P-351 The antiangiogenic agent SU5416 downregulates phorbol ester-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 expression by inhibiting NADPH oxidase

VEGF receptor inhibition blocks liver cyst growth in pkd2(WS25/-) mice

Proliferation of cyst-lining epithelial cells is an integral part of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) cyst growth. Cytokines and growth factors within cyst fluids are positioned to induce cyst growth. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a pleiotropic growth factor present in ADPKD liver cyst fluids (human 1,128 +/- 78, mouse 2,787 +/- 136 pg/ml) and, to a lesser extent, in ADPKD renal cyst fluids (human 294 +/- 41, mouse 191 +/- 90 pg/ml). Western blotting showed that receptors for VEGF (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) were present in both normal mouse bile ducts and pkd2(WS25/-) liver cyst epithelial cells. Treatment of pkd2(WS25/-) liver cyst epithelial cells with VEGF (50-50,000 pg/ml) or liver cyst fluid induced a proliferative response. The effect on proliferation of liver cyst fluid was inhibited by SU-5416, a potent VEGF receptor inhibitor. Treatment of pkd2(WS25/-) mice between 4 and 8 mo of age with SU-5416 markedly reduced the cyst volume density of the liver (vehicle 9.9 +/- 4.3%, SU-5416 1.8 +/- 0.7% of liver). SU-5416 treatment between 4 and 12 mo of age markedly protected against increases in liver weight [pkd2(+/+) 4.8 +/- 0.2%, pkd2(WS25/-)-vehicle 10.8 +/- 1.9%, pkd2(WS25/-)-SU-5416 4.8 +/- 0.4% body wt]. The capacity of VEGF signaling to induce in vitro proliferation of pkd2(WS25/-) liver cyst epithelial cells and inhibition of in vivo VEGF signaling to retard liver cyst growth in pkd2(WS25/-) mice indicates that the VEGF signaling pathway is a potentially important therapeutic target in the treatment of ADPKD liver cyst disease.

The cyclin-dependent kinase 2 inhibitor down-regulates interleukin-1beta-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human lung carcinoma cells

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is frequently observed in several human cancers, including lung, colon, and head and neck. Malignancies are also associated with the dysregulation of cell cycle events and concomitant elevated activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK). CDK2 is a key cell cycle regulatory protein that controls the transition of cells from G(1) to S phase. In this study, we furnish several lines of evidence that show a functional role for the CDK2 in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-induced COX-2 expression in H358 human non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line by blocking CDK2 activity. First, we show that BMS-387032, a potent CDK2 inhibitor, blocks IL-1beta-induced expression as well as steady-state mRNA levels of COX-2. Second, we show that small interfering RNA that abrogates CDK2 expression also blocks IL-1beta-induced COX-2 expression. Third, results from in vitro kinase assays clearly show that IL-1beta induces CDK2 activity in H358 cells and this activity is significantly inhibited by BMS-387032. Moreover, CDK2 inhibition blocks IL-1beta-induced binding to the NF-IL6 element of the COX-2 promoter and inhibits transcription of the COX-2 gene. We also observed that BMS-387032 does not inhibit endogenous expression of COX-2 or prostaglandin synthesis in lung carcinoma cells. Finally, we provide evidence showing that IL-1beta-induced signaling events, such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphorylated stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, phosphorylated AKT, and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, are not inhibited by CDK2 inhibitor. Taken together, the data suggest that CDK2 activity may play an important event in the IL-1beta-induced COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E(2) synthesis and might represent a novel target for BMS-387032.