Analysis of the ERK1,2 transcriptome in mammary epithelial cells

The CXCR4-CXCL12-Axis Is of Prognostic Relevance in DLBCL and Its Antagonists Exert Pro-Apoptotic Effects In Vitro

In tumor cells of more than 20 different cancer types, the CXCR4-CXCL12-axis is involved in multiple key processes including proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Since data on this axis in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are inconsistent and limited, we comprehensively studied the CXCR4-CXCL12-axis in our DLBCL cohort as well as the effects of CXCR4 antagonists on lymphoma cell lines in vitro. In DLBCL, we observed a 140-fold higher CXCR4 expression compared to non-neoplastic controls, which was associated with poor clinical outcome. In corresponding bone marrow biopsies, we observed a correlation of CXCL12 expression and lymphoma infiltration rate as well as a reduction of CXCR4 expression in remission of bone marrow involvement after treatment. Additionally, we investigated the effects of three CXCR4 antagonists in vitro. Therefore, we used AMD3100 (Plerixafor), AMD070 (Mavorixafor), and WKI, the niacin derivative of AMD070, which we synthesized. WK1 demonstrated stronger pro-apoptotic effects than AMD070 in vitro and induced expression of pro-apoptotic genes of the BCL2-family in CXCR4-positive lymphoma cell lines. Finally, WK1 treatment resulted in the reduced expression of JNK-, ERK1/2- and NF-κB/BCR-target genes. These data indicate that the CXCR4-CXCL12-axis impacts the pathogenesis of DLBCL and represents a potential therapeutic target in aggressive lymphomas.

Connexin 43 Loss Triggers Cell Cycle Entry and Invasion in Non-Neoplastic Breast Epithelium: A Role for Noncanonical Wnt Signaling

(1) Background: The expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) is disrupted in breast cancer, and re-expression of this protein in human breast cancer cell lines leads to decreased proliferation and invasiveness, suggesting a tumor suppressive role. This study aims to investigate the role of Cx43 in proliferation and invasion starting from non-neoplastic breast epithelium. (2) Methods: Nontumorigenic human mammary epithelial HMT-3522 S1 cells and Cx43 shRNA-transfected counterparts were cultured under 2-dimensional (2-D) and 3-D conditions. (3) Results: Silencing Cx43 induced mislocalization of β-catenin and Scrib from apicolateral membrane domains in glandular structures or acini formed in 3-D culture, suggesting the loss of apical polarity. Cell cycle entry and proliferation were enhanced, concomitantly with c-Myc and cyclin D1 upregulation, while no detectable activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling was observed. Motility and invasion were also triggered and were associated with altered acinar morphology and activation of ERK1/2 and Rho GTPase signaling, which acts downstream of the noncanonical Wnt pathway. The invasion of Cx43-shRNA S1 cells was observed only under permissive stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM). (4) Conclusion: Our results suggest that Cx43 controls proliferation and invasion in the normal mammary epithelium in part by regulating noncanonical Wnt signaling.

Cytoplasmic location of NR4A1 in aggressive lymphomas is associated with a favourable cancer specific survival

The nuclear orphan receptor NR4A1 functions as tumour suppressor in aggressive lymphomas by pro-apoptotic genomic and non-genomic effects. Here, we immunohistochemically studied the clinico-pathological relevance of NR4A1 protein expression patterns in a cohort of 60 diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients and non-neoplastic lymph nodes. We observed a significant association between high cytoplasmic NR4A1 and favourable cancer-specific survival and the germinal centre B cell-like subtype, respectively. Moreover, the percentage of lymphoma cells exhibiting cytoplasmic NR4A1 significantly correlated to those showing cleaved caspase 3. Complementary, functional profiling using gene set enrichment of Reactome pathways based on publicly available microarray data was applied to determine pathways potentially implicated in cytoplasmic localization of NR4A1 and validated by means of semi quantitative real-time PCR. The pathway analysis revealed changes in the ERK1/2 pathway, and this was corroborated by the finding that high cytoplasmic NR4A1 was associated with higher expression of ERK1/2 targets in our cohort. These data indicate that high cytoplasmic NR4A1 is associated with a favourable lymphoma-specific survival and highlights the importance of NR4A1 expression patterns as potential prognostic marker for risk assessment in aggressive lymphomas.

Induction of MAP kinase phosphatase 3 through Erk/MAP kinase activation in three oncogenic Ras (H-, K- and N-Ras)-expressing NIH/3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cell lines

Ras oncoproteins are small molecular weight GTPases known for their involvement in oncogenesis, which operate in a complex signaling network with multiple effectors. Approximately 25% of human tumors possess mutations in a member of this family. The Raf1/MEK/Erk1/2 pathway is one of the most intensively studied signaling mechanisms. Different levels of regulation account for the inactivation of MAP kinases by MAPK phosphatases in a cell type- and stimuli-dependent manner. In the present study, using three inducible Ras-expressing NIH/3T3 cell lines, we demonstrated that MKP3 upregulation requires the activation of the Erk1/2 pathway, which correlates with the shutdown of this pathway. We also demonstrated, by applying pharmacological inhibitors and effector mutants of Ras, that induction of MKP3 at the protein level is positively regulated by the oncogenic Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk1/2 signaling pathway. [BMB Reports 2016; 49(7): 370-375].

Orchestrating cellular signaling pathways-the cellular "conductor" protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51)

The protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (PTPIP51) is thought to regulate crucial cellular functions such as mitosis, apoptosis, migration, differentiation and communication between organelles as a scaffold protein. These diverse functions are modulated by the tyrosine/serine phosphorylation status of PTPIP51. This review interconnects the insights obtained about the action of PTPIP51 in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, nuclear factor kB signaling, calcium homeostasis and chromosomal segregation and identifies important signaling hubs. The interference of PTPIP51 in such multiprotein complexes and their PTPIP51-modulated cross-talk makes PTPIP51 an ideal target for novel drugs such as the small molecule LDC-3. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

ERBB activation modulates sensitivity to MEK1/2 inhibition in a subset of driver-negative melanoma

Melanomas are characterized by activating “driver” mutations in BRAF, NRAS, KIT, GNAQ, and GNA11. Resultant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway signaling makes some melanomas susceptible to BRAF (BRAF V600 mutations), MEK1/2 (BRAF V600, L597, fusions; NRAS mutations), or other kinase inhibitors (KIT), respectively. Among driver-negative (“pan-negative”) patients, an unexplained heterogeneity of response to MEK1/2 inhibitors has been observed. Analysis of 16 pan-negative melanoma cell lines revealed that 8 (50%; termed Class I) are sensitive to the MEK1/2 inhibitor, trametinib, similar to BRAF V600E melanomas. A second set (termed Class II) display reduced trametinib sensitivity, paradoxical activation of MEK1/2 and basal activation of ERBBs 1, 2, and 3 (4 lines, 25%). In 3 of these lines, PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathway signaling is abrogated using the ERBB inhibitor, afatinib, and proliferation is even further reduced upon the addition of trametinib. A potential mechanism of ERBB activation in Class II melanomas is minimal expression of the ERK1/2 phosphatase, DUSP4, as ectopic restoration of DUSP4 attenuated ERBB signaling through potential modulation of the ERBB ligand, amphiregulin (AREG). Consistent with these data, immunohistochemical analysis of patient melanomas revealed a trend towards lower overall DUSP4 expression in pan-negative versus BRAF- and NRAS-mutant tumors. This study is the first to demonstrate that differential ERBB activity in pan-negative melanoma may modulate sensitivity to clinically-available MEK1/2 inhibitors and provides rationale for the use of ERBB inhibitors, potentially in combination with MEK1/2 inhibitors, in subsets of this disease.

Miltirone Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in CCRF-CEM Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells

Miltirone (1) is a diterpene quinone extracted from a well-known Chinese traditional herb (Salvia miltiorrhiza). We investigated the cytotoxic effects of miltirone toward sensitive and multidrug-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. Miltirone inhibited multidrug-resistant P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-overexpressing CEM/ADR5000 cells better than drug-sensitive CCRF-CEM wild-type cells, a phenomenon termed collateral sensitivity. Flow cytometric analyses revealed that miltirone induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, miltirone stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) disruption, which in turn induced DNA damage and activation of caspases and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP). Downregulation of CCNB1 (cyclin B1) and CDC2 mRNA and upregulation of CDKN1A (p21) mRNA were in accord with miltirone-induced G2/M arrest. Moreover, miltirone decreased cell adherence to fibronectin. Molecular docking revealed that miltirone bound to the ATP-binding site of IKK-β. In conclusion, miltirone was collateral sensitive in multidrug-resistant P-gp-overexpressing cells, induced G2/M arrest, and triggered apoptosis via ROS-generated breakdown of MMP and DNA damage. Therefore, miltirone may be a promising candidate for cancer chemotherapy.

Measurement of TLR-Induced Macrophage Spreading by Automated Image Analysis: Differential Role of Myd88 and MAPK in Early and Late Responses

Sensing of infectious danger by toll-like receptors (TLRs) on macrophages causes not only a reprogramming of the transcriptome but also changes in the cytoskeleton important for cell spreading and motility. Since manual determination of cell contact areas from fluorescence micrographs is very time-consuming and prone to bias, we have developed and tested algorithms for automated measurement of macrophage spreading. The two-step method combines identification of cells by nuclear staining with DAPI and cell surface staining of the integrin CD11b. Automated image analysis correlated very well with manual annotation in resting macrophages and early after stimulation, whereas at later time points the automated cell segmentation algorithm and manual annotation showed slightly larger variation. The method was applied to investigate the impact of genetic or pharmacological inhibition of known TLR signaling components. Deficiency in the adapter protein Myd88 strongly reduced spreading activity at the late time points, but had no impact early after LPS-stimulation. A similar effect was observed upon pharmacological inhibition of MEK1, the kinase activating the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) ERK1/2, indicating that ERK1/2 mediates Myd88-dependent macrophages spreading. In contrast, macrophages lacking the MAPK p38 were impaired in the initial spreading response but responded normally 8–24 h after stimulation. The dichotomy of p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK effects on early and late macrophage spreading raises the question which of the respective substrate proteins mediate(s) cytoskeletal remodeling and spreading. The automated measurement of cell spreading described here increases the objectivity and greatly reduces the time required for such investigations and is therefore expected to facilitate larger throughput analysis of macrophage spreading, e.g., in siRNA knockdown screens.

Differential up-regulation of MAP kinase phosphatases MKP3/DUSP6 and DUSP5 by Ets2 and c-Jun converge in the control of the growth arrest versus proliferation response of MCF-7 breast cancer cells to phorbol ester

Different levels of regulation account for the inactivation of MAP kinases by MAPK phosphatases (MKPs), in a cell type- and stimuli-dependent manner. MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells treated with the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) suffer growth arrest and show morphological alterations, which depend on the activation of the ERK1/2 MAP kinases. MKP3/DUSP6 and DUSP5 MAP kinase phosphatases, two negative regulators of ERK1/2, were specifically up-regulated in MCF-7 and SKBR3 cells in response to PMA. MKP3 and DUSP5 up-regulation required the prolonged activation of the ERK1/2 pathway, and correlated with the shutdown of this route. MKP3 induction relied on the activation of the Ets2 transcription factor, whereas DUSP5 induction depended on the activation of c-Jun. Diminishing the expression of MKP3 and DUSP5 raised the activation of ERK1/2, and accelerated growth arrest of PMA-treated MCF-7 cells. Conversely, MCF-7 cell lines expressing high levels of MKP3 or DUSP5 did not undergo PMA-triggered growth arrest, displayed a migratory phenotype, and formed colonies in soft agar. We propose that the differential up-regulation of MKP3 by Ets2 and of DUSP5 by c-Jun may converge in similar functional roles for these MAP kinase phosphatases in the growth arrest versus proliferation decisions of breast cancer cells.

Helicobacter pylori induces ERK-dependent formation of a phospho-c-Fos c-Jun activator protein-1 complex that causes apoptosis in macrophages

Macrophages are essential components of innate immunity, and apoptosis of these cells impairs mucosal defense to microbes. Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen that infects half of the world population and causes peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The host inflammatory response fails to eradicate the organism. We have reported that H. pylori induces apoptosis of macrophages by generation of polyamines from ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is dependent on c-Myc as a transcriptional enhancer. We have now demonstrated that expression of c-Myc requires phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of ERK, which results in phosphorylation of c-Fos and formation of a specific activator protein (AP)-1 complex. Electromobility shift assay and immunoprecipitation revealed a previously unrecognized complex of phospho-c-Fos (pc-Fos) and c-Jun in the nucleus. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer demonstrated the interaction of pc-Fos and c-Jun. The capacity of this AP-1 complex to bind to putative AP-1 sequences was demonstrated by oligonucleotide pulldown and fluorescence polarization. Binding of the pc-Fos.c-Jun complex to the c-Myc promoter was demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation. A dominant-negative c-Fos inhibited H. pylori-induced expression of c-Myc and ODC and apoptosis. H. pylori infection of mice induced a rapid infiltration of macrophages into the stomach. Concomitant apoptosis depleted these cells, and this was associated with formation of a pc-Fos.c-Jun complex. Treatment of mice with an inhibitor of ERK phosphorylation attenuated phosphorylation of c-Fos, expression of ODC, and apoptosis in gastric macrophages. A unique AP-1 complex in gastric macrophages contributes to the immune escape of H. pylori.

Nuclear factor-kappaB enhances ErbB2-induced mammary tumorigenesis and neoangiogenesis in vivo

The (HER2/Neu) ErbB2 oncogene is commonly overexpressed in human breast cancer and is sufficient for mammary tumorigenesis in transgenic mice. Nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activity is increased in both human and murine breast tumors. The immune response to mammary tumorigenesis may regulate tumor progression. The role of endogenous mammary epithelial cell NF-kappaB had not previously been determined in immune-competent animals. Furthermore, the role of the NF-kappaB components, p50 and p65, in tumor growth was not known. Herein, the expression of a stabilized form of the NF-kappaB-inhibiting IkappaBalpha protein (IkappaBalphaSR) in breast tumor cell lines that express oncogenic ErbB2 inhibited DNA synthesis and growth in both two- and three-dimensional cultures. Either NF-kappaB inhibition or selective silencing of p50 or p65 led to a loss of contact-independent tumor growth in vitro. IkappaBalphaSR reversed the features of the oncogene-induced phenotype under three-dimensional growth conditions. The NF-kappaB blockade inhibited ErbB2-induced mammary tumor growth in both immune-competent and immune-deficient mice. These findings were associated with both reduced tumor microvascular density and a reduction in the amount of vascular endothelial growth factor. The expression of IkappaBalphaSR in breast cancer tumors inhibited angiogenesis. Thus, mammary epithelial cell NF-kappaB activity enhances ErbB2-mediated mammary tumorigenesis in vivo by promoting both growth and survival signaling via the promotion of tumor vasculogenesis.

Regulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by acute and chronic morphine - implications for the role of cAMP-responsive element binding factor (CREB)-dependent and Ets-like protein-1 (Elk-1)-dependent transcription; small interfering RNA-based strategy

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) have been shown to be activated by opioids and functionally linked to addiction. Morphine-associated changes in ERK activity seem to be the characteristic features of opioid action. In this study, we observed a rapid and severe increase in ERK1/2 activity after a 5 min morphine treatment of HEK-MOR cells (transfected with the rat mu-opioid receptor MOR1) expressing mu-opioid receptor. Cellular adaptations to chronic (72 h) morphine treatment were manifested by a slight and sustained increase in ERK1/2 activity. Withdrawal caused by an opioid receptor antagonist - naloxone - attenuated phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Little information is available on the precise mechanism of ERK activity regulation. Using RNA interference technology, we generated stably transfected cells with silenced expression of cAMP-responsive element binding factor (CREB) and Ets-like protein-1 (Elk-1) transcription factors, which are known targets for activated ERK1/2. In these cells, ERK1/2 activity regulation was altered. Silencing of CREB or Elk-1 significantly increased ERK activation observed after 5 min of morphine stimulation. The initial level of activated ERKs in these cells was also augmented. Moreover, the cellular response to withdrawal signals and chronic opioid treatment was diminished. These differences suggest that both CREB-dependent and Elk-1-dependent transcription contribute to the expression of proteins regulating morphine-induced ERK activity (particular phosphatases, upstream kinases or their activatory proteins).

Host-pathogen systems biology: logical modelling of hepatocyte growth factor and Helicobacter pylori induced c-Met signal transduction

Background

The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) stimulates mitogenesis, motogenesis, and morphogenesis in a wide range of tissues, including epithelial cells, on binding to the receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met. Abnormal c-Met signalling contributes to tumour genesis, in particular to the development of invasive and metastatic phenotypes. The human microbial pathogen Helicobacter pylori can induce chronic gastritis, peptic ulceration and more rarely, gastric adenocarcinoma. The H. pylori effector protein cytotoxin associated gene A (CagA), which is translocated via a type IV secretion system (T4SS) into epithelial cells, intracellularly modulates the c-Met receptor and promotes cellular processes leading to cell scattering, which could contribute to the invasiveness of tumour cells. Using a logical modelling framework, the presented work aims at analysing the c-Met signal transduction network and how it is interfered by H. pylori infection, which might be of importance for tumour development.

Results

A logical model of HGF and H. pylori induced c-Met signal transduction is presented in this work. The formalism of logical interaction hypergraphs (LIH) was used to construct the network model. The molecular interactions included in the model were all assembled manually based on a careful meta-analysis of published experimental results. Our model reveals the differences and commonalities of the response of the network upon HGF and H. pylori induced c-Met signalling. As another important result, using the formalism of minimal intervention sets, phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) was identified as knockout target for repressing the activation of the extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), a signalling molecule directly linked to cell scattering in H. pylori infected cells. The model predicted only an effect on ERK1/2 for the H. pylori stimulus, but not for HGF treatment. This result could be confirmed experimentally in MDCK cells using a specific pharmacological inhibitor against PLCγ1. The in silico predictions for the knockout of two other network components were also verified experimentally.

Conclusion

This work represents one of the first approaches in the direction of host-pathogen systems biology aiming at deciphering signalling changes brought about by pathogenic bacteria. The suitability of our network model is demonstrated by an in silico prediction of a relevant target against pathogen infection.

The RAS-dependent ERF control of cell proliferation and differentiation is mediated by c-Myc repression

The ERF transcriptional repressor is a downstream effector of the RAS/ERK pathway that interacts with and is directly phosphorylated by ERKs in vivo and in vitro. This phosphorylation results in its cytoplasmic export and inactivation, although lack of ERK activity allows its immediate nuclear accumulation and repressor function. Nuclear ERFs arrest cell cycle progression in G(1) and can suppress ras-dependent tumorigenicity. Here we provide evidence that ERF function is mediated by its ability to repress transcription of c-Myc. Promoter reporter assays indicate a DNA binding-dependent and repressor domain-dependent Myc transcriptional repression. Chromatin immunoprecipitations in primary cells suggest that ERF specifically binds on the c-Myc promoter in an E2F4/5-dependent manner and only under conditions that the physiological c-Myc transcription is stopped. Cellular systems overexpressing nuclear ERF exhibit reduced c-Myc mRNA and tumorigenic potential. Elimination of Erf in animal models results in increased c-Myc expression, whereas Erf(-)(/)(-) primary fibroblasts fail to down-regulate Myc in response to growth factor withdrawal. Finally, elimination of c-Myc in primary mouse embryo fibroblasts negates the ability of nuclear ERF to suppress proliferation. Thus Erf provides a direct link between the RAS/ERK signaling and the transcriptional regulation of c-Myc and suggests that RAS/ERK attenuation actively regulates cell fate.

Inhibition of B56-containing Protein Phosphatase 2As by the Early Response Gene IEX-1 Leads to Control of Akt Activity

The importance of PP2A in the regulation of Akt/PKB activity has long been recognized but the nature of the holoenzyme involved and the mechanisms controlling dephosphorylation are not yet known. We identified IEX-1, an early gene product with proliferative and survival activities, as a specific inhibitor of B56 regulatory subunit-containing PP2A. IEX-1 inhibits B56-PP2A activity by allowing the phosphorylation of B56 by ERK. This leads to sustained ERK activation. IEX-1 has no effect on PP2A containing other B family subunits. Thus, studying IEX-1 contribution to signaling should help the discovery of new pathways controlled by B56-PP2A. By using overexpression and RNA interference, we show here that IEX-1 increases Akt/PKB activity in response to various growth factors by preventing Akt dephosphorylation on both Thr(308) and Ser(473) residues. PP2A-B56beta and gamma subunits have the opposite effect and reverse IEX-1-mediated Akt activation. The effect of IEX-1 on Akt is ERK-dependent. Indeed: (i) a IEX-1 mutant deficient in ERK binding had no effect on Akt; (ii) ERK dominant-negative mutants reduced IEX-1-mediated increase in pAkt; (iii) a B56beta mutant that cannot be phosphorylated in the ERK.IEX-1 complex showed an enhanced ability to compete with IEX-1. These results identify B56-containing PP2A holoenzymes as Akt phosphatases. They suggest that IEX-1 behaves as a general inhibitor of B56 activity, enabling the control of both ERK and Akt signaling downstream of ERK.

HOXA1-stimulated oncogenicity is mediated by selective upregulation of components of the p44/42 MAP kinase pathway in human mammary carcinoma cells

Expression of homeobox A1 (HOXA1) results in oncogenic transformation of immortalized human mammary epithelial cells with aggressive tumor formation in vivo. However, the mechanisms by which HOXA1 mediates oncogenic transformation is not well defined. To identify molecules that could potentially be involved in HOXA1-mediated oncogenic transformation, microarray analysis was utilized to characterize and compare the gene expression pattern in response to forced expression or depletion of HOXA1 in human mammary carcinoma cells. Gene expression profiling identified that genes involved in the p44/42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation pathway (GRB2, MAP kinase kinase (MEK1) and SDFR1) or p44/42 MAP kinase-regulated genes (IER3, EPAS1, PCNA and catalase) are downstream expression targets of HOXA1. Forced expression of HOXA1 increased GRB2 and MEK1 mRNA and protein expression and increased p44/42 MAP kinase phosphorylation, activity and Elk-1-mediated transcription. Use of a MEK1 inhibitor demonstrated that increased p44/42 MAP kinase activity is required for the HOXA1-mediated increase in cell proliferation, survival, oncogenicity and oncogenic transformation. Thus, modulation of the p44/42 MAP kinase pathway is one mechanism by which HOXA1 mediates oncogenic transformation of the human mammary epithelial cell.

ERK1/2-driven and MKP-mediated inhibition of EGF-induced ERK5 signaling in human proximal tubular cells

The MEK1-ERK1/2 signaling pathway has been implicated in the regulation of renal epithelial cell proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the induction of an invasive cell phenotype. Much less information is available about the MEK5-ERK5 module and its role in renal epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation. In the present study we have investigated the regulation of these two families of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells and a possible interaction between ERK1/2 and ERK5. Here we report that 5 ng/ml EGF led to a strong stimulation of HK-2 cell proliferation, which was largely U0126-sensitive. Both synthetic MEK1/2 inhibitors U0126 and Cl-1040, when used at 10 and 1 microM, respectively, inhibited basal and EGF-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation but not ERK5 phosphorylation. Long-term inhibition of MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling and/or vanadate-sensitive protein phosphatases enhanced and prolonged EGF-induced ERK5 phosphorylation, while transient expression of an adenoviral constitutively active MEK1 (Ad-caMEK1) construct completely blocked EGF-induced ERK5 phosphorylation. Expression of Ad-caMEK1 in HK-2 cells resulted in the upregulation of the dual-specificity phosphatases MKP-3/DUSP6, MKP-1/DUSP1, and DUSP5. The EGF-mediated time-dependent induction of MKP-3, MKP-1 and DUSP5 mRNA levels was U0126-sensitive at a concentration, which blocked EGF-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation but not ERK5 phosphorylation. Furthermore, U0126 inhibited EGF-induced MKP-3 and MKP-1 protein expression. Both MKP-3 and MKP-1 co-immunoprecipitated with ERK5 in unstimulated as well as in EGF-stimulated HK-2 cells. These results suggest the existence of an ERK1/2-driven negative feed-back regulation of ERK5 signaling in EGF-stimulated HK-2 cells, which is mediated by MKP-3, DUSP5 and/or MKP-1.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activity is not required in mammalian cells during late G2 for timely entry into or exit from mitosis

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activity is reported to be required in mammalian cells for timely entry into and exit from mitosis (i.e., the G2-mitosis [G2/M] and metaphase-anaphase [M/A] transitions). However, it is unclear whether this involvement reflects a direct requirement for ERK1/2 activity during these transitions or for activating gene transcription programs at earlier stages of the cell cycle. To examine these possibilities, we followed live cells in which ERK1/2 activity was inhibited through late G2 and mitosis. We find that acute inhibition of ERK1/2 during late G2 and through mitosis does not affect the timing of the G2/M or M/A transitions in normal or transformed human cells, nor does it impede spindle assembly, inactivate the p38 stress-activated checkpoint during late G2 or the spindle assembly checkpoint during mitosis. Using CENP-F as a marker for progress through G2, we also show that sustained inhibition of ERK1/2 transiently delays the cell cycle in early/mid-G2 via a p53-dependent mechanism. Together, our data reveal that ERK1/2 activity is required in early G2 for a timely entry into mitosis but that it does not directly regulate cell cycle progression from late G2 through mitosis in normal or transformed mammalian cells.

Primary and compensatory roles for RB family members at cell cycle gene promoters that are deacetylated and downregulated in doxorubicin-induced senescence of breast cancer cells

When treated with DNA-damaging chemotherapy agents, many cancer cells, in vivo and in vitro, undergo a terminal growth arrest and acquire a senescence-like phenotype. We investigated the molecular basis for this in breast cancer cells following a 2-hour treatment with 1 muM doxorubicin. Treated cells arrested in G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle, with concomitant reductions in S-phase and G2-M regulatory genes. p53 and p21 protein levels increased within hours after treatment and were maintained for 5 to 6 days but were reduced 8 days posttreatment, though the cells remained growth arrested. Levels of p130 rose after drug treatment, and it was the primary RB family member recruited to the S-phase promoters cyclin A and PCNA and G2-M promoters cyclin B and cdc2, remaining present for the entire 8-day time period. In contrast, p107 protein and promoter occupancy levels declined sharply after drug treatment. RB was recruited to only the PCNA promoter. In MCF-7 cells with p130 knockdown, p107 compensated for p130 loss at all cell cycle gene promoters examined, allowing cells to retain the growth arrest phenotype. Cells with p130 and p107 knockdown similarly arrested, while cells with knockdown of all three family members failed to downregulate cyclin A and cyclin B. These results demonstrate a mechanistic role for p130 and compensatory roles for p107 and RB in the long-term senescence-like growth arrest response of breast cancer cells to DNA damage.

Inactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway as a potential target-based therapy in ovarian serous tumors with KRAS or BRAF mutations

Activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) occurs in response to various growth stimulating signals and as a result of activating mutations of the upstream regulators, KRAS and BRAF, which can be found in many types of human cancer. To investigate the roles of MAPK activation in tumors harboring KRAS or BRAF mutations, we inactivated MAPK in ovarian tumor cells using CI-1040, a compound that selectively inhibits MAPK kinase, an upstream regulator of MAPK and thus prevents MAPK activation. Profound growth inhibition and apoptosis were observed in CI-1040-treated tumor cells with mutations in either KRAS or BRAF in comparison with the ovarian cancer cells containing wild-type sequences. Long serial analysis of gene expression identified several differentially expressed genes in CI-1040-treated MPSC1 cells harboring an activating mutation in BRAF (V599L). The most striking changes were down-regulation of cyclin D1, COBRA1, and transglutaminase-2 and up-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-induced ligand, thrombospondin-1, optineurin, and palladin. These patterns of gene expression were validated in other CI-1040-treated tumor cells based on quantitative PCR. Constitutive expression of cyclin D1 partially reversed the growth inhibitory effect of CI-1040 in MPSC1 cells. Our findings indicate that an activated MAPK pathway is critical in tumor growth and survival of ovarian tumors with KRAS or BRAF mutations and suggest that the CI-1040 induced phenotypes depend on the mutational status of KRAS and BRAF in ovarian tumors.