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Torres-Ayuso P, Katerji M, Mehlich D, Lookingbill SA, Sabbasani VR, Liou H, Casillas AL, Chauhan SS, Serwa R, Rubin MR, Marusiak AA, Swenson RE, Warfel NA, Brognard J. PIM1 targeted degradation prevents the emergence of chemoresistance in prostate cancer. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:326-337.e11. [PMID: 38016478 PMCID: PMC10922308 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
PIM kinases have important pro-tumorigenic roles and mediate several oncogenic traits, including cell proliferation, survival, and chemotherapeutic resistance. As a result, multiple PIM inhibitors have been pursued as investigational new drugs in cancer; however, response to PIM inhibitors in solid tumors has fallen short of expectations. We found that inhibition of PIM kinase activity stabilizes protein levels of all three PIM isoforms (PIM1/2/3), and this can promote resistance to PIM inhibitors and chemotherapy. To overcome this effect, we designed PIM proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) to target PIM for degradation. PIM PROTACs effectively downmodulated PIM levels through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Importantly, degradation of PIM kinases was more potent than inhibition of catalytic activity at inducing apoptosis in prostate cancer cell line models. In conclusion, we provide evidence of the advantages of degrading PIM kinases versus inhibiting their catalytic activity to target the oncogenic functions of PIM kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Torres-Ayuso
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Department of Cancer and Cellular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA
| | - Meghri Katerji
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Dawid Mehlich
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; Laboratory of Molecular OncoSignalling, IMol Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-783 Warsaw, Poland; Doctoral School of the Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sophia A Lookingbill
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Venkata R Sabbasani
- Chemistry and Synthesis Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hope Liou
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | | | - Shailender S Chauhan
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Remigiusz Serwa
- ReMedy International Research Agenda Unit, IMol Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-783 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maxine R Rubin
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Anna A Marusiak
- Laboratory of Molecular OncoSignalling, IMol Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-783 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rolf E Swenson
- Chemistry and Synthesis Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Noel A Warfel
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
| | - John Brognard
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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Chauhan SS, Casillas AL, Vizzerra AD, Liou H, Clements AN, Flores CE, Prevost CT, Kashatus DF, Snider AJ, Snider JM, Warfel NA. PIM1 drives lipid droplet accumulation to promote proliferation and survival in prostate cancer. Oncogene 2024; 43:406-419. [PMID: 38097734 PMCID: PMC10837079 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02914-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles with a neutral lipid core surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer. Solid tumors exhibit LD accumulation, and it is believed that LDs promote cell survival by providing an energy source during energy deprivation. However, the precise mechanisms controlling LD accumulation and utilization in prostate cancer are not well known. Here, we show peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) acts downstream of PIM1 kinase to accelerate LD accumulation and promote cell proliferation in prostate cancer. Mechanistically, PIM1 inactivates glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) via serine 9 phosphorylation. GSK3β inhibition stabilizes PPARα and enhances the transcription of genes linked to peroxisomal biogenesis (PEX3 and PEX5) and LD growth (Tip47). The effects of PIM1 on LD accumulation are abrogated with GW6471, a specific inhibitor for PPARα. Notably, LD accumulation downstream of PIM1 provides a significant survival advantage for prostate cancer cells during nutrient stress, such as glucose depletion. Inhibiting PIM reduces LD accumulation in vivo alongside slow tumor growth and proliferation. Furthermore, TKO mice, lacking PIM isoforms, exhibit suppression in circulating triglycerides. Overall, our findings establish PIM1 as an important regulator of LD accumulation through GSK3β-PPARα signaling axis to promote cell proliferation and survival during nutrient stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailender S Chauhan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.
| | - Andrea L Casillas
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Andres D Vizzerra
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA
| | - Hope Liou
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Amber N Clements
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Caitlyn E Flores
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Christopher T Prevost
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - David F Kashatus
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Ashley J Snider
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Justin M Snider
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Noel A Warfel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.
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Jensen CC, Clements AN, Liou H, Ball LE, Bethard JR, Langlais PR, Toth RK, Chauhan SS, Casillas AL, Daulat SR, Kraft AS, Cress AE, Miranti CK, Mouneimne G, Rogers GC, Warfel NA. PIM1 phosphorylates ABI2 to enhance actin dynamics and promote tumor invasion. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202208136. [PMID: 37042842 PMCID: PMC10103708 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202208136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Distinguishing key factors that drive the switch from indolent to invasive disease will make a significant impact on guiding the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) patients. Here, we identify a novel signaling pathway linking hypoxia and PIM1 kinase to the actin cytoskeleton and cell motility. An unbiased proteomic screen identified Abl-interactor 2 (ABI2), an integral member of the wave regulatory complex (WRC), as a PIM1 substrate. Phosphorylation of ABI2 at Ser183 by PIM1 increased ABI2 protein levels and enhanced WRC formation, resulting in increased protrusive activity and cell motility. Cell protrusion induced by hypoxia and/or PIM1 was dependent on ABI2. In vivo smooth muscle invasion assays showed that overexpression of PIM1 significantly increased the depth of tumor cell invasion, and treatment with PIM inhibitors significantly reduced intramuscular PCa invasion. This research uncovers a HIF-1-independent signaling axis that is critical for hypoxia-induced invasion and establishes a novel role for PIM1 as a key regulator of the actin cytoskeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corbin C. Jensen
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Amber N. Clements
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Hope Liou
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Lauren E. Ball
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Jennifer R. Bethard
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | | | - Shailender S. Chauhan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | | | | | - Anne E. Cress
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Cindy K. Miranti
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Ghassan Mouneimne
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Greg C. Rogers
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Noel A. Warfel
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Casillas AL, Chauhan SS, Toth RK, Jensen CC, Warfel NA. Abstract 1482: PIM1 promotes angiogenesis via phosphorylation and stabilization of HIF-1α. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
An essential process for the growth and dissemination of solid tumors is angiogenesis, or the formation of new blood vessels. Overexpression of Proviral Integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (PIM)-1, a serine-threonine kinase, has been implicated as a driver of aggressive prostate and colon cancer. PIM1 is known to promote tumor growth and survival, and we recently uncovered a role for PIM1 in promoting resistance to anti-angiogenic agents. Here, we identify a novel signaling pathway that directly links PIM to tumor angiogenesis. Immunohistochemical staining of prostate cancer tissue revealed a significant positive correlation between PIM1 and CD31 expression, a marker of endothelial cells. Using prostate cancer as a model, in vitro models of endothelial tube formation and DCE-MRI confirmed that PIM1 overexpression increases tumor angiogenesis. Gene expression analysis of PIM1 overexpressing cells showed that PIM kinases regulates the expression levels of many hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) target genes in normoxic conditions. In vitro, in vivo and kinase assays discovered a novel phosphorylation site within the oxygen-dependent degradation domain (ODDD) of HIF-1α that is a direct target of PIM1. Biochemical analysis demonstrates that phosphorylation of this site increases HIF-1α stability by decreasing PHD binding, hydroxylation, and subsequent proteasomal degradation of HIF-1α. Two CRISPR-generated cell lines with point mutations that mimic phosphorylation of this site were used in xenograft models of colon cancer to confirm the significance of this site to the identified PIM-HIF signaling and tumor angiogenesis. Importantly, we show that the anti-angiogenic and cytotoxic effects of PIM inhibitors are largely dependent on their ability to downregulate HIF-1α signaling. In summary, we uncovered a novel role for PIM1 in promoting tumor angiogenesis and identified a novel phosphorylation site that controls the stability of HIF-1α in normoxic and hypoxic conditions.This research yields important insight into the role of PIM signaling in solid tumors and provides preclinical evidence that to improve the translation of PIM kinase inhibitors in solid tumors.
Citation Format: Andrea L. Casillas, Shailender S. Chauhan, Rachel K. Toth, Corbin C. Jensen, Noel A. Warfel. PIM1 promotes angiogenesis via phosphorylation and stabilization of HIF-1α [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1482.
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Casillas AL, Toth RK, Sainz AG, Singh N, Desai AA, Kraft AS, Warfel NA. Hypoxia-Inducible PIM Kinase Expression Promotes Resistance to Antiangiogenic Agents. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 24:169-180. [PMID: 29084916 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-1318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Patients develop resistance to antiangiogenic drugs, secondary to changes in the tumor microenvironment, including hypoxia. PIM kinases are prosurvival kinases and their expression increases in hypoxia. The goal of this study was to determine whether targeting hypoxia-induced PIM kinase expression is effective in combination with VEGF-targeting agents. The rationale for this therapeutic approach is based on the fact that antiangiogenic drugs can make tumors hypoxic, and thus more sensitive to PIM inhibitors.Experimental Design: Xenograft and orthotopic models of prostate and colon cancer were used to assess the effect of PIM activation on the efficacy of VEGF-targeting agents. IHC and in vivo imaging were used to analyze angiogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation, and metastasis. Biochemical studies were performed to characterize the novel signaling pathway linking PIM and HIF1.Results: PIM was upregulated following treatment with anti-VEGF therapies, and PIM1 overexpression reduced the ability of these drugs to disrupt vasculature and block tumor growth. PIM inhibitors reduced HIF1 activity, opposing the shift to a pro-angiogenic gene signature associated with hypoxia. Combined inhibition of PIM and VEGF produced a synergistic antitumor response characterized by decreased proliferation, reduced tumor vasculature, and decreased metastasis.Conclusions: This study describes PIM kinase expression as a novel mechanism of resistance to antiangiogenic agents. Our data provide justification for combining PIM and VEGF inhibitors to treat solid tumors. The unique ability of PIM inhibitors to concomitantly target HIF1 and selectively kill hypoxic tumor cells addresses two major components of tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Clin Cancer Res; 24(1); 169-80. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea L Casillas
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Rachel K Toth
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Alva G Sainz
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences graduate program, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Neha Singh
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Ankit A Desai
- Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Andrew S Kraft
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona.,Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Noel A Warfel
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona. .,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
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