC cell lines from serum starvation, the expression of Emi1 APC/C substrates (cyclins A, B) and Skp2 was up-regulated, whereas p27(Kip1) was down-regulated. In addition, we used small interfering RNA to knock out Emi1 expression and observed its effects on HCC growth in vitro to determine whether loss of Emi1 could inhibit cell proliferation by blocking S-phase and mitotic entry. Western blot analyses indicated that deletion of Emi1 was positively correlated with APC/C substrates (cyclins A, B) and Skp2 but was negatively correlated with p27(Kip1). Emi1 inhibits APC/C activity, whereas Skp2 degradation is mediated by APC/C, and degradation of Skp2 can stabilize p27(kip1). These results suggested that Emi1 participates in HCC cell proliferation and that progression is controlled by APC/C inhibition, which stabilized Skp2 and enabled p27(kip1) degradation. These findings provide a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC.

Global Identification of New Substrates for the Yeast Endoribonuclease, RNase Mitochondrial RNA Processing (MRP)

RNase mitochondrial RNA processing (MRP) is an essential, evolutionarily conserved endoribonuclease composed of 10 different protein subunits and a single RNA. RNase MRP has established roles in multiple pathways including ribosome biogenesis, cell cycle regulation, and mitochondrial DNA replication. Although each of these functions is important to cell growth, additional functions may exist given the essential nature of the complex. To identify novel RNase MRP substrates, we utilized RNA immunoprecipitation and microarray chip analysis to identify RNA that physically associates with RNase MRP. We identified several new potential substrates for RNase MRP including a cell cycle-regulated transcript, CTS1; the yeast homolog of the mammalian p27(Kip1), SIC1; and the U2 RNA component of the spliceosome. In addition, we found RNase MRP to be involved in the regulation of the Ty1 transposon RNA. These results reinforce and broaden the role of RNase MRP in cell cycle regulation and help to identify new roles of this endoribonuclease.

Oncogenic Role of Skp2 and p27Kip1 in Intraductal Proliferative Lesions of the Breast

To investigate whether the connection of p27(Kip1) to S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) plays an oncogenic role in intraductal proliferative lesions of the breast. Here we investigated the mechanism involved in association of Skp2’s degradation of p27(Kip1) with the breast carcinogenesis by immunohistochemical method through detection of Skp2 and p27(Kip1) protein levels in 120 paraffin-embedded tissues of intraductal proliferative lesions including usual ductal hyperplasia (UDH, n=30), atypical ductal hyperplasia (n=30), flat epithelial atypia (FEA, n=30), and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS, n=30). Moreover, the expression status of Skp2 and p27(Kip1) in 30 cases of the normal breast paraffin-embedded tissues were explored. The DCIS group was with the highest Skp2 level and the lowest p27(Kip1) level, and the UDH group was with the lowest Skp2 level and the highest p27(Kip1) level.Both Skp2 and p27(Kip1) levels in the DCIS group were significantly different from those in the UDH group (all P<0.01).The levels of Skp2 and p27(Kip1) in the FEA group were significantly different from both the DCIS and UDH groups (all P<0.05).p27(Kip1) was negatively correlated with Skp2 in both the UDH group (r=-0.629, P=0.026) and DCIS group (r=-0.893, P=0.000). Overexpression of Skp2 might be the mechanism underlying p27(Kip1) over degradation.

Androgen deprivation induces senescence characteristics in prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

The treatment of non-localized prostate cancer involves androgen deprivation (AD) therapy which results in tumor regression. Apoptosis has been implicated in the tumor response to AD, but constitutes a small fraction of the total tumor at any time. Cellular senescence is a response to sub-lethal stress in which cells are persistently growth arrested and develop distinct morphological and biochemical characteristics. The occurrence of senescence in prostate tumor tissue after AD therapy has not previously been investigated. Phenotypic and molecular characteristics of senescence were examined in models of androgen-sensitive prostate cancer after AD and compared with androgen-intact controls. In vitro in LNCaP cells, AD induced elevated senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining, decreased proliferation, and increased flow cytometric side scatter while minimally affecting cell viability. The increased expression of the senescence-related proteins Glb1, the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1) and chromatin-regulating heterochromatin protein 1γ (HP1γ) were detected in LNCaP cells after AD in vitro by immunoblot and immunofluorescence microscopy. In mice bearing LuCaP xenograft tumors in vivo, surgical castration similarly increased SA-β-gal staining, increased expression of p27(Kip1) and HP1γ, and decreased expression of the proliferation marker KI-67, with minimal induction of apoptosis identified by detection of cleaved caspase 3 and TUNEL. Immunohistochemical analysis of human prostate tumors removed after AD shows similar induction of Glb1, HP1γ and decreased KI-67. We conclude that AD induces characteristics consistent with cellular senescence in androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells. This finding may explain incomplete tumor regression in response to AD.

Regulation of p27Kip1 by Sox2 Maintains Quiescence of Inner Pillar Cells in the Murine Auditory Sensory Epithelium

Sox2 plays critical roles in cell fate specification during development and in stem cell formation; however, its role in postmitotic cells is largely unknown. Sox2 is highly expressed in supporting cells (SCs) of the postnatal mammalian auditory sensory epithelium, which unlike non-mammalian vertebrates remains quiescent even after sensory hair cell damage. Here, we induced the ablation of Sox2, specifically in SCs at three different postnatal ages (neonatal, juvenile and adult) in mice. In neonatal mice, Sox2-null inner pillar cells (IPCs, a subtype of SCs) proliferated and generated daughter cells, while other SC subtypes remained quiescent. Furthermore, p27(Kip1), a cell cycle inhibitor, was absent in Sox2-null IPCs. Similarly, upon direct deletion of p27(Kip1), p27(Kip1)-null IPCs also proliferated but retained Sox2 expression. Interestingly, cell cycle control of IPCs by Sox2-mediated expression of p27(Kip1) gradually declined with age. In addition, deletion of Sox2 or p27(Kip1) did not cause a cell fate change. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation with Sox2 antibodies and luciferase reporter assays with the p27(Kip1) promoter support that Sox2 directly activates p27(Kip1) transcription in postmitotic IPCs. Hence, in contrast to the well known activity of Sox2 in promoting proliferation and cell fate determination, our data demonstrate that Sox2 plays a novel role as a key upstream regulator of p27(Kip1) to maintain the quiescent state of postmitotic IPCs. Our studies suggest that manipulating Sox2 or p27(Kip1) expression is an effective approach to inducing proliferation of neonatal auditory IPCs, an initial but necessary step toward restoring hearing in mammals.

Melatonin MT1 receptor‐induced transcriptional up‐regulation of p27Kip1 in prostate cancer antiproliferation is mediated via inhibition of constitutively active nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB): potential implications on prostate cancer chemoprevention and therapy

Our laboratory has recently demonstrated a melatonin MT1 receptor-mediated antiproliferative signaling mechanism in androgen receptor (AR)-positive prostate epithelial cells which involves up-regulation of p27(Kip1) through dual activation of Gα(s)/protein kinase A (PKA) and Gα(q)/protein kinase C (PKC) in parallel, and down-regulation of activated AR signaling via PKC stimulation. The aim of the present investigation was to identify the transcription factor that mediates melatonin's up-regulatory effect on p27(Kip1) in LNCaP and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cells. Deletion mapping and reporter assays of the p27(Kip1) promoter revealed that the putative melatonin-responsive transcription factor binds to a 116 base-pair region of the promoter sequence, which contains a potential nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) binding site. When the NF-κB binding site was abolished by site-directed mutagenesis, the stimulatory effect of melatonin on p27(Kip1) promoter activity was mitigated. Notably, melatonin inhibited the DNA binding of activated NF-κB via MT1 receptor-induced PKA and PKC stimulation. Furthermore, melatonin's up-regulatory effect on p27(Kip1) transcription and consequent cell antiproliferation were abrogated by NF-κB activator but mimicked by NF-κB inhibitor. The results indicate that inhibition of constitutively active NF-κB via melatonin MT1 receptor-induced dual activation of (Gα(s)) PKA and (Gα(q)) PKC can de-repress the p27(Kip1) promoter leading to transcriptional up-regulation of p27(Kip1). MT1 receptor-mediated inhibition of activated NF-κB signaling provides a novel mechanism supporting the use of melatonin in prostate cancer chemoprevention and therapy.

Decreased Skp2 Expression Is Necessary but Not Sufficient for Therapy-Induced Senescence in Prostate Cancer

Therapy-induced senescence (TIS), a cytostatic stress response in cancer cells, is induced inefficiently by current anticancer agents and radiation. The mechanisms that mediate TIS in cancer cells are not well defined. Herein, we characterize a robust senescence response both in vitro and in vivo to the quinone diaziquone (AZQ), previously identified in a high-throughput senescence-induction small-molecule screen. Using AZQ and several other agents that induce senescence, we screened a series of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and found that p27(Kip1) was induced in all investigated prostate cancer cell lines. The ubiquitin-ligase Skp2 negatively regulates p27(Kip1) and, during TIS, is translocated to the cytoplasm before its expression is decreased in senescent cells. Overexpression of Skp2 blocks the effects of AZQ on senescence and p27(Kip1) induction. We also find that stable long-term short hairpin RNA knockdown of Skp2 decreases proliferation but does not generate the complete senescence phenotype. We conclude that Skp2 participates in regulating TIS but, alone, is insufficient to induce senescence in cancer cells.

Promotion effect of acankoreoside J, a lupane-triterpene in Acanthopanax koreanum, on hair growth

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Acanthopanax koreanum and acankoreoside J from A. koreanum on the promotion of hair growth. When immortalized rat vibrissa dermal papilla cells were treated with extract of A. koreanum leaves, the proliferation of dermal papilla cells significantly increased. In particular, acankoreoside J among several components, isolated from A. koreanum leaves, markedly promoted the proliferation of the dermal papilla cells. When rat vibrissa follicles were treated with an acankoreoside J, the hair-fiber lengths of the vibrissa follicles increased significantly. We further investigated β-catenin pathway and cell cycle regulation with respect to the effect of acankoreoside J on the proliferation of the dermal papilla cells. Treatment with acankoreoside J results in an increase of nuclear β-catenin level, and up-regulation of cyclin D1, cyclin E and CDK2, whereas, the expression of p27(kip1) was down-regulated in the dermal papilla cells. Taken together, these results suggest that acankoreoside J, a lupane-triterpene of A. koreanum, has the potential of promoting hair growth by promoting cell cycle progression of the dermal papilla cells, through the increase of nuclear β-catenin, along with the up-regulation of cyclin D1, cyclin E and CDK2, and down-regulation of p27(kip1).

STAT3 Protein Interacts with Class O Forkhead Transcription Factors in the Cytoplasm and Regulates Nuclear/Cytoplasmic Localization of FoxO1 and FoxO3a Proteins in CD4+ T Cells

An important feature of the adaptive immune response is its remarkable capacity to regulate the duration of inflammatory responses, and effector T cells have been shown to limit excessive immune responses by producing anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and IL-27. However, how anti-inflammatory cytokines mediate their suppressive activities is not well understood. In this study, we show that STAT3 contributes to mechanisms that control the duration of T cell proliferation by regulating the subcellular location of FoxO1 and FoxO3a, two Class O Forkhead transcription factors that mediate lymphocyte quiescence and inhibit T cell activation. We show that active FoxO1 and FoxO3a reside exclusively in the nucleus of naïve T cells whereas inactive pFoxO1 and pFoxO3a were most abundant in activated T cells and sequestered in their cytoplasm in association with unphosphorylated STAT3 (U-STAT3) and 14-3-3. We further show that FoxO1/FoxO3a rapidly relocalized into the nucleus in response to pSTAT3 activation by IL-6 or IL-10, and the accumulation of FoxO1/FoxO3a in their nuclei coincided with increased expression of p27(Kip1) and p21(WAF1). STAT3 inhibitors completely abrogated cytokine-induced translocation of FoxO1/FoxO3a into the nucleus. In naïve or resting STAT3-deficient T cells, expression of pFoxO1/pFoxO3a was predominantly in the cytoplasm and correlated with defects in p27(Kip1) and p21(WAF1) expression, suggesting requirement of STAT3 for importation or retention of FoxO in the nucleus and attenuation of lymphocyte proliferation. Taken together, these results suggest that U-STAT3 collaborates with 14-3-3 to sequester pFoxO1/pFoxO3a in cytoplasm and thus prolong T cell activation, whereas pSTAT3 activation by anti-inflammatory cytokines would curtail the duration of TCR activation and re-establish lymphocyte quiescence by inducing nuclear localization of FoxO1/FoxO3a and FoxO-mediated expression of growth-inhibitory proteins.

Estradiol Partially Recapitulates Murine Pituitary Cell Cycle Response to Pregnancy

Because pregnancy and estrogens both induce pituitary lactotroph hyperplasia, we assessed the expression of pituitary cell cycle regulators in two models of murine pituitary hyperplasia. Female mice were assessed during nonpregnancy, pregnancy, day of delivery, and postpartum. We also implanted estradiol (E(2)) pellets in female mice and studied them for 2.5 months. Pituitary weight in female mice increased 2-fold after E(2) administration and 1.4-fold at day of delivery, compared with placebo-treated or nonpregnant females. Pituitary proliferation, as assessed by proliferating cell nuclear antigen and/or Ki-67 staining, increased dramatically during both mid-late pregnancy and E(2) administration, and lactotroph hyperplasia was also observed. Pregnancy induced pituitary cell cycle proliferative and inhibitory responses at the G(1)/S checkpoint. Differential cell cycle regulator expression included cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, p21(Cip1), p27(Kip1), and cyclin D1. Pituitary cell cycle responses to E(2) administration partially recapitulated those effects observed at mid-late pregnancy, coincident with elevated circulating mouse E(2), including increased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-67, p15(INK4b), and p21(Cip1). Nuclear localization of pituitary p21(Cip1) was demonstrated at mid-late pregnancy but not during E(2) administration, suggesting a cell cycle inhibitory role for p21(Cip1) in pregnancy, yet a possible proproliferative role during E(2) administration. Most observed cell cycle protein alterations were reversed postpartum. Murine pituitary meets the demand for prolactin during lactation associated with induction of both cell proliferative and inhibitory pathways, mediated, at least partially, by estradiol.

Targeted Silencing of Elongation Factor 2 Kinase Suppresses Growth and Sensitizes Tumors to Doxorubicin in an Orthotopic Model of Breast Cancer

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF-2K), through its phosphorylation of elongation factor 2 (eEF2), provides a mechanism by which cells can control the rate of the elongation phase of protein synthesis. The activity of eEF-2K is increased in rapidly proliferating malignant cells, is inhibited during mitosis, and may contribute to the promotion of autophagy in response to anti-cancer therapies. The purpose of this study was to examine the therapeutic potential of targeting eEF-2K in breast cancer tumors. Through the systemic administration of liposomal eEF-2K siRNA (twice a week, i.v. 150 µg/kg), the expression of eEF-2K was down-regulated in vivo in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of a highly aggressive triple negative MDA-MB-231 tumor. This targeting resulted in a substantial decrease in eEF2 phosphorylation in the tumors, and led to the inhibition of tumor growth, the induction of apoptosis and the sensitization of tumors to the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin. eEF-2K down-modulation in vitro resulted in a decrease in the expression of c-Myc and cyclin D1 with a concomitant increase in the expression of p27Kip1. A decrease in the basal activity of c-Src (phospho-Tyr-416), focal adhesion kinase (phospho-Tyr-397), and Akt (phospho-Ser-473) was also detected following eEF-2K down-regulation in MDA-MB-231 cells, as determined by Western blotting. Where tested, similar results were seen in ER-positive MCF-7 cells. These effects were also accompanied by a decrease in the observed invasive phenotype of the MDA-MB-231 cells. These data support the notion that the disruption of eEF-2K expression in breast cancer cells results in the down-regulation of signaling pathways affecting growth, survival and resistance and has potential as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of breast cancer.

ZIC1 modulates cell-cycle distributions and cell migration through regulation of sonic hedgehog, PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways in gastric cancer

BackgroundZIC1, a vital transcription factor with zinc finger domains, has been implicated in the process of neural development. We previously showed that ZIC1 may function as a tumour suppressor in gastrointestinal cancers. However, the molecular mechanism underlying ZIC1 participation in tumour progression remains unknown.MethodsThe role of ZIC1 on cell proliferation and migration was examined. The regulation of sonic hedgehog (Shh), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways after ectopic expression of ZIC1 in gastric cancer cells were evaluated.ResultsOverexpression of ZIC1 contributes to the inhibition of cell proliferation migration and cell-cycle distribution in gastric cancer. The modulation of G1/S checkpoint by ZIC1 is mainly mediated through the regulation of cyclin-dependent kinases (p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1 and cyclin D1). In addition, ZIC1 can inactivate the level of phospholated Akt and Erk1/2, and transcriptionally regulate sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling, thus leading to regulate the expression of p21 Waf1/Cip1 and cyclin D1. Finally, we have systemically identified ZIC1 downstream targets by cDNA microarray analysis and revealed that 132 genes are down-regulated and 66 genes are up-regulated after transfection with ZIC1 in gastric cancer cells. These candidate genes play critical roles in cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell motility.ConclusionsOverexpression of ZIC1 results in inactivation of Shh, PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways, as well as regulation of multiple downstream targets which are essential for the development and progression of gastric cancer. ZIC1 serves as a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.