Transformation by the simian virus 40 T antigen is regulated by IGF-I receptor and IRS-1 signaling

The Role of ARID1A in the Nonestrogenic Modulation of IGF-1 Signaling

Gaining pharmacologic access to the potential of ARID1A, a tumor suppressor protein, to mediate transcriptional control over cancer gene expression is an unresolved challenge. Retinoid X receptor ligands are pleiotropic, incompletely understood tools that regulate breast epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. We found that low-dose bexarotene (Bex) combined with the nonselective beta-blocker carvedilol (Carv) reduces proliferation of MCF10DCIS.com cells and markedly suppresses ARID1A levels. Similarly, Carv synergized with Bex in MCF-7 cells to suppress cell growth. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis revealed that under nonestrogenic conditions Bex + Carv alters the concerted genomic distribution of the chromatin remodeler ARID1A and acetylated histone H3K27, at sites related to insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling. Several distinct sites of ARID1A enrichment were identified in the IGF-1 receptor and IRS1 genes, associated with a suppression of both proteins. The knock-down of ARID1A increased IGF-1R levels, prevented IGF-1R and IRS1 suppression upon Bex + Carv, and stimulated proliferation. In vitro IGF-1 receptor neutralizing antibody suppressed cell growth, while elevated IGF-1R or IRS1 expression was associated with poor survival of patients with ER-negative breast cancer. Our study demonstrates direct impact of ARID1A redistribution on the expression and growth regulation of IGF-1-related genes, induced by repurposed clinical drugs under nonestrogenic conditions.

IMPLICATIONS

This study underscores the possibility of the pharmacologic modulation of the ARID1A factor to downregulate protumorigenic IGF-1 activity in patients with postmenopausal breast cancer undergoing aromatase inhibitor treatment.

Identification of a glycolysis-related gene signature for survival prediction of ovarian cancer patients

Background

Ovarian cancer (OV) is deemed the most lethal gynecological cancer in women. The aim of this study was to construct an effective gene prognostic model for predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with OV.

Methods

The expression profiles of glycolysis‐related genes (GRGs) and clinical data of patients with OV were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Univariate, multivariate, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox regression analyses were conducted, and a prognostic signature based on GRGs was constructed. The predictive ability of the signature was analyzed using training and test sets.

Results

A gene risk signature based on nine GRGs (ISG20, CITED2, PYGB, IRS2, ANGPTL4, TGFBI, LHX9, PC, and DDIT4) was identified to predict the survival outcome of patients with OV. The signature showed a good prognostic ability for OV, particularly high‐grade OV, in the TCGA dataset, with areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.709 and 0.762 for 3‐ and 5‐year survival, respectively. Similar results were found in the test sets, and the AUCs of 3‐, 5‐year OS were 0.714 and 0.772 in the combined test set. And our signature was an independent prognostic factor. Moreover, a nomogram combining the prediction model and clinical factors was developed.

Conclusion

Our study established a nine‐GRG risk model and nomogram to better predict OS in patients with OV. The risk model represents a promising and independent prognostic predictor for patients with OV. Moreover, our study on GRGs could offer guidance for the elucidation of underlying mechanisms in future studies.

Disruption of FOXO3a-miRNA feedback inhibition of IGF2/IGF-1R/IRS1 signaling confers Herceptin resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer

Resistance to Herceptin represents a significant challenge for successful treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. Here, we show that in Herceptin-sensitive cells, FOXO3a regulates specific miRNAs to control IGF2 and IRS1 expression, retaining basic IGF2/IGF-1R/IRS1 signaling. The basic activity maintains expression of PPP3CB, a subunit of the serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 2B, to restrict FOXO3a phosphorylation (p-FOXO3a), inducing IGF2- and IRS1-targeting miRNAs. However, in Herceptin-resistant cells, p-FOXO3a levels are elevated due to transcriptional suppression of PPP3CB, disrupting the negative feedback inhibition loop formed by FOXO3a and the miRNAs, thereby upregulating IGF2 and IRS1. Moreover, we detect significantly increased IGF2 in blood and IRS1 in the tumors of breast cancer patients with poor response to Herceptin-containing regimens. Collectively, we demonstrate that the IGF2/IGF-1R/IRS1 signaling is aberrantly activated in Herceptin-resistant breast cancer via disruption of the FOXO3a-miRNA negative feedback inhibition. Such insights provide avenues to identify predictive biomarkers and effective strategies overcoming Herceptin resistance.

Type I insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling in hematological malignancies

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling system plays key roles in the establishment and progression of different types of cancer. In agreement with this idea, substantial evidence has shown that the type I IGF receptor (IGF-IR) and its primary ligand IGF-I are important for maintaining the survival of malignant cells of hematopoietic origin. In this review, we discuss current understanding of the role of IGF-IR signaling in cancer with a focus on the hematological neoplasms. We also address the emergence of IGF-IR as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of different types of cancer including plasma cell myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma.

Type 1 Insulin-Like Growth Factor Receptor/Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 Signaling Confers Pathogenic Activity on Breast Tumor Cells Lacking REST

Loss of repressor element 1 silencing transcription factor (REST) occurs in 20% of breast cancers and correlates with a poor patient prognosis. However, the molecular basis for enhanced malignancy in tumors lacking REST (RESTless) is only partially understood. We used multiplatform array data from the Cancer Genome Atlas to identify consistent changes in key signaling pathways. Of the proteins screened in the reverse-phase protein array, we found that insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) is the most highly upregulated protein in RESTless breast tumors. Analysis of breast tumor cell lines showed that REST directly represses IRS1, and cells lacking REST have increased levels of IRS1 mRNA and protein. We find that the upregulation of IRS1 function is both necessary and sufficient for enhanced signaling and growth in breast cancer cells lacking REST. IRS1 overexpression is sufficient to phenocopy the enhanced activation of the signaling hubs AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) of MCF7 cells lacking REST. Loss of REST renders MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast tumor cells dependent on IRS1 activity for colony formation in soft agar. Inhibition of the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) reduces the enhanced signaling, growth, and migration in breast tumor cells that occur upon REST loss. We show that loss of REST induces a pathogenic program that works through the IGF1R/IRS1 pathway.

Regulation of IGF -1 signaling by microRNAs

The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling pathway regulates critical biological processes including development, homeostasis, and aging. Dysregulation of this pathway has been implicated in a myriad of diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders, making the IGF-1 signaling pathway a prime target to develop therapeutic and intervention strategies. Recently, small non-coding RNA molecules in ∼22 nucleotide length, microRNAs (miRNAs), have emerged as a new regulator of biological processes in virtually all organ systems and increasing studies are linking altered miRNA function to disease mechanisms. A miRNA binds to 3'UTRs of multiple target genes and coordinately downregulates their expression, thereby exerting a profound influence on gene regulatory networks. Here we review the components of the IGF-1 signaling pathway that are known targets of miRNA regulation, and highlight recent studies that suggest therapeutic potential of these miRNAs against various diseases.

Computer-aided targeting of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway: toxicity reduction and therapeutic opportunities

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway plays an essential role in a wide range of biological functions, including metabolism, macromolecular synthesis, cell growth, proliferation and survival. Its versatility, however, makes it a conspicuous target of many pathogens; and the consequential deregulations of this pathway often lead to complications, such as tumorigenesis, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Molecular targeted therapy, aimed at modulating the deregulated pathway, holds great promise for controlling these diseases, though side effects may be inevitable, given the ubiquity of the pathway in cell functions. Here, we review a variety of factors found to modulate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, including gene mutations, certain metabolites, inflammatory factors, chemical toxicants, drugs found to rectify the pathway, as well as viruses that hijack the pathway for their own synthetic purposes. Furthermore, this evidence of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway alteration and related pathogenesis has inspired the exploration of computer-aided targeting of this pathway to optimize therapeutic strategies. Herein, we discuss several possible options, using computer-aided targeting, to reduce the toxicity of molecularly-targeted therapy, including mathematical modeling, to reveal system-level control mechanisms and to confer a low-dosage combination therapy, the potential of PP2A as a therapeutic target, the formulation of parameters to identify patients who would most benefit from specific targeted therapies and molecular dynamics simulations and docking studies to discover drugs that are isoform specific or mutation selective so as to avoid undesired broad inhibitions. We hope this review will stimulate novel ideas for pharmaceutical discovery and deepen our understanding of curability and toxicity by targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Inhibition of Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 7 by simian virus 40 large T antigen

Simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor antigen (LT) triggers oncogenic transformation by inhibition of key tumor suppressor proteins, including p53 and members of the retinoblastoma family. In addition, SV40 transformation requires binding of LT to Cullin 7 (CUL7), a core component of Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase 7 (CRL7). However, the pathomechanistic effects of LT-CUL7 interaction are mostly unknown. Here we report both in vitro and in vivo experimental evidence that SV40 LT suppresses the ubiquitin ligase function of CRL7. We show that SV40 LT, but not a CUL7 binding-deficient mutant (LT(Δ69-83)), impaired 26S proteasome-dependent proteolysis of the CRL7 target protein insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), a component of the insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling pathway. SV40 LT expression resulted in the accumulation and prolonged half-life of IRS1. In vitro, purified SV40 LT reduced CRL7-dependent IRS1 ubiquitination in a concentration-dependent manner. Expression of SV40 LT, or depletion of CUL7 by RNA interference, resulted in the enhanced activation of IRS1 downstream signaling pathways phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT and Erk mitogen-activated pathway kinase, as well as up-regulation of the downstream target gene c-fos. Finally, SV40 LT-positive carcinoma of carcinoembryonic antigen 424/SV40 LT transgenic mice displayed elevated IRS1 protein levels and activation of downstream signaling. Taken together, these data suggest that SV40 LT protects IRS1 from CRL7-mediated degradation, thereby sustaining high levels of promitogenic IRS1 downstream signaling pathways.

Effect of IRS4 levels on PI 3-kinase signalling

Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) and IRS2 are well-characterized adapter proteins that relay signals from receptor tyrosine kinases to downstream components of signalling pathways. In contrast, the function of IRS4 is not well understood. IRS4 overexpression has been associated with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and subungual exostosis, while point mutations of IRS4 have been found in melanomas. Here, we show that while IRS4 expression is low in most cancer cell lines, IRS4 mRNA and protein levels are markedly elevated in certain cells including the NCI-H720, DMS114, HEK293T and HEK293AAV lines. Surprisingly, IRS4 expression was also strongly induced when HEK293 cells were infected with retroviral particles and selected under puromycin, making IRS4 expression a potential off-target effect of retroviral expression vectors. Cells with high expression of IRS4 displayed high phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP₃) levels, as well as elevated Akt and p70 S6 kinase activities, even in the absence of growth factors. PI 3-kinase (PI3K) signalling in these cells depends on IRS4, even though these cells also express IRS1/2. Knockdown of IRS4 also inhibited cell proliferation in cells with high levels of IRS4. Together, these findings suggest IRS4 as a potential therapeutic target for cancers with high expression of this protein.

Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis reveals a potential mechanism for the pathogenesis and development of uterine leiomyomas

Background

The pathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas, the most common benign tumor in women, remains unclear. Since acquired factors such as obesity, hypertension and early menarche place women at greater risk for uterine leiomyomas, uterine leiomyomas may be associated with epigenetic abnormalities that are caused by unfavorable environmental exposures.

Principal Findings

Profiles of genome-wide DNA methylation and mRNA expression were investigated in leiomyomas and in myometrium with and without leiomyomas. Profiles of DNA methylation and mRNA expression in the myometrium with and without leiomyomas were quite similar while those in leiomyomas were distinct. We identified 120 genes whose DNA methylation and mRNA expression patterns differed between leiomyomas and the adjacent myometrium. The biological relevance of the aberrantly methylated and expressed genes was cancer process, including IRS1 that is related to transformation, and collagen-related genes such as COL4A1, COL4A2 and COL6A3. We also detected 22 target genes of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha, including apoptosis-related genes, that have aberrant DNA methylation in the promoter, suggesting that the aberrant epigenetic regulation of ER alpha-target genes contributes to the aberrant response to estrogen.

Conclusions

Aberrant DNA methylation and its related transcriptional aberration were associated with cancer processes, which may represent a critical initial mechanism that triggers transformation of a single tumor stem cell that will eventually develop into a monoclonal leiomyoma tumor. The aberrant epigenetic regulation of ER alpha-target genes also may contribute to the aberrant response to estrogen, which is involved in the development of uterine leiomyomas after menarche.

Therapeutic destruction of insulin receptor substrates for cancer treatment

Insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2 (IRS1/2) mediate mitogenic and antiapoptotic signaling from insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR), insulin receptor (IR), and other oncoproteins. IRS1 plays a central role in cancer cell proliferation, its expression is increased in many human malignancies, and its upregulation mediates resistance to anticancer drugs. IRS2 is associated with cancer cell motility and metastasis. Currently, there are no anticancer agents that target IRS1/2. We present new IGF-IR/IRS-targeted agents (NT compounds) that promote inhibitory Ser-phosphorylation and degradation of IRS1 and IRS2. Elimination of IRS1/2 results in long-term inhibition of IRS1/2-mediated signaling. The therapeutic significance of this inhibition in cancer cells was shown while unraveling a novel mechanism of resistance to B-RAF(V600E/K) inhibitors. We found that IRS1 is upregulated in PLX4032-resistant melanoma cells and in cell lines derived from patients whose tumors developed PLX4032 resistance. In both settings, NT compounds led to the elimination of IRS proteins and evoked cell death. Treatment with NT compounds in vivo significantly inhibited the growth of PLX4032-resistant tumors and displayed potent antitumor effects in ovarian and prostate cancers. Our findings offer preclinical proof-of-concept for IRS1/2 inhibitors as cancer therapeutics including PLX4032-resistant melanoma. By the elimination of IRS proteins, such agents should prevent acquisition of resistance to mutated-B-RAF inhibitors and possibly restore drug sensitivity in resistant tumors.

Large T antigens of polyomaviruses: amazing molecular machines

The large tumor antigen (T antigen) encoded by simian virus 40 is an amazing molecular machine because it orchestrates viral infection by modulating multiple fundamental viral and cellular processes. T antigen is required for viral DNA replication, transcription, and virion assembly. In addition, T antigen targets multiple cellular pathways, including those that regulate cell proliferation, cell death, and the inflammatory response. Ectopic T antigen expression results in the immortalization and transformation of many cell types in culture and T antigen induces neoplasia when expressed in rodents. The analysis of the mechanisms by which T antigen carries out its many functions has proved to be a powerful way of gaining insights into cell biology. The accelerating pace at which new polyomaviruses are being discovered provides a collection of novel T antigens that, like simian virus 40, can be used to discover and study key cellular regulatory systems.

Downregulation of miR-145 associated with cancer progression and VEGF transcriptional activation by targeting N-RAS and IRS1

MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) is downregulated in various tumor types. However, its mechanism in inhibiting tumor growth and angiogenesis remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that miR-145 was significantly downregulated in the plasma and cancer tumor tissues of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, and overexpression of miR-145 inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. To understand the potential mechanism of miR-145 in inhibiting tumor growth, we showed that miR-145 blocked the activation of AKT and ERK1/2 pathways, and the expression of HIF-1 and VEGF via directly targeting N-RAS and IRS1, and VEGF is an important effector for tumor growth. Forced expression of N-RAS and IRS1 restored VEGF expression via transcriptional activation. MiR-145 also inhibited N-RAS and IRS1 expression to suppress AKT and ERK1/2 activation, and VEGF expression in mouse xenograft tumors. To test the clinical relevance of these results, we used 60 pairs of colorectal cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues, analyzed the levels of miR-145, N-RAS and IRS1 expression in these tissues, and found that miR-145 levels were significantly inversely correlated with N-RAS and IRS1 levels in these colorectal cancer tissues, suggesting the important implication of our findings in translational application for colorectal cancer diagnostics and treatment in the future.

Gene expression by simian virus 40 large T antigen-induced medulloblastomas in mice

Signaling pathways known to have components with mutations in human medulloblastoma include sonic hedgehog, Wnt/beta-catenin and insulin-like growth factor. Microarray analysis was applied to examine the gene expression changes in medulloblastomas of pTet-on/pTRE-SV40Tag transgenic mice. Altogether, 14 112 genes were detectable, including 152 genes with significantly different expression levels. These genes were associated with immunity, the cell cycle, signal transduction, cytoskeleton and metabolism. To further confirm the microarray data, real-time polymerase chain reactions were used to examine the expression changes of genes related to sonic hedgehog, Wnt/beta-catenin and insulin-like growth factor signal pathways. Immunohistochemistry detected insulin receptor substrate-1 in the nuclei of brain tumor tissue cells from pTet-on/pTRE-SV40Tag transgenic mice, suggesting that SV40 large T antigen may activate the insulin-like growth factor signal pathway to promote tumorigenesis.

Depletion of insulin receptor substrate 2 reverses oncogenic transformation induced by v-src

AIM

To investigate the role of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) in oncogenic transformation induced by v-src.

METHODS

IRS-2 gene was silenced using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Nuclear translocation and interaction of IRS-2 with v-src was determined using subcellular fractionation, confocal microscopy, and immunoprecipitation. The activity of the cyclin D1 promoter and r-DNA promoter was measured with a luciferase assay.

RESULTS

Depletion of IRS-2 inhibited R-/v-src cell growth and reverse the oncogenic transformation. IRS-2 bound to src via its two PI3-K binding sites, which are critical for activities involved in the transformation. Nuclear IRS-2 occupied the cyclin D1 and rDNA promoters. The combination of IRS-2 and v-src increased the activity of the two promoters, especially the rDNA promoter.

CONCLUSION

Depletion of insulin receptor substrate 2 could reverse oncogenic transformation induced by v-src.

Upregulation of the insulin receptor and type I insulin-like growth factor receptor are early events in hepatocarcinogenesis

The molecular mechanisms underlying the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not yet fully understood. Preneoplastic foci of altered hepatocytes regularly precede HCC in various species. The predominant earliest type of foci of altered hepatocytes, the glycogen storage focus (GSF), shows an excess of glycogen (glycogenosis) in the cytoplasm. During progression from GSF to HCC, the stored glycogen is gradually reduced, resulting in complete loss in basophilic HCC. We have previously shown that in N-nitrosomorpholine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, insulin receptor substrate (IRS-1) is strongly expressed in GSF and reduced during progression to HCC, thus correlating with the glycogen content. In the present study, we observed increased levels of insulin receptor, IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), IRS-2, and mitogen-activated kinase/extracellular regulated kinase-1 in GSF, following the same pattern of expression as IRS-1. We conclude that the abundance of IRS-1, IRS-2, and mitogen-activated kinase/extracellular regulated kinase-1 coincides with a concerted upregulation of both IR and IGF-IR induced by the hepatocarcinogen. Our data suggest that in early hepatocellular preneoplasia, the upregulation of IR elicits glycogenosis through IRS-1 and/or IRS-2, whereas the increased level of the IGF-IR may lead to the increased cell proliferation previously reported in GSF. Therefore, the concerted upregulation of both IR and IGF-IR may represent initial events in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Insulin receptor substrate regulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase

Insulin receptor substrates (IRS) serve as downstream messengers from activated cell surface receptors to numerous signaling pathway cascades. One of these pathways, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), frequently displays aberrant function in the setting of cancer. IRS proteins are capable of both regulating and activating PI3K, depending on the cell of origin. As such, both prohost and protumor functions have been described for IRS proteins in human cancers. IRS proteins may eventually serve as biomarkers of PI3K activity, and serve a much-needed role as a guide to using targeted pathway therapy. Additionally, IRS-1 could be indirectly targeted in lung cancer, by inhibiting neutrophil elastase, which functions to degrade IRS-1 in lung tumor cells, thereby generating PI3K hyperactivity.

Mutual interaction and reciprocal down-regulation between c-met and insulin receptor substrate-1

The insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and c-met, the receptor for the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) co-immuno-precipitate from lysates treated with the respective antibodies. The interaction between IRS-1 and c-met requires a tyrosyl phosphorylated IRS-1 and results in reciprocal down-regulation. IRS-1 inhibits cell motility, while the activated c-met promotes it. These and other results suggest an explanation for reports in the literature indicating that c-met levels are high and IRS-1 levels are low in human cancer metastases.

Update on human polyomaviruses and cancer

Over 50 years of polyomavirus research has produced a wealth of insights into not only general biologic processes in mammalian cells, but also, how conditions can be altered and signaling systems tweaked to produce transformation phenotypes. In the past few years three new members (KIV, WUV, and MCV) have joined two previously known (JCV and BKV) human polyomaviruses. In this review, we present updated information on general virologic features of these polyomaviruses in their natural host, concentrating on the association of MCV with human Merkel cell carcinoma. We further present a discussion on advances made in SV40 as the prototypic model, which has and will continue to inform our understanding about viruses and cancer.

Mechano-transduction in osteoblastic cells involves strain-regulated estrogen receptor alpha-mediated control of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I receptor sensitivity to Ambient IGF, leading to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT-dependent Wnt/LRP5 receptor-independent activation of beta-catenin signaling

The capacity of bones to adjust their mass and architecture to withstand the loads of everyday activity derives from the ability of their resident cells to respond appropriately to the strains engendered. To elucidate the mechanisms of strain responsiveness in bone cells, we investigated in vitro the responses of primary mouse osteoblasts and UMR-106 osteoblast-like cells to a single period of dynamic strain. This stimulates a cascade of events, including activation of insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-mediated phosphorylation of AKT, inhibition of GSK-3β, increased activation of β-catenin, and associated lymphoid-enhancing factor/T cell factor-mediated transcription. Initiation of this pathway does not involve the Wnt/LRP5/Frizzled receptor and does not culminate in increased IGF transcription. The effect of strain on IGF-IR is mimicked by exogenous des-(1–3)IGF-I and is blocked by the IGF-IR inhibitor H1356. Inhibition of strain-related prostanoid and nitric oxide production inhibits strain-related (and basal) AKT activity, but their separate ectopic administration does not mimic it. Strain-related IGF-IR activation of AKT requires estrogen receptor α (ERα) with which IGF-1R physically associates. The ER blocker ICI 182,780 increases the concentration of des-(1–3)IGF-I necessary to activate this cascade, whereas estrogen inhibits both basal AKT activity and its activation by des-(1–3)IGF-I. These data suggest an initial cascade of strain-related events in osteoblasts in which strain activates IGF-IR, in association with ERα, so initiating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT-dependent activation of β-catenin and altered lymphoid-enhancing factor/T cell factor transcription. This cascade requires prostanoid/nitric oxide production and is independent of Wnt/LRP5.

IGF-IR-dependent expression of Survivin is required for T-antigen-mediated protection from apoptosis and proliferation of neural progenitors

The Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor (IGF-IR) and the human polyomavirus JCV protein, T-Antigen cooperate in the transformation of neuronal precursors in the cerebellum, which may be a contributing factor in the development of brain tumors. Since it is not clear why T-Antigen requires IGF-IR for transformation, we investigated this process in neural progenitors from IGF-IR knockout embryos (ko-IGF-IR) and from their wild type non-transgenic littermates (wt-IGF-IR). In contrast to wt-IGF-IR, the brain and dorsal root ganglia of ko-IGF-IR embryos showed low levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Survivin, accompanied by elevated numbers of apoptotic neurons and an earlier differentiation phenotype. In wt-IGF-IR neural progenitors in vitro, induction of T-Antigen expression tripled the expression of Survivin, and accelerated cell proliferation. In ko-IGF-IR progenitors induction of T-Antigen failed to increase Survivin, resulting in massive apoptosis. Importantly, ectopic expression of Survivin protected ko-IGF-IR progenitor cells from apoptosis and siRNA inhibition of Survivin activated apoptosis in wt-IGF-IR progenitors expressing T-Antigen. Our results indicate that reactivation of the anti-apoptotic Survivin may be a critical step in JCV T-Antigen induced transformation, which in neural progenitors requires IGF-IR.

Mechanism of growth inhibition by MicroRNA 145: the role of the IGF-I receptor signaling pathway

MicroRNA 145 (miR145) has been proposed as a tumor suppressor. It was previously shown that miR145 targets the 3' UTR of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and dramatically inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells. miR145 also targets the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR). We show here that an IRS-1 lacking its 3' UTR is no longer down-regulated by miR145 and rescues colon cancer cells from miR145-induced inhibition of growth. An IGF-IR resistant to miR145 (again by elimination of its 3' UTR) is not down-regulated by miR145 but fails to rescue colon cancer cells from growth inhibition. These and other results, taken together, indicate that down-regulation of IRS-1 plays a significant role in the tumor suppressor activity of miR145.

A structure-guided mutational analysis of simian virus 40 large T antigen: identification of surface residues required for viral replication and transformation

Simian virus 40 large T antigen (TAg) transforms cells in culture and induces tumors in rodents. Genetic studies suggest that TAg interaction with the chaperone hsp70 and tumor suppressors pRb and p53 may not be sufficient to elicit complete transformation of cells. In order to identify additional cellular factors important for transformation, we designed mutations on the solvent-exposed surface of TAg. We hypothesized that surface residues would interact directly with cellular targets and that the mutation of these residues might disrupt this interaction without perturbing TAg's global structure. Using structural data, we identified 61 amino acids on the surface of TAg. Each surface amino acid was changed to an alanine. Furthermore, five patches containing clusters of charged amino acids on the surface of TAg were identified. Within these patches, we selectively mutated three to four charged amino acids and thus generated five mutants (patch mutants 1 to 5). We observed that while patch mutants 3 and 4 induced foci in REF52 cells, patch mutants 1 and 2 were deficient in focus formation. We determined that the patch 1 mutant is defective in p53 binding, thus explaining its defect in transformation. The patch 2 mutant can interact with the Rb family members and p53 like wild-type TAg but is unable to transform cells, suggesting that it is defective for action on an unknown cellular target essential for transformation. Our results suggest that the histone acetyltransferase CBP/p300 is one of the potential targets affected by the mutations in patch 2.

Expression and function of the insulin receptor substrate proteins in cancer

The Insulin Receptor Substrate (IRS) proteins are cytoplasmic adaptor proteins that function as essential signaling intermediates downstream of activated cell surface receptors, many of which have been implicated in cancer. The IRS proteins do not contain any intrinsic kinase activity, but rather serve as scaffolds to organize signaling complexes and initiate intracellular signaling pathways. As common intermediates of multiple receptors that can influence tumor progression, the IRS proteins are positioned to play a pivotal role in regulating the response of tumor cells to many different microenvironmental stimuli. Limited studies on IRS expression in human tumors and studies on IRS function in human tumor cell lines and in mouse models have provided clues to the potential function of these adaptor proteins in human cancer. A general theme arises from these studies; IRS-1 and IRS-4 are most often associated with tumor growth and proliferation and IRS-2 is most often associated with tumor motility and invasion. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms by which IRS expression and function are regulated and how the IRS proteins contribute to tumor initiation and progression.

Customizing the targeting of IGF-1 receptor

The type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-IR) is activated by two ligands, IGF-1 and IGF-2, and by insulin at supraphysiological concentrations. It plays a significant role in the growth of normal and abnormal cells, and antibodies against the IGF-IR are now in clinical trials. Targeting of the IGF-IR in cancer cells (by antibodies or other means) can be improved by the appropriate selection of responsive tumors. This review focuses on the optimization of IGF-IR targeting in human cancer.

SV40: Cell transformation and tumorigenesis

The story of SV40-induced tumorigenesis and cellular transformation is intimately entwined with the development of modern molecular biology. Because SV40 and other viruses have small genomes and are relatively easy to manipulate in the laboratory, they offered tractable systems for molecular analysis. Thus, many of the early efforts to understand how eukaryotes replicate their DNA, regulate expression of their genes, and translate mRNA were focused on viral systems. The discovery that SV40 induces tumors in certain laboratory animals and transforms many types of cultured cells offered the first opportunity to explore the molecular basis for cancer. The goal of this article is to highlight some of the experiments that have led to our current view of SV40-induced transformation and to provide some context as to how they contributed to basic research in molecular biology and to our understanding of cancer.

Failure to phosphorylate AKT in podocytes from mice with early diabetic nephropathy promotes cell death

Loss of podocytes by apoptosis characterizes the early stages of diabetic nephropathy. To examine its mechanism we studied glomeruli and podocytes isolated from db/db mice with early diabetic nephropathy and albuminuria. Phosphorylation of AKT (protein kinase B, a key survival protein) was found to be lower in the glomeruli of 12 week old db/db compared to db/+ mice. In vitro, insulin phosphorylated AKT solely in podocytes from db/+ mice. Serum deprivation and exposure to tumor necrosis factor-alpha significantly compromised cell viability in podocytes from db/db but not from db/+ mice, and this was associated with a significant decrease in AKT phosphorylation. Inhibition of AKT was necessary to achieve the same degree of cell death in db/+ podocytes. Our study shows that podocyte inability to respond to insulin and susceptibility to cell death may partially account for the decreased podocyte number seen in early diabetic nephropathy.

The TORrid affairs of viruses: effects of mammalian DNA viruses on the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signalling pathway

The successful replication of mammalian DNA viruses requires that they gain control of key cellular signalling pathways that affect broad aspects of cellular macromolecular synthesis, metabolism, growth and survival. The phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K-Akt-mTOR) pathway is one such pathway. Mammalian DNA viruses have evolved various mechanisms to activate this pathway to obtain the benefits of Akt activation, including the maintenance of translation through the activation of mTOR. In addition, viruses must overcome the inhibition of this pathway that results from the activation of cellular stress responses during viral infection. This Review will discuss the range of mechanisms that mammalian DNA viruses use to activate this pathway, as well as the multiple mechanisms these viruses have evolved to circumvent inhibitory stress signalling.

Interaction between simian virus 40 large T antigen and insulin receptor substrate 1 is disrupted by the K1 mutation, resulting in the loss of large T antigen-mediated phosphorylation of Akt

The cellular kinase Akt is a key controller of cellular metabolism, growth, and proliferation. Many viruses activate Akt due to its beneficial effects on viral replication. We previously showed that wild-type (WT) simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (TAg) inhibits apoptosis via the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling. Here we show that WT TAg expressed from recombinant adenoviruses in U2OS cells induced the phosphorylation of Akt at both T308 and S473. In contrast, Akt phosphorylation was eliminated by the K1 mutation (E107K) within the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) binding motif of TAg. This suggested that Akt phosphorylation may depend on TAg binding to Rb or one of its family members. However, in Rb-negative SAOS2 cells depleted of p107 and p130 by using small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), WT TAg still mediated Akt phosphorylation. These results suggested that the K1 mutation affects another TAg function. WT-TAg-mediated phosphorylation of Akt was inhibited by a PI3K inhibitor, suggesting that the effects of TAg originated upstream of PI3K; thus, we examined the requirement for insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1), which binds and activates PI3K. Depletion of IRS1 by shRNAs abolished the WT-TAg-mediated phosphorylation of Akt. Immunoprecipitation studies showed that the known interaction between TAg and IRS1 is significantly weakened by the K1 mutation. These data indicate that the K1 mutation disrupts not only Rb binding but also IRS1 binding, contributing to the loss of activation of PI3K/Akt signaling.

Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Is an Important Mediator of Ovarian Cancer Cell Growth Suppression by All-trans Retinoic Acid

There is a need to identify more effective drugs for the treatment of ovarian cancer as it is the leading cause of death among gynecologic tumors. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a natural retinoid, arrests the growth of CA-OV3 ovarian carcinoma cells in G(0)-G(1). Because the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor has been implicated in the proliferation of various tumors, we investigated its potential role in the suppression of ovarian cancer cell growth by ATRA. Our studies revealed that insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) protein levels decrease in CA-OV3 cells on ATRA treatment, whereas no differences in IRS-1 levels were seen in the ATRA-resistant SK-OV3 cells. Moreover, CA-OV3 clones overexpressing IRS-1 were growth inhibited less by ATRA, whereas SK-OV3 clones in which levels of IRS-1 were reduced by expression of antisense IRS-1 became sensitive to growth inhibition by ATRA treatment. Studies to determine the mechanism by which ATRA reduced IRS-1 expression showed that ATRA altered steady-state levels of IRS-1 mRNA and the stability of IRS-1 protein. Finally, the role of IRS-1 as a potential molecular target of ATRA in ovarian tumors was assessed by immunohistochemistry in an ovarian cancer tissue array. Compared with normal ovary, the majority of malignant epithelial ovarian tumors overexpressed IRS-1. Thus, there seems to be a correlation between IRS-1 expression and malignancy in ovarian tumors. Our results suggest that IRS-1 is in fact an important growth-regulatory molecule that can be a potential effective target for chemotherapeutic intervention with growth-suppressive agents, including retinoids.

Micro RNA 145 targets the insulin receptor substrate-1 and inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells

The insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), a docking protein for both the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) and the insulin receptor, is known to send a mitogenic, anti-apoptotic, and anti-differentiation signal. Several micro RNAs (miRs) are suggested by the data base as possible candidates for targeting IRS-1. We show here that one of the miRs predicted by the data base, miR145, whether transfected as a synthetic oligonucleotide or expressed from a plasmid, causes down-regulation of IRS-1 in human colon cancer cells. IRS-1 mRNA is not decreased by miR145, while it is down-regulated by an siRNA targeting IRS-1. Targeting of the IRS-1 3'-untranslated region (UTR) by miR145 was confirmed using a reporter gene (luciferase) expressing the miR145 binding sites of the IRS-1 3'-UTR. In agreement with the role of IRS-1 in cell proliferation, we show that treatment of human colon cancer cells with miR145 causes growth arrest comparable to the use of an siRNA against IRS-1. Taken together, these results identify miR145 as a micro RNA that down-regulates the IRS-1 protein, and inhibits the growth of human cancer cells.

Nuclear insulin receptor substrate-1 activates promoters of cell cycle progression genes

The insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is a docking protein of the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor and of the insulin receptor. IRS-1 sends a strong mitogenic, anti-apoptotic signal and plays an important role in cell transformation and cancer. IRS-1 translocates to nuclei of cells, where it increases the activity of the rDNA, c-myc and cyclin D1 promoters. We show, by chromatin immunoprecipitation, occupancy by IRS-1 of the same promoters. Both promoter activation and promoter occupancy are IGF-1-dependent. In cells that respond to IGF-1 but in which IRS-1 does not translocate to nuclei, promoter occupancy is absent and promoter activation is absent or much reduced. Transcriptional activation of c-myc and cyclin D1 promoters by nuclear IRS-1 does not occur with a mutant, inactive IRS-1 protein (deletion of the phosphotyrosine-binding domain, PTB) and does not require PI3-kinase activity. Taken together, these results indicate a novel mechanism by which nuclear IRS-1 activates cell cycle genes.

Targeting of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor with a monoclonal antibody inhibits growth of hepatic metastases from human colon carcinoma in mice

BACKGROUND

Colorectal carcinomas (CRC) express high levels of insulin-like growth factor-I/II (IGF-I/II) and the receptor (IGF-IR). We hypothesized that selective inhibition of IGF-IR would inhibit hepatic growth of human CRC in mice.

METHODS

Human CRC cells were treated in vitro with anti-IGF-IR monoclonal antibody (MoAB) with and without oxaliplatin to assess cytotoxicity. The effect of anti-IGF-IR MoAB on IGF-I-induced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in human CRC cells was assessed by Northern blot and ELISA. We injected human CRC cells intrahepatically in nude mice, and then administered anti-IGF-IR MoAB with and without oxaliplatin. We delayed treatment in one group until large hepatic tumors were present. We assessed tumors for apoptosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis.

RESULTS

Anti-IGF-IR MoAB and oxaliplatin inhibited CRC cell growth in vitro and combination treatment was even more effective. IGF-I stimulation of CRC cells resulted in significant upregulation of VEGF and this was completely inhibited by pretreatment with anti-IGF-IR MoAB. Anti-IGF-IR MoAB significantly inhibited hepatic growth of tumors in mice. Anti-IGF-IR MoAB plus oxaliplatin led to a significantly greater inhibition of tumor growth. Anti-IGF-IR MoAB plus oxaliplatin was just as effective at inhibiting growth of larger, more advanced liver tumors. Anti-IGF-IR MoAB, alone and in combination with oxaliplatin, led to a significant increase in tumor cell apoptosis, and a significant inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that IGF-IR is a potential target for therapy in patients with advanced CRC.

Insulin Receptor Substrate-1 Regulates the Transformed Phenotype of BT-20 Human Mammary Cancer Cells

Although originating from a human breast cancer, BT-20 cells do not form colonies in soft agar. BT-20 cells do not express insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), which is known to promote both normal and abnormal growth and to inhibit differentiation. Stable expression of IRS-1 confers to BT-20 cells the ability to form colonies in soft agar. BT-20 cells form tumors in xenografts in mice, but the size of tumors is twice as large when the cells express IRS-1. The increased transformed phenotype is characterized by occupancy of the rDNA and cyclin D1 promoters by IRS-1 and the activation of the cyclin D1, c-myc, and rDNA promoters. In addition, the retinoblastoma protein, which is detectable in the rDNA promoter of quiescent BT-20/IRS-1 cells, is replaced by IRS-1 after insulin-like growth factor-I stimulation. Our results indicate that in BT-20 human mammary cancer cells, expression of IRS-1 activates promoters involved in cell growth and cell proliferation, resulting in a more transformed phenotype. Targeting of IRS-1 could be effective in inhibiting the proliferation of mammary cancer cells. [Cancer Res 2007;67(5):2124–30]

Mammary tumorigenesis and metastasis caused by overexpression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) or IRS-2

Insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) are signaling adaptors that play a major role in the metabolic and mitogenic actions of insulin and insulin-like growth factors. Reports have recently noted increased levels, or activity, of IRSs in many human cancers, and some have linked this to poor patient prognosis. We found that overexpressed IRS-1 was constitutively phosphorylated in vitro and in vivo and that transgenic mice overexpressing IRS-1 or IRS-2 in the mammary gland showed progressive mammary hyperplasia, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. Tumors showed extensive squamous differentiation, a phenotype commonly seen with activation of the canonical beta-catenin signaling pathway. Consistent with this, IRSs were found to bind beta-catenin in vitro and in vivo. IRS-induced tumorigenesis is unique, given that the IRSs are signaling adaptors with no intrinsic kinase activity, and this supports a growing literature indicating a role for IRSs in cancer. This study defines IRSs as oncogene proteins in vivo and provides new models to develop inhibitors against IRSs for anticancer therapy.

Inhibitors of insulin-like growth factor signaling: a therapeutic approach for breast cancer

The peptide growth factors IGF-I and IGF-II not only play a role in the development of the mammary gland but are also implicated in breast cancer. Several reagents disrupting IGF signaling have been developed and clinical trials validating IGF signaling as a target in cancer therapy are underway. This review highlights the approaches to inhibiting IGF signaling in breast cancer.