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AlZahrani WM, AlGhamdi SA, Sohrab SS, Rehan M. Investigating a Library of Flavonoids as Potential Inhibitors of a Cancer Therapeutic Target MEK2 Using in Silico Methods. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054446. [PMID: 36901876 PMCID: PMC10002492 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The second leading cause of death in the world is cancer. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 (MEK1/2) stand out among the different anticancer therapeutic targets. Many MEK1/2 inhibitors are approved and widely used as anticancer drugs. The class of natural compounds known as flavonoids is well-known for their therapeutic potential. In this study, we focus on discovering novel inhibitors of MEK2 from flavonoids using virtual screening, molecular docking analyses, pharmacokinetic prediction, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. A library of drug-like flavonoids containing 1289 chemical compounds prepared in-house was screened against the MEK2 allosteric site using molecular docking. The ten highest-scoring compounds based on docking binding affinity (highest score: -11.3 kcal/mol) were selected for further analysis. Lipinski's rule of five was used to test their drug-likeness, followed by ADMET predictions to study their pharmacokinetic properties. The stability of the best-docked flavonoid complex with MEK2 was examined for a 150 ns MD simulation. The proposed flavonoids are suggested as potential inhibitors of MEK2 and drug candidates for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wejdan M. AlZahrani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shareefa A. AlGhamdi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (S.A.A.); (M.R.)
| | - Sayed S. Sohrab
- Special Infectious Agents Unit-BSL3, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Rehan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (S.A.A.); (M.R.)
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2
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Moriizumi H, Kubota Y, Tsuchiya T, Naka R, Takekawa M. Caspase 3-specific cleavage of MEK1 suppresses ERK signaling and sensitizes cells to stress-induced apoptosis. FEBS Open Bio 2023; 13:684-700. [PMID: 36776127 PMCID: PMC10068311 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Proper regulation of apoptotic cell death is crucial for normal development and homeostasis in multicellular organisms and is achieved by the balance between pro-apoptotic processes, such as caspase activation, and pro-survival signaling, such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. However, the functional interplay between these opposing signaling pathways remains incompletely understood. Here, we identified MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) 1, a central component of the ERK pathway, as a specific substrate for the executioner caspase-3. During apoptosis, MEK1 is cleaved at an evolutionarily conserved Asp282 residue in the kinase domain, thereby losing its catalytic activity. Gene knockout experiments showed that MEK1 cleavage was mediated by caspase-3, but not by the other executioner caspases, caspase-6 or -7. Following exposure of cells to osmotic stress, elevated ERK activity gradually decreased, and this was accompanied by increased cleavage of MEK1. In contrast, the expression of a caspase-uncleavable MEK1(D282N) mutant in cells maintained stress-induced ERK activity and thereby attenuated apoptotic cell death. Thus, caspase-3-mediated, proteolytic inhibition of MEK1 sensitizes cells to apoptosis by suppressing pro-survival ERK signaling. Furthermore, we found that a RASopathy-associated MEK1(Y130C) mutation prevented this caspase-3-mediated proteolytic inactivation of MEK1 and efficiently protected cells from stress-induced apoptosis. Our data reveal the functional crosstalk between ERK-mediated cell survival and caspase-mediated cell death pathways and suggest that its dysregulation by a disease-associated MEK1 mutation is at least partly involved in the pathophysiology of congenital RASopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Moriizumi
- Division of Cell Signaling and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuji Kubota
- Division of Cell Signaling and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Tsuchiya
- Division of Cell Signaling and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Naka
- Division of Cell Signaling and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mutsuhiro Takekawa
- Division of Cell Signaling and Molecular Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
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3
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Dennison L, Ruggieri A, Mohan A, Leatherman J, Cruz K, Woolman S, Azad N, Lesinski GB, Jaffee EM, Yarchoan M. Context-Dependent Immunomodulatory Effects of MEK Inhibition are Enhanced with T-cell Agonist Therapy. Cancer Immunol Res 2021; 9:1187-1201. [PMID: 34389557 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-21-0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
MEK inhibition (MEKi) is proposed to enhance antitumor immunity but has demonstrated mixed results as an immunomodulatory strategy in human clinical trials. MEKi exerts direct immunomodulatory effects on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, but these effects have not been independently investigated. Here we modeled tumor-specific MEKi through CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing of tumor cells (MEK1 KO) and pharmacologic MEKi with cobimetinib in a RAS-driven model of colorectal cancer. This approach allowed us to distinguish tumor-mediated and tumor-independent mechanisms of MEKi immunomodulation. MEK1 KO tumors demonstrated upregulation of JAK/STAT signaling; enhanced MHCI expression, CD8+ T-cell infiltration and T-cell activation; and impaired tumor growth that is immune-dependent. Pharmacologic MEKi recapitulated tumor-intrinsic effects but simultaneously impaired T-cell activation in the tumor microenvironment. We confirmed a reduction in human peripheral lymphocyte activation from a clinical trial of anti-PD-L1 (atezolizumab) with or without cobimetinib in biliary tract cancers. Impaired activation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes treated with pharmacologic MEKi was reversible and was rescued with the addition of a 41BB agonist. Collectively, these data underscore the ability of MEKi to induce context-dependent immunomodulatory effects and suggest that T cell-agonist therapy maximizes the beneficial effects of MEKi on the antitumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda Ruggieri
- Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
| | - Aditya Mohan
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | | | | | - Skylar Woolman
- Biomedical Science, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
| | - Nilofer Azad
- Department of Medical Oncology, Johns Hopkins University
| | - Gregory B Lesinski
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
| | | | - Mark Yarchoan
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
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4
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Liu J, Zuo Z, Zou M, Finkel T, Liu S. Identification of the transcription factor Miz1 as an essential regulator of diphthamide biosynthesis using a CRISPR-mediated genome-wide screen. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009068. [PMID: 33057331 PMCID: PMC7591051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Diphthamide is a unique post-translationally modified histidine residue (His715 in all mammals) found only in eukaryotic elongation factor-2 (eEF-2). The biosynthesis of diphthamide represents one of the most complex modifications, executed by protein factors conserved from yeast to humans. Diphthamide is not only essential for normal physiology (such as ensuring fidelity of mRNA translation), but is also exploited by bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins (e.g., diphtheria toxin) as their molecular target in pathogenesis. Taking advantage of the observation that cells defective in diphthamide biosynthesis are resistant to ADP-ribosylating toxins, in the past four decades, seven essential genes (Dph1 to Dph7) have been identified for diphthamide biosynthesis. These technically unsaturated screens raise the question as to whether additional genes are required for diphthamide biosynthesis. In this study, we performed two independent, saturating, genome-wide CRISPR knockout screens in human cells. These screens identified all previously known Dph genes, as well as further identifying the BTB/POZ domain-containing transcription factor Miz1. We found that Miz1 is absolutely required for diphthamide biosynthesis via its role in the transcriptional regulation of Dph1 expression. Mechanistically, Miz1 binds to the Dph1 proximal promoter via an evolutionarily conserved consensus binding site to activate Dph1 transcription. Therefore, this work demonstrates that Dph1-7, along with the newly identified Miz1 transcription factor, are likely to represent the essential protein factors required for diphthamide modification on eEF2. Diphthamide is a unique post-translationally modified histidine residue (His699 in yeast, His715 in all mammals) found only in eukaryotic elongation factor-2 (eEF-2). Mice that are deficient in diphthamide biosynthesis are embryonic lethal, attesting to the importance of diphthamide in normal physiology. It has taken four decades to identify the seven non-redundant genes in diphthamide biosynthesis, but whether additional factors are required and how the pathway is regulated remained elusive. To address these issues, we performed two saturating, independent, and unbiased genome-wide CRISPR knockout screens. The screens concluded independently that Dph1-Dph7 and additionally transcription factor Miz1 are the key factors required for diphthamide biosynthesis. Mechanistically, Miz1 binds to the Dph1 proximal promoter via an evolutionarily conserved consensus binding site to activate Dph1 transcription. While diphthamide biosynthesis machinery (Dph1-Dph7) exists across eukaryotes, Miz1 orthologues do not exist in lower species such as yeast, C. elegans, and Drosophila, indicating that the regulation of diphthamide modification by Miz1 emerged much later in evolution. The work opens a new avenue for understanding the role that diphthamide modification plays in normal physiology and bacterial toxin pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Aging Institute of University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Zehua Zuo
- Aging Institute of University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Meijuan Zou
- Aging Institute of University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Toren Finkel
- Aging Institute of University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
| | - Shihui Liu
- Aging Institute of University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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5
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Wei J, Hu J, Wang L, Xie L, Jin MS, Chen X, Liu J, Jin J. Discovery of a First-in-Class Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 1/2 Degrader. J Med Chem 2019; 62:10897-10911. [PMID: 31730343 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
MEK1 and MEK2 (also known as MAP2K1 and MAP2K2) are the "gatekeepers" of the ERK signaling output with redundant roles in controlling ERK activity. Numerous inhibitors targeting MEK1/2 have been developed including three FDA-approved drugs. However, acquired resistance to MEK1/2 inhibitors has been observed in patients, and new therapeutic strategies are needed to overcome the resistance. Here, we report a first-in-class degrader of MEK1/2, MS432 (23), which potently and selectively degraded MEK1 and MEK2 in a VHL E3 ligase- and proteasome-dependent manner and suppressed ERK phosphorylation in cells. It inhibited colorectal cancer and melanoma cell proliferation much more effectively than its negative control MS432N (24), and its effect was phenocopied by MEK1/2 knockdown. Compound 23 was highly selective for MEK1/2 in global proteomic profiling studies. It was also bioavailable in mice and can be used for in vivo efficacy studies. We provide two well-characterized chemical tools to the biomedical community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieli Wei
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York 10029 , United States
| | - Jianping Hu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York 10029 , United States
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Margaret S Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York 10029 , United States
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Chapel Hill , North Carolina 27599 , United States
| | - Jing Liu
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York 10029 , United States
| | - Jian Jin
- Mount Sinai Center for Therapeutics Discovery, Departments of Pharmacological Sciences and Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York 10029 , United States
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6
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Peh J, Boudreau MW, Smith HM, Hergenrother PJ. Overcoming Resistance to Targeted Anticancer Therapies through Small-Molecule-Mediated MEK Degradation. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 25:996-1005.e4. [PMID: 29909991 PMCID: PMC6097934 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of mutant or fusion kinases that drive oncogenesis, and the subsequent approval of specific inhibitors for these enzymes, has been instrumental in the management of some cancers. However, acquired resistance remains a significant problem in the clinic, limiting the long-term effectiveness of most of these drugs. Here we demonstrate a general strategy to overcome this resistance through drug-induced MEK cleavage (via direct procaspase-3 activation) combined with targeted kinase inhibition. This combination effect is shown to be general across diverse tumor histologies (melanoma, lung cancer, and leukemia) and driver mutations (mutant BRAF or EGFR, fusion kinases EML4-ALK and BCR-ABL). Caspase-3-mediated degradation of MEK kinases results in sustained pathway inhibition and substantially delayed or eliminated resistance in cancer cells in a manner far superior to combinations with MEK inhibitors. These data suggest the generality of drug-mediated MEK kinase cleavage as a therapeutic strategy to prevent resistance to targeted anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Peh
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 261 Roger Adams Lab Box 36-5, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Matthew W Boudreau
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 261 Roger Adams Lab Box 36-5, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Hannah M Smith
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 261 Roger Adams Lab Box 36-5, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Paul J Hergenrother
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 261 Roger Adams Lab Box 36-5, 600 S. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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7
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Ouyang W, Guo P, Fang H, Frucht DM. Anthrax lethal toxin rapidly reduces c-Jun levels by inhibiting c-Jun gene transcription and promoting c-Jun protein degradation. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:17919-17927. [PMID: 28893904 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.805648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthrax is a life-threatening disease caused by infection with Bacillus anthracis, which expresses lethal factor and the receptor-binding protective antigen. These two proteins combine to form anthrax lethal toxin (LT), whose proximal targets are mitogen-activated kinase kinases (MKKs). However, the downstream mediators of LT toxicity remain elusive. Here we report that LT exposure rapidly reduces the levels of c-Jun, a key regulator of cell proliferation and survival. Blockade of proteasome-dependent protein degradation with the 26S proteasome inhibitor MG132 largely restored c-Jun protein levels, suggesting that LT promotes degradation of c-Jun protein. Using the MKK1/2 inhibitor U0126, we further show that MKK1/2-Erk1/2 pathway inactivation similarly reduces c-Jun protein, which was also restored by MG132 pre-exposure. Interestingly, c-Jun protein rebounded to normal levels 4 h following U0126 exposure but not after LT exposure. The restoration of c-Jun in U0126-exposed cells was associated with increased c-Jun mRNA levels and was blocked by inactivation of the JNK1/2 signaling pathway. These results indicate that LT reduces c-Jun both by promoting c-Jun protein degradation via inactivation of MKK1/2-Erk1/2 signaling and by blocking c-Jun gene transcription via inactivation of MKK4-JNK1/2 signaling. In line with the known functions of c-Jun, LT also inhibited cell proliferation. Ectopic expression of LT-resistant MKK2 and MKK4 variants partially restored Erk1/2 and JNK1/2 signaling in LT-exposed cells, enabling the cells to maintain relatively normal c-Jun protein levels and cell proliferation. Taken together, these findings indicate that LT reduces c-Jun protein levels via two distinct mechanisms, thereby inhibiting critical cell functions, including cellular proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Ouyang
- From the Division of Biotechnology Review and Research II, Office of Biotechnology Products, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993
| | - Pengfei Guo
- From the Division of Biotechnology Review and Research II, Office of Biotechnology Products, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993
| | - Hui Fang
- From the Division of Biotechnology Review and Research II, Office of Biotechnology Products, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993
| | - David M Frucht
- From the Division of Biotechnology Review and Research II, Office of Biotechnology Products, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland 20993
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8
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Goldberg AB, Cho E, Miller CJ, Lou HJ, Turk BE. Identification of a Substrate-selective Exosite within the Metalloproteinase Anthrax Lethal Factor. J Biol Chem 2016; 292:814-825. [PMID: 27909054 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.761734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The metalloproteinase anthrax lethal factor (LF) is secreted by Bacillus anthracis to promote disease virulence through disruption of host signaling pathways. LF is a highly specific protease, exclusively cleaving mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MKKs) and rodent NLRP1B (NACHT leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 1B). How LF achieves such restricted substrate specificity is not understood. Previous studies have suggested the existence of an exosite interaction between LF and MKKs that promotes cleavage efficiency and specificity. Through a combination of in silico prediction and site-directed mutagenesis, we have mapped an exosite to a non-catalytic region of LF. Mutations within this site selectively impair proteolysis of full-length MKKs yet have no impact on cleavage of short peptide substrates. Although this region appears important for cleaving all LF protein substrates, we found that mutation of specific residues within the exosite differentially affects MKK and NLRP1B cleavage in vitro and in cultured cells. One residue in particular, Trp-271, is essential for cleavage of MKK3, MKK4, and MKK6 but dispensable for targeting of MEK1, MEK2, and NLRP1B. Analysis of chimeric substrates suggests that this residue interacts with the MKK catalytic domain. We found that LF-W271A blocked ERK phosphorylation and growth in a melanoma cell line, suggesting that it may provide a highly selective inhibitor of MEK1/2 for use as a cancer therapeutic. These findings provide insight into how a bacterial toxin functions to specifically impair host signaling pathways and suggest a general strategy for mapping protease exosite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison B Goldberg
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Eunice Cho
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Chad J Miller
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Hua Jane Lou
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Benjamin E Turk
- From the Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
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9
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Halbrook CJ, Wen HJ, Ruggeri JM, Takeuchi KK, Zhang Y, Pasca di Magliano M, Crawford HC. Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Kinase Activity Maintains Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia and Is Required for Organ Regeneration in Pancreatitis. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016; 3:99-118. [PMID: 28090569 PMCID: PMC5235341 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2016.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in the exocrine pancreas has been extensively studied in the context of pancreatic cancer, where its potential as a therapeutic target is limited by acquired drug resistance. However, its role in pancreatitis is less understood. We investigated the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-initiated MAPK signaling in pancreatitis to determine the potential for MEK inhibition in treating pancreatitis patients. METHODS To examine the role of MEK signaling in pancreatitis, we used both genetic and pharmacologic approaches to inhibit the MAPK signaling pathway in a murine model of cerulein-induced pancreatitis. We generated mice harboring inducible short hairpins targeting the MEK isoforms Map2k1 and/or Map2k2 specifically in the pancreatic epithelium. We also used the MEK inhibitor trametinib to determine the efficacy of systemic inhibition in mice with pancreatitis. RESULTS We demonstrated an essential role for MEK signaling in the initiation of pancreatitis. We showed that both systemic and parenchyma-specific MEK inhibition in established pancreatitis induces epithelial differentiation and stromal remodeling. However, systemic MEK inhibition also leads to a loss of the proliferative capacity of the pancreas, preventing the restoration of organ mass. CONCLUSIONS MEK activity is required for the initiation and maintenance of pancreatitis. MEK inhibition may be useful in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis to interrupt the vicious cycle of destruction and repair but at the expense of organ regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Halbrook
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Hui-Ju Wen
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jeanine M. Ruggeri
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kenneth K. Takeuchi
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Yaqing Zhang
- Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Howard C. Crawford
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan,Reprint requests Address requests for reprints to: Howard Crawford, PhD, NCRC Building 520, Room 1347, 1600 Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1600. fax: (734) 647-6977.NCRC Building 520Room 1347, 1600 Huron ParkwayAnn ArborMichigan 48109-1600
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10
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Aoidi R, Maltais A, Charron J. Functional redundancy of the kinases MEK1 and MEK2: Rescue of theMek1mutant phenotype byMek2knock-in reveals a protein threshold effect. Sci Signal 2016; 9:ra9. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aad5658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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11
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Chou CM, Chen YC, Su S, Chen GD, Huang KY, Lien HW, Huang CJ, Cheng CH. Activation of MEK2 is sufficient to induce skin papilloma formation in transgenic zebrafish. J Biomed Sci 2015; 22:102. [PMID: 26572230 PMCID: PMC4647631 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-015-0207-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutations in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 1 (MEK1) that occur during cell proliferation and tumor formation are well described. Information on the roles of MEK2 in these effects is still limited. We established a constitutive MEK2 transgenic zebrafish, Tg(krt14:MEK2S219D-GFP), to elucidate the role of MEK2 in skin tumor formation. Results We found that both constitutive MEK2 and MEK1 are able to phosphorylate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) protein. Transient expression of constitutive MEK2 and MEK1 in the zebrafish epidermis induced papillary formation at 48 h post-fertilization, but no effects were observed due to the expression of MEK1, MEK2, or the dominant negative form of MEK2. The transgenic zebrafish, Tg(krt14:MEK2S219D-GFP), developed skin papillomas in the epidermis within 6 days post-fertilization (dpf). The phospho-ERK signal was detected in section of skin papillomas in an immunohistochemical experiment. Treatment with 50 μM of the MEK inhibitor, U0126, had significantly decreased the skin papilloma formation in Tg(krt14:MEK2S219D-GFP) zebrafish by 6 dpf. In vitro and in vivo proliferation assay in COS-1 cells and in Tg(krt14:MEK2S219D-GFP) transgenic fish show significantly increased cell number and Ki-67 signaling. Conclusion Our data indicate that MEK2 is sufficient to induce epidermal papilloma formation through MAPK signaling in zebrafish, and this transgenic model can be used as a new platform for drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ming Chou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Chung Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sec 2, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - San Su
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sec 2, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - Gen-Der Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sec 2, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - Kai-Yun Huang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sec 2, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - Huang-Wei Lien
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sec 2, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - Chang-Jen Huang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sec 2, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
| | - Chia-Hsiung Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110, Taiwan. .,Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250, Wuxing Street, Taipei, 11013, Taiwan.
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12
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Andersen NJ, Boguslawski EB, Kuk CY, Chambers CM, Duesbery NS. Combined inhibition of MEK and mTOR has a synergic effect on angiosarcoma tumorgrafts. Int J Oncol 2015; 47:71-80. [PMID: 25955301 PMCID: PMC4485647 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2015.2989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare neoplasm of endothelial origin that has limited treatment options and poor five-year survival. Using tumorgraft models, we previously showed that AS is sensitive to small-molecule inhibitors that target mitogen-activated/extracellular-signal-regulated protein kinase kinases 1 and 2 (MEK). The objective of this study was to identify drugs that combine with MEK inhibitors to more effectively inhibit AS growth. We examined the in vitro synergy between the MEK inhibitor PD0325901 and inhibitors of eleven common cancer pathways in melanoma cell lines and canine angiosarcoma cell isolates. Combination indices were calculated using the Chou-Talalay method. Optimized combination therapies were evaluated in vivo for toxicity and efficacy using canine angiosarcoma tumorgrafts. Among the drugs we tested, rapamycin stood out because it showed strong synergy with PD0325901 at nanomolar concentrations. We observed that angiosarcomas are insensitive to mTOR inhibition. However, treatment with nanomolar levels of mTOR inhibitor renders these cells as sensitive to MEK inhibition as a melanoma cell line with mutant BRAF. Similar results were observed in B-Raf wild-type melanoma cells as well as in vivo, where treatment of canine AS tumorgrafts with MEK and mTOR inhibitors was more effective than monotherapy. Our data show that a low dose of an mTOR inhibitor can dramatically enhance angiosarcoma and melanoma response to MEK inhibition, potentially widening the field of applications for MEK-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Andersen
- Laboratory of Cancer and Developmental Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Elissa B Boguslawski
- Laboratory of Cancer and Developmental Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Cynthia Y Kuk
- Laboratory of Cancer and Developmental Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Christopher M Chambers
- Frederik Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute, Spectrum Health Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Nicholas S Duesbery
- Laboratory of Cancer and Developmental Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
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13
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Guégan JP, Ezan F, Gailhouste L, Langouët S, Baffet G. MEK1/2 overactivation can promote growth arrest by mediating ERK1/2-dependent phosphorylation of p70S6K. J Cell Physiol 2014; 229:903-15. [PMID: 24501087 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2013] [Accepted: 11/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway has been involved in the positive and negative regulation of cell proliferation. Upon mitogen stimulation, ERK1/ERK2 activation is necessary for G1- to S-phase progression whereas when hyperactived, this pathway could elicit cell cycle arrest. The mechanisms involved are not fully elucidated but a kinase-independent function of ERK1/2 has been evidenced in the MAPK-induced growth arrest. Here, we show that p70S6K, a central regulator of protein biosynthesis, is essential for the cell cycle arrest induced by overactivation of ERK1/2. Indeed, whereas MEK1 silencing inhibits cell cycle progression, we demonstrate that active mutant form of MEK1 or MEK2 triggers a G1 phase arrest by stimulating an activation of p70S6K by ERK1/2 kinases. Silencing of ERK1/2 activity by shRNA efficiently suppresses p70S6K phosphorylation on Thr421/Ser424 and S6 phosphorylation on Ser240/244 as well as p21 expression, but these effects can be partially reversed by the expression of kinase-dead mutant form of ERK1 or ERK2. In addition, we demonstrate that the kinase p70S6K modulates neither the p21 gene transcription nor the stability of the protein but enhances the translation of the p21 mRNA. In conclusion, our data emphasizes the importance of the translational regulation of p21 by the MEK1/2-ERK1/2-p70S6K pathway to negatively control the cell cycle progression.
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14
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Liu S, Moayeri M, Leppla SH. Anthrax lethal and edema toxins in anthrax pathogenesis. Trends Microbiol 2014; 22:317-25. [PMID: 24684968 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2014.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Revised: 02/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The pathophysiological effects resulting from many bacterial diseases are caused by exotoxins released by the bacteria. Bacillus anthracis, a spore-forming bacterium, is such a pathogen, causing anthrax through a combination of bacterial infection and toxemia. B. anthracis causes natural infection in humans and animals and has been a top bioterrorism concern since the 2001 anthrax attacks in the USA. The exotoxins secreted by B. anthracis use capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (CMG2) as the major toxin receptor and play essential roles in pathogenesis during the entire course of the disease. This review focuses on the activities of anthrax toxins and their roles in initial and late stages of anthrax infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihui Liu
- Microbial Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Mahtab Moayeri
- Microbial Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Stephen H Leppla
- Microbial Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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15
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Bromberg-White JL, Andersen NJ, Duesbery NS. MEK genomics in development and disease. Brief Funct Genomics 2012; 11:300-10. [PMID: 22753777 PMCID: PMC3398258 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/els022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (the MAPK/ERK kinases; MKKs or MEKs) and their downstream substrates, the extracellular-regulated kinases have been intensively studied for their roles in development and disease. Until recently, it had been assumed any mutation affecting their function would have lethal consequences. However, the identification of MEK1 and MEK2 mutations in developmental syndromes as well as chemotherapy-resistant tumors, and the discovery of genomic variants in MEK1 and MEK2 have led to the realization the extent of genomic variation associated with MEKs is much greater than had been appreciated. In this review, we will discuss these recent advances, relating them to what is currently understood about the structure and function of MEKs, and describe how they change our understanding of the role of MEKs in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Bromberg-White
- Laboratory of Cancer and Developmental Cell Biology, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
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