Activation of the human p27(Kip1) promoter by IFNalpha 2b

FoxO3a nuclear localization and its association with β-catenin and Smads in IFN-α-treated hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines

Interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) reduces proliferation and increases apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by decreasing β-catenin/TCF4/Smads interaction. Forkhead box O-class 3a (FoxO3a) participates in proliferation and apoptosis and interacts with β-catenin and Smads. FoxO3a is inhibited by Akt, IκB kinase β (IKKβ), and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (Erk), which promote FoxO3a sequestration in the cytosol, and accumulates in the nucleus upon phosphorylation by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated kinase (p38 MAPK). We analyzed FoxO3a subcellular localization, the participating kinases, FoxO3a/β-catenin/Smads association, and FoxO3a target gene expression in IFN-α2b-stimulated HepG2/C3A and Huh7 cells. Total FoxO3a and Akt-phosphorylated FoxO3a levels decreased in the cytosol, whereas total FoxO3a levels increased in the nucleus upon IFN-α2b stimulus. IFN-α2b reduced Akt, IKKβ, and Erk activation, and increased JNK and p38 MAPK activation. p38 MAPK inhibition blocked IFN-α2b-induced FoxO3a nuclear localization. IFN-α2b enhanced FoxO3a association with β-catenin and Smad2/3/7. Two-step coimmunoprecipitation experiments suggest that these proteins coexist in the same complex. The expression of several FoxO3a target genes increased with IFN-α2b. FoxO3a knockdown prevented the induction of these genes, suggesting that FoxO3a acts as mediator of IFN-α2b action. Results suggest a β-catenin/Smads switch from TCF4 to FoxO3a. Such events would contribute to the IFN-α2b-mediated effects on cellular proliferation and apoptosis. These results demonstrate new mechanisms for IFN-α action, showing the importance of its application in antitumorigenic therapies.

Pegylated IFN-α sensitizes melanoma cells to chemotherapy and causes premature senescence in endothelial cells by IRF-1 mediated signaling

Pegylated interferon-α2b (pIFN-α) is an integral part of the drug regimen currently employed against melanoma. Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) has an important role in the transcriptional regulation of the IFN response, cell cycle and apoptosis. We have studied pIFN-α-induced responses when combined with the chemotherapy agent, vinblastine (VBL), in tumor and endothelial cell lines and the connection to IRF-1 signaling. Levels of IRF-1/IRF-2 protein expression were found to be decreased in tumor versus normal tissues. pIFN-α induced IRF-1 signaling in human melanoma (M14) and endothelial (EA.hy926) cells and enhanced cell death when combined with VBL. Upon combined IFN-α and VBL treatment, p21 expression, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and activated Bak levels were increased in M14 cells. An increase in p21 and cyclin D1 expression occurred in EA.hy926 cells after 6 h of treatment with pIFN-α, which dissipated by 24 h. This biphasic response, characteristic of cellular senescence, was more pronounced upon combined treatment. Exposure of the EA.hy926 cells to pIFN-α was associated with an enlarged, multinucleated, β-galactosidase-positive senescent phenotype. The overall therapeutic mechanism of IFN-α combined with chemotherapy may be due to both direct tumor cell death via IRF-1 signaling and by premature senescence of endothelial cells and subsequent effects on angiogenesis in the tumor microenvironment.

The Role of Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 (IRF1) in Overcoming Antiestrogen Resistance in the Treatment of Breast Cancer

Resistance to endocrine therapy is common among breast cancer patients with estrogen receptor alpha-positive (ER+) tumors and limits the success of this therapeutic strategy. While the mechanisms that regulate endocrine responsiveness and cell fate are not fully understood, interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF1) is strongly implicated as a key regulatory node in the underlying signaling network. IRF1 is a tumor suppressor that mediates cell fate by facilitating apoptosis and can do so with or without functional p53. Expression of IRF1 is downregulated in endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells, protecting these cells from IRF1-induced inhibition of proliferation and/or induction of cell death. Nonetheless, when IRF1 expression is induced following IFNγ treatment, antiestrogen sensitivity is restored by a process that includes the inhibition of prosurvival BCL2 family members and caspase activation. These data suggest that a combination of endocrine therapy and compounds that effectively induce IRF1 expression may be useful for the treatment of many ER+ breast cancers. By understanding IRF1 signaling in the context of endocrine responsiveness, we may be able to develop novel therapeutic strategies and better predict how patients will respond to endocrine therapy.

IFNgamma restores breast cancer sensitivity to fulvestrant by regulating STAT1, IFN regulatory factor 1, NF-kappaB, BCL2 family members, and signaling to caspase-dependent apoptosis

Antiestrogens are effective therapies for the management of many estrogen receptor-alpha (ER)-positive breast cancers. Nonetheless, both de novo and acquired resistance occur and remain major problems in the clinical setting. IFNgamma is an inflammatory cytokine that induces the expression and function of IFN regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), a tumor suppressor gene that can increase antiestrogen responsiveness. We show that IFNgamma, but not IFNalpha, IFNbeta, or fulvestrant (ICI; ICI 182,780; Faslodex), induces IRF1 expression in antiestrogen-resistant MCF7/LCC9 and LY2 cells. Moreover, IFNgamma restores the responsiveness of these cells to fulvestrant. Increased IRF1 activation suppresses NF-kappaB p65 (RELA) activity, inhibits the expression of prosurvival (BCL2, BCL-W), and induces the expression of proapoptotic members (BAK, mitochondrial BAX) of the BCL2 family. This molecular signaling is associated with the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 and leads to increased mitochondrial membrane permeability; activation of caspase-7 (CASP7), CASP8, and CASP9; and induction of apoptosis but not autophagy. Whereas antiestrogen-resistant cells are capable of inducing autophagy through IFN-mediated signaling, their ability to do so through antiestrogen-regulated signaling is lost. The abilities of IFNgamma to activate CASP8, induce apoptosis, and restore antiestrogen sensitivity are prevented by siRNA targeting IRF1, whereas transient overexpression of IRF1 mimics the effects of IFNgamma treatment. These observations support the exploration of clinical trials combining antiestrogens and compounds that can induce IRF1, such as IFNgamma, for the treatment of some ER-positive breast cancers.

Gene network signaling in hormone responsiveness modifies apoptosis and autophagy in breast cancer cells

Resistance to endocrine therapies, whether de novo or acquired, remains a major limitation in the ability to cure many tumors that express detectable levels of the estrogen receptor alpha protein (ER). While several resistance phenotypes have been described, endocrine unresponsiveness in the context of therapy-induced tumor growth appears to be the most prevalent. The signaling that regulates endocrine resistant phenotypes is poorly understood but it involves a complex signaling network with a topology that includes redundant and degenerative features. To be relevant to clinical outcomes, the most pertinent features of this network are those that ultimately affect the endocrine-regulated components of the cell fate and cell proliferation machineries. We show that autophagy, as supported by the endocrine regulation of monodansylcadaverine staining, increased LC3 cleavage, and reduced expression of p62/SQSTM1, plays an important role in breast cancer cells responding to endocrine therapy. We further show that the cell fate machinery includes both apoptotic and autophagic functions that are potentially regulated through integrated signaling that flows through key members of the BCL2 gene family and beclin-1 (BECN1). This signaling links cellular functions in mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, the latter as a consequence of induction of the unfolded protein response. We have taken a seed-gene approach to begin extracting critical nodes and edges that represent central signaling events in the endocrine regulation of apoptosis and autophagy. Three seed nodes were identified from global gene or protein expression analyses and supported by subsequent functional studies that established their abilities to affect cell fate. The seed nodes of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB), interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF1), and X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1)are linked by directional edges that support signal flow through a preliminary network that is grown to include key regulators of their individual function: NEMO/IKKgamma, nucleophosmin and ER respectively. Signaling proceeds through BCL2 gene family members and BECN1 ultimately to regulate cell fate.

Single-stranded RNA viruses inactivate the transcriptional activity of p53 but induce NOXA-dependent apoptosis via post-translational modifications of IRF-1, IRF-3 and CREB

To characterize the mechanisms underlying apoptosis induced by viral infection, transcriptional activation of genes encoding members of the 'BH3-only' family of proteins was analysed during the course of virus infection. Among these genes, only NOXA is transcriptionally activated by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), sendai virus (SV), measles virus, herpes simplex virus, or dsRNA and required for efficient apoptosis of cells. Transcriptional activation of NOXA by VSV or SV is independent of p53, but requires the presence of interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), IRF-3 and cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB). Binding to and transactivation of the NOXA promoter by each of these transcription factors is governed by post-translational modification involving different pathways for each factor. Thus, SV infection activates IRF-3 and CREB by phosphorylation triggered by Toll like receptor 3 signalling, and a pathway involving calcium-independent phopholipase A2, respectively. In addition transactivation induced by IRF-1 during viral infection correlates with a 10 kDa increase in its molecular weight, suggesting a covalent linkage with a previously unknown regulatory polypeptide.

Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) exhibits tumor suppressor activities in breast cancer associated with caspase activation and induction of apoptosis

We have directly assessed the ability of interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) to act as a tumor suppressor gene in human breast cancer cells and explored whether this suppressor function is mechanistically conferred by affecting cell cycle transition, apoptosis and/or caspase activation. We have used a dual approach, measuring whether overexpression of wild-type IRF-1 or a dominant negative IRF-1 (dnIRF-1) produce opposing effects on breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro or tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. Mechanistic studies determined the effects of blocking endogenous IRF-1 expression on cell cycle transition by flow cytometry, on apoptosis by Annexin V staining, and on caspase activation by fluorescent substrate cleavage. IRF-1 mRNA (P < or = 0.001) and protein (P < or = 0.001) are highly expressed in non-tumorigenic, normal, mammary epithelial cells, with intermediate expression in tumorigenic, but non-metastatic, cells and very low expression in metastatic cell lines. In MCF-7 cells transfected with a wild-type IRF-1 (MCF-7/IRF-1), IRF-1 mRNA expression inversely correlates with the rate of cell proliferation (r = -0.91; P = 0.002). Conversely, expression of dnIRF-1 in both MCF-7 (MCF-7/dnIRF-1; p53 wild-type) and T47D cells (T47D/dnIRF-1; p53 mutant) increases cell proliferation (P < or = 0.001). In athymic nude mice, the incidence of MCF-7/IRF-1 xenografts is reduced (P = 0.045), whereas MCF-7/dnIRF-1 xenografts exhibit a significantly higher tumor incidence (P < or = 0.001). Effects of IRF-1/dnIRF-1 are mediated through changes in the rates of apoptosis and not through cell cycle regulation. MCF-7/dnIRF-1 cells exhibit a 50% decrease in basal apoptosis (P = 0.007) and a significant reduction in caspase 8 activity (P = 0.03); similar effects occur in T47D/dnIRF-1 cells, where the effects on apoptosis appear to be mediated through inhibition of caspases 3/7 (P < 0.001) and caspase 8 (P = 0.03). These data establish a functional role for IRF-1 in the growth suppression of breast cancer cells and strongly implicate IRF-1 as a tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer that acts, independent of p53, to control apoptosis.

interferon regulatory factor-1 mediates the proapoptotic but not cell cycle arrest effects of the steroidal antiestrogen ICI 182,780 (faslodex, fulvestrant)

Antiestrogens induce both cytostasis (cell cycle arrest) and apoptosis, but the relationship between these end points and the signaling that regulates their induction are unclear. We have previously implicated the transcription factor and putative tumor suppressor IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) in acquired antiestrogen resistance (Gu et al., Cancer Res, 62: 3428-3437, 2002). We now show the functional significance of IRF-1 in affecting antiestrogen responsiveness in estrogen receptor-positive antiestrogen-sensitive models (MCF-7, T47D, and ZR-75-1), a model of acquired antiestrogen resistance (MCF7/LCC9; estrogen receptor positive), and a model of de novo antiestrogen resistance (MDA-MB-231; estrogen receptor negative). Basal IRF-1 mRNA expression is lower in MCF7/LCC9 cells when compared with MCF-7, T47D, and ZR-75-1 cells. IRF-1 transcriptional activity in MCF-7/LCC9 cells is 18-fold lower than that seen in the parental cells (MCF-7/LCC1) and is comparable with that in MDA-MB-231 cells. Although IRF-1 mRNA expression is induced by ICI 182,780 in sensitive cells, this regulation is lost in MCF-7/LCC9 and is absent in MDA-MB-231 cells. Loss of IRF-1 regulation appears specific to antiestrogen resistance-resistant cells induce IRF-1 mRNA in response to the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin. A dominant-negative IRF-1 eliminates the ICI 182,780-induced apoptotic response (reduced >4-fold) and reduces MCF-7 and T47D cell sensitivity to the antiproliferative effects of ICI 182,780. This effect is not mediated by changes in cell cycle distribution; rather, dominant-negative IRF-1 reduces ICI 182,780-induced apoptosis. These data identify a novel mechanism of antiestrogen resistance and implicate IRF-1 as a key component in signaling some ER-mediated effects on apoptosis/cell survival.

Antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer and the role of estrogen receptor signaling

Antiestrogens include agents such as tamoxifen, toremifene, raloxifene, and fulvestrant. Currently, tamoxifen is the only drug approved for use in breast cancer chemoprevention, and it remains the treatment of choice for most women with hormone receptor positive, invasive breast carcinoma. While antiestrogens have been available since the early 1970s, we still do not fully understand their mechanisms of action and resistance. Essentially, two forms of antiestrogen resistance occur: de novo resistance and acquired resistance. Absence of estrogen receptor (ER) expression is the most common de novo resistance mechanism, whereas a complete loss of ER expression is not common in acquired resistance. Antiestrogen unresponsiveness appears to be the major acquired resistance phenotype, with a switch to an antiestrogen-stimulated growth being a minor phenotype. Since antiestrogens compete with estrogens for binding to ER, clinical response to antiestrogens may be affected by exogenous estrogenic exposures. Such exposures include estrogenic hormone replacement therapies and dietary and environmental exposures that directly or indirectly increase a tumor's estrogenic environment. Whether antiestrogen resistance can be conferred by a switch from predominantly ERalpha to ERbeta expression remains unanswered, but predicting response to antiestrogen therapy requires only measurement of ERalpha expression. The role of altered receptor coactivator or corepressor expression in antiestrogen resistance also is unclear, and understanding their roles may be confounded by their ubiquitous expression and functional redundancy. We have proposed a gene network approach to exploring the mechanistic aspects of antiestrogen resistance. Using transcriptome and proteome analyses, we have begun to identify candidate genes that comprise one component of a larger, putative gene network. These candidate genes include NFkappaB, interferon regulatory factor-1, nucleophosmin, and the X-box binding protein-1. The network also may involve signaling through ras and MAPK, implicating crosstalk with growth factors and cytokines. Ultimately, signaling affects the expression/function of the proliferation and/or apoptotic machineries.

Expression modes of interferon-α inducible genes in sensitive and resistant human melanoma cells stimulated with regular and pegylated interferon-α

Interferon-alpha with its antiproliferative activity is widely used for the treatment of viral infections and tumor therapy such as melanoma. Naturally occurring resistance to recombinant interferon alpha-2a (IFN-alpha) and severe side effects limit the therapeutic efficacy. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in unresponsiveness may therefore lead to the development of novel formulations that overcome resistance. Here, we have applied oligonucleotide DNA microarrays with probe sets for about 11,400 human transcripts to study the expression of interferon-alpha inducible genes in a sensitive and resistant melanoma cell line over multiple time points and two interferon formulations. We identified two major groups of genes with termed interferon primary response genes (IPRGs) or interferon secondary response genes (ISRGs). IPRGs are upregulated early after interferon stimulation in both the sensitive and the resistant line and they contain IREs in the noncoding regulatory region. In contrast, ISRG expression occurs preferentially in the sensitive line ME15 at late time points, and this group of genes lacks typically IREs. In addition to these two major interferon response gene classes, we identified a relatively small number of genes with complex kinetic expression modes. In addition, we show for the first time that regular and pegylated recombinant interferons are equally potent activators of interferon (IFN) gene expression. Finally, we propose that the ISRGs are activated downstream of the primary response genes by a molecule or pathway, which awaits identification, and interferon inducible gene expression is thus more complicated than previously thought.

MAP kinase-dependent degradation of p27Kip1 by calpains in choroidal melanoma cells. Requirement of p27Kip1 nuclear export

We investigated the status and the regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) inhibitor p27(Kip1) in a choroidal melanoma tumor-derived cell line (OCM-1). By contrast to normal choroidal melanocytes, the expression level of p27(Kip1) was low in these cells and the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway was constitutively activated. Genetic or chemical inhibition of this pathway induced p27(Kip1) accumulation, whereas MAP kinase reactivation triggered a down-regulation of p27(Kip1) that could be partially reversed by calpain inhibitors. In good accordance, ectopic expression of the cellular calpain inhibitor calpastatin led to an increase of endogenous p27(Kip1) expression. In vitro, p27(Kip1) was degraded by calpains, and OCM-1 cell extracts contained a calcium-dependent p27(Kip1) degradation activity. MAP kinase inhibition partially inhibited both calpain activity and calcium-dependent p27(Kip1) degradation by cellular extracts. Immunofluorescence labeling and subcellular fractionation revealed that p27(Kip1) was in part localized in the cytoplasmic compartment of OCM-1 cells but not of melanocytes, and accumulated into the nucleus upon MAP kinase inhibition. MAP kinase activation triggered a cytoplasmic translocation of the protein, as well as a change in its phosphorylation status. This CRM-1-dependent cytoplasmic translocation was necessary for MAP kinase- and calpain-dependent degradation. Taken together, these data suggest that in tumor-derived cells, p27(Kip1) could be degraded by calpains through a MAP kinase-dependent process, and that abnormal cytoplasmic localization of the protein, probably linked to modifications of its phosphorylation state, could be involved in this alternative mechanism of degradation.

The major transcription initiation site of the p27Kip1 gene is conserved in human and mouse and produces a long 5'-UTR

BACKGROUND

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 is essential for proper control of cell cycle progression. The levels of p27Kip1 are regulated by several mechanisms including transcriptional and translational controls. In order to delineate the molecular details of these regulatory mechanisms it is important to identify the transcription initiation site within the p27Kip1 gene, thereby defining the promoter region of the gene and the 5'-untranslated region of the p27Kip1 mRNA. Although several previous studies have attempted to map p27Kip1 transcription start sites, the results vary widely for both the mouse and human genes. In addition, even though the mouse and human p27Kip1 gene sequences are very highly conserved, the reported start sites are notably different.

RESULTS

In this report, using a method that identifies capped ends of mRNA molecules together with RNase protection assays, we demonstrate that p27Kip1 transcription is initiated predominantly from a single site which is conserved in the human and mouse genes. Initiation at this site produces a 5'-untranslated region of 472 nucleotides in the human p27Kip1 mRNA and 502 nucleotides in the mouse p27Kip1 mRNA. In addition, several minor transcription start sites were identified for both the mouse and human genes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that the major transcription initiation sites in the mouse and human p27Kip1 genes are conserved and that the 5'-UTR of the p27Kip1 mRNA is much longer than generally believed. It will be important to consider these findings when designing experiments to identify elements that are involved in regulating the cellular levels of p27Kip1.

The p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation triggers p27Kip1 degradation independently of CDK2/cyclin E in NIH 3T3 cells

The p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase is stimulated by various mitogenic stimuli, and its sustained activation is necessary for cell cycle G(1) progression and G(1)/S transition. G(1) progression and G(1)/S transition also depend on sequential cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activation. Here, we demonstrate that MAP kinase inhibition leads to accumulation of the CDK inhibitor p27(Kip1) in NIH 3T3 cells. Blocking the proteasome-dependent degradation of p27(Kip1) impaired this accumulation, suggesting that MAP kinase does not act on p27(Kip1) protein synthesis. In the absence of extracellular signals (growth factors or cell adhesion), genetic activation of MAP kinase decreased the expression of p27(Kip1) as assessed by cotransfection experiments and by immunofluorescence detection. Importantly, MAP kinase activation also decreased the expression of a p27(Kip1) mutant, which cannot be phosphorylated by CDK2, suggesting that MAP kinase-dependent p27(Kip1) regulation is CDK2-independent. Accordingly, expression of dominant-negative CDK2 did not impair the down-regulation of p27(Kip1) induced by MAP kinase activation. These data demonstrate that the MAP kinase pathway regulates p27(Kip1) expression in fibroblasts essentially through a degradation mechanism, independently of p27(Kip1) phosphorylation by CDK2. This strengthens the role of this CDK inhibitor as a key effector of G(1) growth arrest, whose expression can be controlled by extracellular stimuli-dependent signaling pathways.

The potentiation of estrogen on insulin-like growth factor I action in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells includes cell cycle components

To gain insight into the mechanisms involved in the cross-talk between IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and estrogen receptor signaling pathways, we used MCF-7-derived cells (SX13), which exhibit a 50% reduction in IGF-1R expression. Growth of NEO cells (control MCF-7 cells) was stimulated by both IGF-1 and estradiol (E2), and the addition of both mitogens resulted in a synergistic response. Estrogen enhanced IGF-1R signaling in NEO cells, but this effect was markedly diminished in SX13 cells. Estrogen was also able to potentiate the IGF-1 effect on the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E and on the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein in control but not in SX13 cells. IGF-1 increased the protein level of p21 and the luciferase activity of the p21 promoter, whereas it only reduced the protein level of p27 without affecting p27 promoter activity. Estrogen did not affect the p21 inhibitor, but it decreased the protein level of p27 and the p27 promoter luciferase activity. These effects of both mitogens were also observed at the level of association of both cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors with CDK2 suggesting that IGF-1 and E2 affect the activity of both p21 and p27. Taken together, these data suggest that in MCF-7 cells, estrogen potentiates the IGF-1 effect on IGF-1R signaling as well as on the cell cycle components. Moreover, IGF-1 and E2 regulate the expression of p21 and p27 and their association with CDK2 differently.