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Combined BCL-2 and PI3K/AKT Pathway Inhibition in KMT2A-Rearranged Acute B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021359. [PMID: 36674872 PMCID: PMC9865387 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous hematologic neoplasms, including acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), are characterized by overexpression of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family proteins. Despite the high clinical efficacy of the specific BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), dose limitation and resistance argue for the early exploration of rational combination strategies. Recent data indicated that BCL-2 inhibition in B-ALL with KMT2A rearrangements is a promising intervention option; however, combinatorial approaches have not been in focus so far. The PI3K/AKT pathway has emerged as a possible target structure due to multiple interactions with the apoptosis cascade as well as relevant dysregulation in B-ALL. Herein, we demonstrate for the first time that combined BCL-2 and PI3K/AKT inhibition has synergistic anti-proliferative effects on B-ALL cell lines. Of note, all tested combinations (venetoclax + PI3K inhibitors idelalisib or BKM-120, as well as AKT inhibitors MK-2206 or perifosine) achieved comparable anti-leukemic effects. In a detailed analysis of apoptotic processes, among the PI3K/AKT inhibitors only perifosine resulted in an increased rate of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, the combination of venetoclax and perifosine synergistically enhanced the activity of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Subsequent gene expression studies identified the pro-apoptotic gene BBC3 as a possible player in synergistic action. All combinatorial approaches additionally modulated extrinsic apoptosis pathway genes. The present study provides rational combination strategies involving selective BCL-2 and PI3K/AKT inhibition in B-ALL cell lines. Furthermore, we identified a potential mechanistic background of the synergistic activity of combined venetoclax and perifosine application.
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Chen S, Wang Q, Ming S, Zheng H, Hua B, Yang HS. Platycodin D induces apoptosis through JNK1/AP-1/PUMA pathway in non-small cell lung cancer cells: A new mechanism for an old compound. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1045375. [PMID: 36483740 PMCID: PMC9723146 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1045375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Platycodin D, a triterpenoid monomer, has been shown to possess an anti-tumor effect on various types of cancer. Although Platycodin D has been reported to suppress tumorigenesis, the detailed underlying mechanism remains elusive. Platycodin D treatment significantly reduced the cell viability, decreased the number of colonies, impaired the mitochondrial function, and induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. To understand the mechanism by which platycodin D induces apoptosis, the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were examined, and we found that the expression of PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) was upregulated upon platycodin D treatment. Knockdown of PUMA resulted in attenuation of platycodin D-induced apoptosis, indicating that PUMA up-regulation is essential for platycodin D to induce apoptosis. The induction of PUMA expression by platycodin D treatment was through activation of AP-1 since mutation of AP-1 binding site in the PUMA promoter abolished the PUMA promoter activity. In addition, the chromatin immunoprecipitation further demonstrated that platycodin D promoted AP-1 binding to PUMA promoter. Moreover, knockdown of JNK1, but not JNK2, significantly abolished the phosphorylation of c-Jun at Ser63 (a component of AP-1), decreased the platycodin D-induced expression of PUMA and cleaved caspase 3, indicating that platycodin D inhibits JNK1/AP-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining studies showed that tumors from the mice treated with platycodin D activated JNK by translocation of JNK into nuclei, increased phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun at Ser63 in nuclei, and boosted the PUMA expression. Taken together, our in vitro and in vivo data revealed a novel mechanism by which platycodin D up-regulates PUMA to induce apoptosis through JNK1/AP-1 axis in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuntai Chen
- Department of Oncology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Bejing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Bejing, China
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Sarah Ming
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Honggang Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Bejing, China
| | - Baojin Hua
- Department of Oncology, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Bejing, China
| | - Hsin-Sheng Yang
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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Tang M, Zheng Y, Li J, Hu Y. The X box binding protein 1/C/EBP homologous protein pathway induces apoptosis of endothelial cells under hyperglycemia. Exp Ther Med 2022; 24:454. [PMID: 35720621 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2022.11381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maoshun Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518106, P.R. China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Science and Education, Shenzhen Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518106, P.R. China
| | - Jianping Li
- Department of Cardiology, Shenzhen Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518106, P.R. China
| | - Yuanlang Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518106, P.R. China
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Liu H, Deng H, Jian Z, Cui H, Guo H, Fang J, Zuo Z, Deng J, Li Y, Wang X, Zhao L, Zhu Y. Copper exposure induces hepatic G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest through suppressing the Ras/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in mice. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 222:112518. [PMID: 34271501 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Copper (Cu), as a common chemical contaminant in environment, is known to be toxic at high concentrations. The current research demonstrates the effects of copper upon hepatocyte cell-cycle progression (CCP) in mice. Institute of cancer research (ICR) mice (n = 240) at an age of four weeks were divided randomly into groups treated with different doses of Cu (0, 4, 8, and 16 mg/kg) for 21 and 42 days. Results showed that high Cu exposure caused hepatocellular G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest (CCA) and reduced cell proportion in the G2/M phase. G0/G1 CCA occurred with down-regulation (p < 0.05) of Ras, p-PI3K (Tyr458), p-Akt (Thr308), p-forkhead box O3 (FOXO3A) (Ser253), p-glycogen synthase kinase 3-β (GSK3-β) (Ser9), murine double minute 2 (MDM2) protein, and mRNA expression levels, and up-regulation (p < 0.05) of PTEN, p-p53 (Ser15), p27, p21 protein, and mRNA expression levels, which subsequently suppressed (p < 0.05) the protein and mRNA expression levels of CDK2/4 and cyclin E/D. These results indicate that Cu exposure suppresses the Ras/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to reduce the level of CDK2/4 and cyclin E/D, which are essential for the G1-S transition, and finally causes hepatocytes G0/G1 CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Huidan Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Zhijie Jian
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Hengmin Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Agricultural information engineering of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Yaan, Sichuan 625014, China.
| | - Hongrui Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Jing Fang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Zhicai Zuo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Junliang Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yinglun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Xun Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yanqiu Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China
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AKT signaling restrains tumor suppressive functions of FOXO transcription factors and GSK3 kinase in multiple myeloma. Blood Adv 2021; 4:4151-4164. [PMID: 32898245 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The phosphatidylinositide-3 kinases and the downstream mediator AKT drive survival and proliferation of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. AKT signaling is active in MM and has pleiotropic effects; however, the key molecular aspects of AKT dependency in MM are not fully clear. Among the various downstream AKT targets are the Forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors (TFs) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), which are negatively regulated by AKT signaling. Here we show that abrogation of AKT signaling in MM cells provokes cell death and cell cycle arrest, which crucially depends on both FOXO TFs and GSK3. Based on gene expression profiling, we defined a FOXO-repressed gene set that has prognostic significance in a large cohort of patients with MM, indicating that AKT-mediated gene activation is associated with inferior overall survival. We further show that AKT signaling stabilizes the antiapoptotic myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL1) protein by inhibiting FOXO- and GSK3-mediated MCL1 turnover. In concordance, abrogation of AKT signaling greatly sensitized MM cells for an MCL1-targeting BH3-mimetic, which is currently in clinical development. Taken together, our results indicate that AKT activity is required to restrain the tumor-suppressive functions of FOXO and GSK3, thereby stabilizing the antiapoptotic protein MCL1 in MM. These novel insights into the role of AKT in MM pathogenesis and MCL1 regulation provide opportunities to improve targeted therapy for patients with MM.
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Li M. The role of P53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) in ovarian development, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Apoptosis 2021; 26:235-247. [PMID: 33783663 PMCID: PMC8197724 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-021-01667-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
P53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), a pro-apoptotic BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3)-only member of the BCL-2 family, is a direct transcriptional target of P53 that elicits mitochondrial apoptosis under treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. It also induces excessive apoptosis in cardiovascular and/or neurodegenerative diseases. PUMA has been found to play a critical role in ovarian apoptosis. In the present paper, we review the progress of the study in PUMA over the past two decades in terms of its inducement and/or amplification of programmed cell death and describe recent updates to the understanding of both P53-dependent and P53-independent PUMA-mediated apoptotic pathways that are implicated in physiology and pathology, including the development of the ovary and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. We propose that PUMA may be a key regulator during ovary development, provide a model for PUMA-mediated apoptotic pathways, including intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Li
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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Huang X, Chen Z, Shi W, Zhang R, Li L, Liu H, Wu L. TMF inhibits miR-29a/Wnt/β-catenin signaling through upregulating Foxo3a activity in osteoarthritis chondrocytes. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2019; 13:2009-2019. [PMID: 31354246 PMCID: PMC6590397 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s209694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: miR-29a, a downstream factor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, promotes the activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in a positive feedback loop. Our previous work showed that 5,7,3ʹ,4ʹ-tetramethoxyflavone (TMF), a major constituent from Murraya exotica L., exhibited chondroprotective activity by inhibiting the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Purpose: To investigate whether TMF showed the inhibitory effects on miR-29a/β-catenin signaling by up regulation of Foxo3a expression. Methods: Rat knee OA models were duplicated by using Hulth’s method. TMF (5 μg/mL and 20 μg/mL) was used for administration to cultured cells, which were isolated from the rat cartilages. Analysis of chondrocytes apoptosis, gene expression, and protein expression were conducted. In addition, miR-29a mimics and pcDNA3.1(+)-Foxo3a vector were used for transfection, luciferase reporter assay for detecting the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and co-immunoprecipitation for determining proteins interaction. Results: TMF down regulated miR-29a/β-catenin signaling activity and cleaved caspase-3 expression and up regulated Foxo3a expression in OA rat cartilages. In vitro, miR-29a mimics down regulated the expression of Foxo3a and up regulated the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and cleaved caspase-3 expression. TMF ameliorated miR-29a/β-catenin-induced chondrocytes apoptosis by up regulation of Foxo3a expression. Conclusion: TMF exhibited chondroprotective activity by up regulating Foxo3a expression and subsequently inhibiting miR-29a/Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianhua Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhixi Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Weimei Shi
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Linfu Li
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Longhuo Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
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