Reversible Myc hypomorphism identifies a key Myc-dependency in early cancer evolution

Germ-line hypomorphism of the pleiotropic transcription factor Myc in mice, either through Myc gene haploinsufficiency or deletion of Myc enhancers, delays onset of various cancers while mice remain viable and exhibit only relatively mild pathologies. Using a genetically engineered mouse model in which Myc expression may be systemically and reversibly hypomorphed at will, we asked whether this resistance to tumour progression is also emplaced when Myc hypomorphism is acutely imposed in adult mice. Indeed, adult Myc hypomorphism profoundly blocked KRasG12D-driven lung and pancreatic cancers, arresting their evolution at the early transition from indolent pre-tumour to invasive cancer. We show that such arrest is due to the incapacity of hypomorphic levels of Myc to drive release of signals that instruct the microenvironmental remodelling necessary to support invasive cancer. The cancer protection afforded by long-term adult imposition of Myc hypomorphism is accompanied by only mild collateral side effects, principally in haematopoiesis, but even these are circumvented if Myc hypomorphism is imposed metronomically whereas potent cancer protection is retained.

HRas and Myc synergistically induce cell cycle progression and apoptosis of murine cardiomyocytes

Aim

Adult mammalian cardiomyocytes are incapable of significant proliferation, limiting regeneration after myocardial injury. Overexpression of the transcription factor Myc has been shown to drive proliferation in the adult mouse heart, but only when combined with Cyclin T1. As constitutive HRas activity has been shown to stabilise Cyclin T1 in vivo, we aimed to establish whether Myc and HRas could also act cooperatively to induce proliferation in adult mammalian cardiomyocytes in vivo.

Methods and results

Using a genetically modified mouse model, we confirmed that constitutive HRas activity (HRas G 12 V ) increased Cyclin T1 expression. HRas G 12 V and constitutive Myc expression together co-operate to drive cell-cycle progression of adult mammalian cardiomyocytes. However, stimulation of endogenous cardiac proliferation by the ectopic expression of HRas G 12 V and Myc also induced cardiomyocyte death, while Myc and Cyclin T1 expression did not.

Conclusion

Co-expression of Cyclin T1 and Myc may be a therapeutically tractable approach for cardiomyocyte neo-genesis post injury, while cell death induced by HRas G 12 V and Myc expression likely limits this option as a regenerative therapeutic target.

Assembly of nuclear dimers of PI3K regulatory subunits is regulated by the Cdc42-activated tyrosine kinase ACK

Activated Cdc42-associated kinase (ACK) is an oncogenic nonreceptor tyrosine kinase associated with poor prognosis in several human cancers. ACK promotes proliferation, in part by contributing to the activation of Akt, the major effector of class 1A phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), which transduce signals via membrane phosphoinositol lipids. We now show that ACK also interacts with other key components of class 1A PI3K signaling, the PI3K regulatory subunits. We demonstrate ACK binds to all five PI3K regulatory subunit isoforms and directly phosphorylates p85α, p85β, p50α, and p55α on Tyr607 (or analogous residues). We found that phosphorylation of p85β promotes cell proliferation in HEK293T cells. We demonstrate that ACK interacts with p85α exclusively in nuclear-enriched cell fractions, where p85α phosphorylated at Tyr607 (pTyr607) also resides, and identify an interaction between pTyr607 and the N-terminal SH2 domain that supports dimerization of the regulatory subunits. We infer from this that ACK targets p110-independent p85 and further postulate that these regulatory subunit dimers undertake novel nuclear functions underpinning ACK activity. We conclude that these dimers represent a previously undescribed mode of regulation for the class1A PI3K regulatory subunits and potentially reveal additional avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Methods for Determining Myc-Induced Apoptosis

Although many oncoproteins promote cell growth and proliferation, some also possess the potential to induce cell cycle arrest or cell death by apoptosis. Elevated and deregulated expression of the Myc protein promotes apoptosis in both cultured cells and in some tissues in vivo. Here we describe techniques to detect Myc-induced apoptosis in vitro using flow cytometry, microscopy, and immunoblotting, and in vivo using immunohistochemical staining, immunoblotting, and analysis of RNA expression.

Reactivation of Myc transcription in the mouse heart unlocks its proliferative capacity

It is unclear why some tissues are refractory to the mitogenic effects of the oncogene Myc. Here we show that Myc activation induces rapid transcriptional responses followed by proliferation in some, but not all, organs. Despite such disparities in proliferative response, Myc is bound to DNA at open elements in responsive (liver) and non-responsive (heart) tissues, but fails to induce a robust transcriptional and proliferative response in the heart. Using heart as an exemplar of a non-responsive tissue, we show that Myc-driven transcription is re-engaged in mature cardiomyocytes by elevating levels of the positive transcription elongation factor (P-TEFb), instating a large proliferative response. Hence, P-TEFb activity is a key limiting determinant of whether the heart is permissive for Myc transcriptional activation. These data provide a greater understanding of how Myc transcriptional activity is determined and indicate modification of P-TEFb levels could be utilised to drive regeneration of adult cardiomyocytes for the treatment of heart myopathies.

MYC Instructs and Maintains Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Phenotype

The signature features of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are its fibroinflammatory stroma, poor immune activity, and dismal prognosis. We show that acute activation of Myc in indolent pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm (PanIN) epithelial cells in vivo is, alone, sufficient to trigger immediate release of instructive signals that together coordinate changes in multiple stromal and immune-cell types and drive transition to pancreatic adenocarcinomas that share all the characteristic stromal features of their spontaneous human counterpart. We also demonstrate that this Myc-driven PDAC switch is completely and immediately reversible: Myc deactivation/inhibition triggers meticulous disassembly of advanced PDAC tumor and stroma and concomitant death of tumor cells. Hence, both the formation and deconstruction of the complex PDAC phenotype are continuously dependent on a single, reversible Myc switch. SIGNIFICANCE: We show that Myc activation in indolent Kras G12D-induced PanIN epithelium acts as an immediate pleiotropic switch, triggering tissue-specific signals that instruct all the diverse signature stromal features of spontaneous human PDAC. Subsequent Myc deactivation or inhibition immediately triggers a program that coordinately disassembles PDAC back to PanIN.See related commentary by English and Sears, p. 495.

Abstract 108: Reactivation of Myc Transcription in the Heart Unlocks its Proliferative Capacity

It is unclear why some tissues are refractory to the mitogenic effects of the pleiotropic transcription factor Myc, even when its expression is deregulated. We have developed an in vivo model permitting determination of the early transcriptional consequences of Myc activation across all tissues of an adult mouse. Myc activation induces rapid transcriptional responses, followed by cell proliferation in some, but not all, organs. Despite such disparities in proliferative response, Myc bound DNA at open promotor and enhancer elements, in representative responsive (liver) and non-responsive (heart) tissues, but failed to induce a robust transcriptional and proliferative response in the heart. Therefore, the determinants of transcriptional responsiveness are distinct from chromatin state and DNA binding by Myc. Using heart as an exemplar of a non-responsive tissue, we show that Myc-driven transcription may be re-engaged in mature cardiomyocytes by elevating levels of the P-TEFb, instating a profound proliferative response to Myc. These data indicate that the cardiac epigenomic architecture does not preclude Myc binding to E-boxes; rather, it is the inability of Myc to drive transcriptional output from Myc target genes that thwarts cardiomyocyte proliferation. Hence, P-TEFb activity is a key limiting determinant of whether or not an individual tissue is permissive for Myc transcriptional activation and mitogenesis. These data provide not only a greater understanding of how Myc transcriptional activity is determined in cellular contexts, they also indicate that modification of the expression levels of the transcriptional co-factor P-TEFb could be a means through which adult cardiomyocytes could be regenerated for the treatment of heart conditions.

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) induces FAS dependent apoptosis in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Over expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induces apoptosis and reduces neointima formation occurring after saphenous vein interposition grafting or coronary stenting. In studies to address the mechanism of TIMP-3-driven apoptosis in human VSMCs we find that TIMP-3 increased activation of caspase-8 and apoptosis was inhibited by expression of Cytokine response modifier A (CrmA) and dominant negative FAS-Associated protein with Death Domain (FADD). TIMP-3 induced apoptosis did not cause mitochondrial depolarisation, increase activation of caspase-9 and was not inhibited by over-expression of B-cell Lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), indicating a mitochondrial independent/type-I death receptor pathway. TIMP-3 increased levels of the First Apoptosis Signal receptor (FAS) and depletion of FAS with shRNA showed TIMP-3-induced apoptosis was FAS dependent. TIMP-3 induced formation of the Death-Inducing Signalling Complex (DISC), as detected by immunoprecipitation and by immunofluorescence. Cellular-FADD-like IL-1 converting enzyme-Like Inhibitory Protein (c-FLIP) localised with FAS at the cell periphery in the absence of TIMP-3 and this localisation was lost on TIMP-3 expression with c-FLIP adopting a perinuclear localisation. Although TIMP-3 inhibited FAS shedding, this did not increase total surface levels of FAS but instead increased FAS levels within localised regions at the cell surface. A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is inhibited by TIMP-3 and depletion of ADAM17 with shRNA significantly decreased FAS shedding. However ADAM17 depletion did not induce apoptosis or replicate the effects of TIMP-3 by increasing localised clustering of cell surface FAS. ADAM17-depleted cells could activate caspase-3 when expressing levels of TIMP-3 that were otherwise sub-apoptotic, suggesting a partial role for ADAM17 mediated ectodomain shedding in TIMP-3 mediated apoptosis. We conclude that TIMP-3 induced apoptosis in VSMCs is highly dependent on FAS and is associated with changes in FAS and c-FLIP localisation, but is not solely dependent on shedding of the FAS ectodomain.

Myc Cooperates with Ras by Programming Inflammation and Immune Suppression

The two oncogenes KRas and Myc cooperate to drive tumorigenesis, but the mechanism underlying this remains unclear. In a mouse lung model of KRasG12D-driven adenomas, we find that co-activation of Myc drives the immediate transition to highly proliferative and invasive adenocarcinomas marked by highly inflammatory, angiogenic, and immune-suppressed stroma. We identify epithelial-derived signaling molecules CCL9 and IL-23 as the principal instructing signals for stromal reprogramming. CCL9 mediates recruitment of macrophages, angiogenesis, and PD-L1-dependent expulsion of T and B cells. IL-23 orchestrates exclusion of adaptive T and B cells and innate immune NK cells. Co-blockade of both CCL9 and IL-23 abrogates Myc-induced tumor progression. Subsequent deactivation of Myc in established adenocarcinomas triggers immediate reversal of all stromal changes and tumor regression, which are independent of CD4+CD8+ T cells but substantially dependent on returning NK cells. We show that Myc extensively programs an immune suppressive stroma that is obligatory for tumor progression.

Determination of the physiological and pathological roles of E2F3 in adult tissues

While genetically engineered mice have made an enormous contribution towards the elucidation of human disease, it has hitherto not been possible to tune up or down the level of expression of any endogenous gene. Here we describe compound genetically modified mice in which expression of the endogenous E2f3 gene may be either reversibly elevated or repressed in adult animals by oral administration of tetracycline. This technology is, in principle, applicable to any endogenous gene, allowing direct determination of both elevated and reduced gene expression in physiological and pathological processes. Applying this switchable technology to the key cell cycle transcription factor E2F3, we demonstrate that elevated levels of E2F3 drive ectopic proliferation in multiple tissues. By contrast, E2F3 repression has minimal impact on tissue proliferation or homeostasis in the majority of contexts due to redundancy of adult function with E2F1 and E2F2. In the absence of E2F1 and E2F2, however, repression of E2F3 elicits profound reduction of proliferation in the hematopoietic compartments that is rapidly lethal in adult animals.

SOX2 Drives Bronchial Dysplasia in a Novel Organotypic Model of Early Human Squamous Lung Cancer

RATIONALE

Improving the early detection and chemoprevention of lung cancer are key to improving outcomes. The pathobiology of early squamous lung cancer is poorly understood. We have shown that amplification of sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) is an early and consistent event in the pathogenesis of this disease, but its functional oncogenic potential remains uncertain. We tested the impact of deregulated SOX2 expression in a novel organotypic system that recreates the molecular and microenvironmental context in which squamous carcinogenesis occurs.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To develop an in vitro model of bronchial dysplasia that recapitulates key molecular and phenotypic characteristics of the human disease; (2) to test the hypothesis that SOX2 deregulation is a key early event in the pathogenesis of bronchial dysplasia; and (3) to use the model for studies on pathogenesis and chemoprevention.

METHODS

We engineered the inducible activation of oncogenes in immortalized bronchial epithelial cells. We used three-dimensional tissue culture to build an organotypic model of bronchial dysplasia.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We recapitulated human bronchial dysplasia in vitro. SOX2 deregulation drives dysplasia, and loss of tumor promoter 53 is a cooperating genetic event that potentiates the dysplastic phenotype. Deregulated SOX2 alters critical genes implicated in hallmarks of cancer progression. Targeted inhibition of AKT prevents the initiation of the dysplastic phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

In the appropriate genetic and microenvironmental context, acute deregulation of SOX2 drives bronchial dysplasia. This confirms its oncogenic potential in human cells and affords novel insights into the impact of SOX2 deregulation. This model can be used to test therapeutic agents aimed at chemoprevention.

Re-engineering the Pancreas Tumor Microenvironment: A "Regenerative Program" Hacked

The "hallmarks" of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) include proliferative, invasive, and metastatic tumor cells and an associated dense desmoplasia comprised of fibroblasts, pancreatic stellate cells, extracellular matrix, and immune cells. The oncogenically activated pancreatic epithelium and its associated stroma are obligatorily interdependent, with the resulting inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironment contributing greatly to the evolution and maintenance of PDAC. The peculiar pancreas-specific tumor phenotype is a consequence of oncogenes hacking the resident pancreas regenerative program, a tissue-specific repair mechanism regulated by discrete super enhancer networks. Defined as genomic regions containing clusters of multiple enhancers, super enhancers play pivotal roles in cell/tissue specification, identity, and maintenance. Hence, interfering with such super enhancer-driven repair networks should exert a disproportionately disruptive effect on tumor versus normal pancreatic tissue. Novel drugs that directly or indirectly inhibit processes regulating epigenetic status and integrity, including those driven by histone deacetylases, histone methyltransferase and hydroxylases, DNA methyltransferases, various metabolic enzymes, and bromodomain and extraterminal motif proteins, have shown the feasibility of disrupting super enhancer-dependent transcription in treating multiple tumor types, including PDAC. The idea that pancreatic adenocarcinomas rely on embedded super enhancer transcriptional mechanisms suggests a vulnerability that can be potentially targeted as novel therapies for this intractable disease. Clin Cancer Res; 23(7); 1647-55. ©2017 AACRSee all articles in this CCR Focus section, "Pancreatic Cancer: Challenge and Inspiration."

Abstract 535: Deregulated Myc is an immunosuppressive switch

Early tumor evolution through sustained oncogene activity selectively bypasses the engagement of cell-intrinsic tumor-suppressor signaling and cell-extrinsic microenvironmental restrictions. How the immune system may be involved is virtually unknown. We describe here the contributions of a conditional and reversible low-level expression of Myc in a mouse model of KrasG12D-driven non-small cell lung cancer. Deregulated Myc activity results in highly expansive tumors that appear embedded in inflamed regions and leads to a rapid reduction of mouse survival. Myc activation imposes an immediate switch to an immunosuppressive and pro-angiogenic microenvironment, facilitated through IL23- and CCL9-associated recruitment of PD-L1 loaded macrophages and local exclusion of T-lymphocytes. Reversibly, blocking the activity of Myc-driven IL23 and CCL9 expression or withdrawal of deregulated Myc activity in tumors established by oncogene cooperation results in tumor cell death and regression, associated with a collapse of the established microenvironmental changes and re-engagement of cytotoxic T-cells. During oncogene cooperation with Ras, deregulated Myc directs a sufficient and necessary switch to a microenvironment that shields tumor growth and expansion from immune suppression.

Citation Format: Roderik M. Kortlever, Nicole M. Sodir, Catherine H. Wilson, Deborah L. Burkhart, Lamorna Swigart, Trevor D. Littlewood, Gerard I. Evan. Deregulated Myc is an immunosuppressive switch. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 535.

Identification of MYC-Dependent Transcriptional Programs in Oncogene-Addicted Liver Tumors

Tumors driven by activation of the transcription factor MYC generally show oncogene addiction. However, the gene expression programs that depend upon sustained MYC activity remain unknown. In this study, we employed a mouse model of liver carcinoma driven by a reversible tet-MYC transgene, combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation and gene expression profiling to identify MYC-dependent regulatory events. As previously reported, MYC-expressing mice exhibited hepatoblastoma- and hepatocellular carcinoma-like tumors, which regressed when MYC expression was suppressed. We further show that cellular transformation, and thus initiation of liver tumorigenesis, were impaired in mice harboring a MYC mutant unable to associate with the corepressor protein MIZ1 (ZBTB17). Notably, switching off the oncogene in advanced carcinomas revealed that MYC was required for the continuous activation and repression of distinct sets of genes, constituting no more than half of all genes deregulated during tumor progression and an even smaller subset of all MYC-bound genes. Altogether, our data provide the first detailed analysis of a MYC-dependent transcriptional program in a fully developed carcinoma and offer a guide to identifying the critical effectors contributing to MYC-driven tumor maintenance. Cancer Res; 76(12); 3463-72. ©2016 AACR.

Abstract B09: Myc is required for maintenance of KRasG12D-driven pancreatic cancer and its associated microenvironment

Deregulation of Myc is observed in most, if not all, human cancers making it an attractive therapeutic target. Indeed, recent studies demonstrate that Myc inhibition (via expression of a dominant negative Myc mutant) triggers regression of SV40-driven pancreatic islet tumors and KRasG12D-driven lung tumors in mice. Myc inhibition in insulinomas elicits regression presaged by collapse of the tumor microenvironment and involution of the tumor vasculature. A characteristic feature of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extensive stromal component (desmoplasia) that is thought to contribute to the resistance of PDAC to current therapies. We show that systemic Myc inhibition in KRasG12D-driven mouse PDAC triggers regression of both tumor and its associated desmoplastic stroma, indicating that endogenous Myc function in the tumor cells is required for maintenance of the desmoplastic reaction. Consistent with this, deregulated expression of physiological levels of Myc enhances pancreatic tumor progression and promotes local immune evasion and stromal desmoplasia. Reversal of deregulated Myc activity results in reversion of these features indicating that they are dependent on Myc activity. The ubiquity of Myc in tumor development and maintenance indicates that it serves an essential and non-redundant role, coupling diverse intracellular oncogenic pathways to the tumor microenvironment, and underscoring its credentials as a pharmacological target in cancers driven by different oncogenes and arising in different tissues.

Citation Format: Nicole M. Sodir, Lamorna Brown Swigart, Roderik M. Kortlever, Trevor D. Littlewood, Laura Soucek, Mark J. Arends, Gerard I. Evan. Myc is required for maintenance of KRasG12D-driven pancreatic cancer and its associated microenvironment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Myc: From Biology to Therapy; Jan 7-10, 2015; La Jolla, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2015;13(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B09.

Abstract A52: Myc is required for maintenance of KRasG12D-driven pancreatic cancer and its associated microenvironment

The frequent occurrence of Myc deregulation in human cancers makes Myc an intriguing potential therapeutic target. This is supported by recent studies demonstrating that Myc inhibition (via expression of a dominant negative Myc mutant) triggers regression of SV40-driven pancreatic islet tumors and KRasG12D-driven lung tumors in mice. In the case of insulinoma, regression is presaged by collapse of the tumor microenvironment and involution of the tumor vasculature. One feature of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is its extensive stromal component (desmoplasia) that is thought to contribute to the resistance of PDAC to current therapies. We show that systemic Myc inhibition in the well-established KRasG12D-driven PDAC mouse model triggers regression of both tumor and its associated desmoplastic stroma, indicating that endogenous Myc function in the tumor cells is required for maintenance of the desmoplastic reaction. Consistent with this, ectopic expression of physiological levels of deregulated Myc enhances pancreatic tumor progression and drives stromal desmoplasia, and this reverses upon cessation of deregulated Myc. That systemic Myc inhibition causes regression of both tumor and its associated stroma, while ectopic activation of Myc in tumor cells drives both tumor progression and desmoplasia, confirm that Myc serves an essential and non-redundant role, coupling diverse intracellular oncogenic pathways to the tumor microenvironment, and underscoring its credentials as a pharmacological target in cancers driven by different oncogenes and arising in different tissues.

Citation Format: Nicole M. Sodir, Laura Soucek, Trevor D. Littlewood, Mark J. Arends, Gerard I. Evan. Myc is required for maintenance of KRasG12D-driven pancreatic cancer and its associated microenvironment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A52.

Abstract A03: Modeling the therapeutic benefit of Ras-family inhibition in vivo

Cancers depend upon co-opting the core machinery that allows a normal cell to convert extrinsic signals into a cellular response such as proliferation, arrest, or apoptosis. Inhibition of the protein families at the core of this machinery may cause the regression of tumors; however, this inhibition could disrupt normal tissues that depend upon continuous proliferation. One such protein family that holds a key place in this regulatory machinery is the Ras family of small GTPases, comprised of N-Ras, K-Ras and H-Ras. The Ras proteins integrate cell surface signals from Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) and transduce their consolidated signal via a cascade of downstream intracellular kinases that regulate transcription factors, cell architecture, cell cycle and metabolism.

In order to model the potential therapeutic index of Ras-family inhibition in vivo, we have generated a novel transgenic mouse in which the expression of a pan-Ras dominant negative protein (H-RasN17) is regulated by doxycycline. These mice enable us to model inhibition of the Ras pathway in vivo and thus determine the likely therapeutic efficacy of Ras inhibition.

Expression of H-RasN17 reduces the expression of phospho-Erk in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Furthermore, persistent expression delays entry into the cell cycle from G0 and slows asynchronously proliferating cells. These effects are completely reversible when expression of H-RasN17 is switched off, through removal of doxycycline. H-RasN17 sequesters Ras-specific guanine exchange factors (GEFs) and therefore may not inhibit active, oncogenic Ras mutants that are constitutively associated with GTP. However, we find that H-RasN17 also reduces proliferation of MEFs that express oncogenic forms of K-Ras. Further studies will explore the ability of H-RasN17 to inhibit transformation induced by oncogenic forms of K-Ras, and determine the mechanism of inhibition.

Preliminary in vivo data suggest that the effects of systemic H-RasN17 expression depend upon its level of expression in different tissues. High levels of H-RasN17 generally result in increased apoptosis in several tissues, particularly the pancreas, within a week of expression, whereas lower levels are well tolerated by adult mice for up to two months.

To complement our in vitro analysis of Ras inhibition in cells expressing oncogenic K-ras, we have expressed H-RasN17 in KrasG12D driven non-small cell lung tumors. Early results suggest that expression of H-RasN17 in these tumors reduces tumor burden, most likely by slowing tumor growth rather than by inducing cell death. Currently, we are further investigating the effects of both high and low levels of H-RasN17 on normal tissues and also in additional tumor models such as LSL-BrafV619E melanoma, MMTV-Her2 mammary gland tumors, and Eμ-Myc lymphomas.

Citation Format: Deborah L. Burkhart, Ivonne Gamper, Ana P. Rebocho, Haixi Yan, Trevor D. Littlewood, Gerard I. Evan. Modeling the therapeutic benefit of Ras-family inhibition in vivo. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A03. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-A03

Abstract PR02: Myc-Ras cooperation can overwhelm tumor suppressive mechanisms within lung adenocarcinomas

The ability of Myc and Ras to cooperate during tumorigenesis was first observed over thirty years ago. Numerous mechanisms have been implicated in their collaboration. For instance, Myc can act to circumvent Ras-induced growth arrest. Alternatively, Ras has been shown to prevent Myc-induced apoptosis by activating the anti-apoptotic kinase Akt. Early experiments in primary rodent cells demonstrated that neither Ras nor Myc alone was sufficient for transformation, whereas when expressed together, transformation occurred. However, these transformation events were rare, suggesting additional co-operating mutations were also required. These and other investigations ultimately led to the concept of ‘intrinsic tumor suppression’, whereby the effects of activation of an individual oncogene is limited by their dual potential to invoke cell cycle arrest or apoptosis, which limit their other oncogenic functions. The dogma suggests that cancers only arise in oncogene expressing cells when anti-apoptotic/cell arrest mutations are acquired and the disruption of these pathways leads to net proliferation.

There is increasing evidence that the activation of intrinsic tumor suppressive mechanisms depend on increased oncogenic flux resulting from changes in the level of oncogene expression. For example, high expression of oncogenic Ras results in premature growth arrest in MEFs, whereas an endogenous level does not. To address this phenomenon with regards to Myc, we previously generated a novel knock-in mouse (R26c-MycER) in which the c-MycERTAM protein was inserted into the relatively ubiquitous, albeit low expressing Rosa26 locus. In contrast to high levels of Myc expressed in classical transgenic models, low-level c-Myc expression did not trigger intrinsic tumor suppression mechanisms in most tissues, suggesting that low levels of oncogenic Myc may be a more efficient initiator of oncogenesis than over expressed Myc, as it might not require cooperating loss of tumor suppressive pathways.

We have now created a R26CAG-c-MycER allele that expresses a 5-10 fold higher constitutive expression of MycERTAM than the R26c-MycER allele. Together with R26c-MycER mice we have been able to generate an allelic series of mice that allow the control, in a spatial and temporal fashion, the activity of de-regulated c-Myc at low, medium and high levels. When we sporadically activated c-MycERTAM within the lung epithelial cells, only very few high-level expressing c-MycERTAM and none of the low-level mice developed tumors within 18 weeks suggesting Myc alone is insufficient for tumorigenesis irrespective of oncogenic level. However, in the presence of an endogenous level of oncogenic K-RasG12D, lung adenomas are evident in mice expressing both low and high levels of c-Myc. Mice expressing the highest levels of c-Myc developed adenocarcinomas with extremely short latency and have a greatly reduced survival when compared to mice with lower levels of c-Myc.

As expected, low level c-Myc did not activate intrinsic tumor suppression via the Arf/p53 pathways within K-Ras driven lesions and these tumors grew faster than lesions with oncogenic K-Ras alone. However, tumors expressing high levels of c-Myc did engage a number of key tumor suppressors and apoptosis increased as a function of c-Myc level, despite the continued growth and extremely short latency of the adenomas/adenocarcinomas in these mice. Thus, when combined with oncogenic K-Ras, high c-Myc cooperation results in rapid tumorigenesis whereby tumors are still able to grow prolifically despite the apparent activation of the surveillance mechanisms. Further analysis is currently underway to determine the specific survival advantage oncogenic K-Ras offers within this system.

This abstract is also presented as Poster B20.

Citation Format: Catherine H. Wilson, Deborah L. Burkhart, Jinyang Li, Trevor D. Littlewood, Gerard I. Evan. Myc-Ras cooperation can overwhelm tumor suppressive mechanisms within lung adenocarcinomas. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr PR02. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-PR02

Abstract 1568: Cellular mechanisms of tumor regression following Myc inhibition

Myc is a pleiotropic transcription factor associated with various aspects of cell growth. Tumor cells often have deregulated Myc expression, which consequently promotes uncontrolled proliferation. Recent work in our lab using a mouse model of lung cancer has demonstrated that expression of a dominant negative form of Myc causes tumor regression whilst having mild and reversible effects on normal proliferating tissues. However the cellular mechanism of how Myc inhibition leads to tumor regression is not known. Here we show that Myc inhibition causes metabolic changes in tumor cells associated with a reduced proliferative/biosynthetic state. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Myc inhibition leads to p21 expression independently of p53 and may account for tumor cell cycle arrest.

Citation Format: Dan Lu, Deborah L. Burkhart, Julian L. Griffin, Trevor D. Littlewood, Gerard I. Evan. Cellular mechanisms of tumor regression following Myc inhibition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1568. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1568

Abstract 2608: Dissecting Myc inhibition as a cancer therapy

The MYC family of basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper (bHLH-LZ) transcription factors are critical for cell growth, proliferation and apoptosis. c-Myc is deregulated in most, if not all, cancers making it an attractive target for cancer therapy. Previously we have shown that Myc inhibition by a mutant c-Myc derivative, Omomyc, leads to tumor regression in several cancer models, notably in murine KRasG12D-driven lung adenocarcinomas. The mechanism by which Omomyc expression leads to tumor regression has not been fully elucidated, nor do we know the biochemical properties of a small molecule that could replicate Omomyc's activity. Therefore, we designed two novel Omomyc mutants (ΔMyc and MMO) that are hypothesised not to interact with the full Omomyc interactome but are still able to inhibit Myc transactivation. We subsequently created human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (A549s) and transgenic mice which inducibly express Omomyc, ΔMyc and MMO. Unexpectedly Omomyc and ΔMyc inhibited proliferation in vitro but not MMO. In vivo, expression of the mutants has been detected and we are currently assessing their effect on KRasG12D-driven adenocarcinomas.

Citation Format: Nicholas J. H. Salisbury, Catherine H. Wilson, Dan Lu, Trevor D. Littlewood, Gerard I. Evan. Dissecting Myc inhibition as a cancer therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2608. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2608

Methods for determining Myc-induced apoptosis

Although many oncoproteins promote cell growth and proliferation, some also possess the potential to induce cell death by apoptosis. Deregulated expression of the myc oncogene promotes apoptosis in both cultured cells and in some tissues in vivo. Here we describe techniques to detect Myc-induced apoptosis in vitro using flow cytometry and microscopy and in vivo using immunohistochemical staining.

All things to all people

Myc is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. Attempts to identify Myc target genes, particularly in cancer, have been fraught with dead ends and context-specific functions. Lin et al. and Nie et al. address this conundrum by showing that Myc acts to amplify the output of existing transcriptionally active genes.

Smooth muscle cell apoptosis promotes vessel remodeling and repair via activation of cell migration, proliferation, and collagen synthesis

OBJECTIVE

Although vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis occurs after vessel injury and during remodeling, the direct role of VSMC death in determining final vessel structure is unclear. We sought to determine the role of VSMC apoptosis in vessel remodeling, medial repair, and neointima formation and to identify the mediators involved.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The left common carotid artery was ligated in SM22α-human diphtheria toxin receptor mice, in which diphtheria toxin treatment selectively induces VSMC apoptosis. Apoptosis induced from day 7 to day 14 after ligation significantly increased neointimal and medial areas, cell proliferation, migration, and vessel size. Neointima formation depended on VSMCs, as VSMC depletion before ligation significantly reduced neointimal area and cellularity. In culture, conditioned media from apoptotic VSMCs promoted VSMC migration, proliferation, and collagen synthesis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion increased 5-fold and IL-1α 1.5-fold after apoptosis, whereas IL-6 inhibition negated the effect of apoptotic VSMC supernatants on VSMC migration, proliferation, and matrix synthesis.

CONCLUSION

Signaling from apoptotic VSMCs directly promotes vessel remodeling, medial repair, and neointima formation after flow reduction. Although lumen size appears to depend on flow, VSMC apoptosis is an important determinant of vessel, medial, and neointimal size after flow reduction.

Chronic apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells accelerates atherosclerosis and promotes calcification and medial degeneration

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) accumulation is implicated in plaque development. In contrast, VSMC apoptosis is implicated in plaque rupture, coagulation, vessel remodeling, medial atrophy, aneurysm formation, and calcification. Although VSMC apoptosis accompanies multiple pathologies, there is little proof of direct causality, particularly with the low levels of VSMC apoptosis seen in vivo. Using a mouse model of inducible VSMC-specific apoptosis, we demonstrate that low-level VSMC apoptosis during either atherogenesis or within established plaques of apolipoprotein (Apo)E(-/-) mice accelerates plaque growth by two-fold, associated with features of plaque vulnerability including a thin fibrous cap and expanded necrotic core. Chronic VSMC apoptosis induced development of calcified plaques in younger animals and promoted calcification within established plaques. In addition, VSMC apoptosis induced medial expansion, associated with increased elastic lamina breaks, and abnormal matrix deposition reminiscent of cystic medial necrosis in humans. VSMC apoptosis prevented outward remodeling associated with atherosclerosis resulting in marked vessel stenosis. We conclude that VSMC apoptosis is sufficient to accelerate atherosclerosis, promote plaque calcification and medial degeneration, prevent expansive remodeling, and promote stenosis in atherosclerosis.

Akt regulates the survival of vascular smooth muscle cells via inhibition of FoxO3a and GSK3

Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) may lead to atherosclerotic plaque instability and rupture, resulting in myocardial infarction, stroke, and sudden death. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating survival of VSMCs in atherosclerotic plaques remain unknown. Although plaque VSMCs exhibit increased susceptibility to apoptosis and reduced expression of the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) when compared with normal VSMCs, a causative effect has not been established. Here we show that increased expression of the IGF1R can rescue plaque VSMCs from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis, demonstrating that IGF-1 signaling is a critical regulator of VSMC survival. Akt mediates the majority of the IGF1R survival signaling, and ectopic activation of Akt was sufficient to protect VSMCs in vitro. Both IGF1R and phospho-Akt expression were reduced in human plaque (intimal) VSMCs when compared with medial VSMCs, suggesting that Akt mediates survival signaling in atherosclerosis. Importantly, downstream targets of Akt were identified that mediate its protective effect as inhibition of FoxO3a or GSK3 by Akt-dependent phosphorylation protected VSMCs in vitro. We conclude that Akt and its downstream targets FoxO3a and GSK3 regulate a survival pathway in VSMCs and that their deregulation due to a reduction of IGF1R signaling may promote apoptosis in atherosclerosis.

Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells induces features of plaque vulnerability in atherosclerosis

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) apoptosis occurs in many arterial diseases, including aneurysm formation, angioplasty restenosis and atherosclerosis. Although VSMC apoptosis promotes vessel remodeling, coagulation and inflammation, its precise contribution to these diseases is unknown, given that apoptosis frequently accompanies vessel injury or alterations to flow. To study the direct consequences of VSMC apoptosis, we generated transgenic mice expressing the human diphtheria toxin receptor (hDTR, encoded by HBEGF) from a minimal Tagln (also known as SM22alpha) promoter. Despite apoptosis inducing loss of 50-70% of VSMCs, normal arteries showed no inflammation, reactive proliferation, thrombosis, remodeling or aneurysm formation. In contrast, VSMC apoptosis in atherosclerotic plaques of SM22alpha-hDTR Apoe-/- mice induced marked thinning of fibrous cap, loss of collagen and matrix, accumulation of cell debris and intense intimal inflammation. We conclude that VSMC apoptosis is 'silent' in normal arteries, which have a large capacity to withstand cell loss. In contrast, VSMC apoptosis alone is sufficient to induce features of plaque vulnerability in atherosclerosis. SM22alpha-hDTR Apoe-/- mice may represent an important new model to test agents proposed to stabilize atherosclerotic plaques.

Apoptotic cell death in atherosclerosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Apoptosis is a critical regulator of homeostasis in many tissues, including the vasculature. Apoptosis in atherosclerotic lesions is triggered by inflammatory processes, both via cell-cell contact and by cytokines and oxidized lipids. Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and macrophages may promote plaque growth and pro-coagulation and may induce rupture, the major consequence of atherosclerosis in humans.

RECENT FINDINGS

Studies over the past year have clearly demonstrated the significance of cell death in atherosclerosis. Some of the key cellular, cytokine and molecular regulators that contribute to the apoptosis of cells within the atherosclerotic lesion have been identified and their mechanism of action elucidated. Other studies have shed some light on the identity of cells whose loss by apoptosis contributes to plaque instability.

SUMMARY

The identification of which cell types undergo apoptosis within the atherosclerotic lesion, the extracellular factors that impinge on these cells, and the intracellular mechanisms that govern their demise have begun to be elucidated. This information is critical in the design of further in-vivo experiments such as the exploitation of animal models, and ultimately, in applying this knowledge to clinical practice.

Chromosomal and extrachromosomal instability of the cyclin D2 gene is induced by Myc overexpression

We examined the expression of cyclins D1, D2, D3, and E in mouse B-lymphocytic tumors. Cyclin D2 mRNA was consistently elevated in plasmacytomas, which characteristically contain Myc-activating chromosome translocations and constitutive c-Myc mRNA and protein expression. We examined the nature of cyclin D2 overexpression in plasmacytomas and other tumors. Human and mouse tumor cell lines that exhibited c-Myc dysregulation displayed instability of the cyclin D2 gene, detected by Southern blot, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and in extrachromosomal preparations (Hirt extracts). Cyclin D2 instability was not seen in cells with low levels of c-Myc protein. To unequivocally demonstrate a role of c-Myc in the instability of the cyclin D2 gene, a Myc-estrogen receptor chimera was activated in two mouse cell lines. After 3 to 4 days of Myc-ER activation, instability at the cyclin D2 locus was seen in the form of extrachromosomal elements, determined by FISH of metaphase and interphase nuclei and of purified extrachromosomal elements. At the same time points, Northern and Western blot analyses detected increased cyclin D2 mRNA and protein levels. These data suggest that Myc-induced genomic instability may contribute to neoplasia by increasing the levels of a cell cycle-regulating protein, cyclin D2, via intrachromosomal amplification of its gene or generation of extrachromosomal copies.

Suppression of c-Myc-induced apoptosis by the Epstein-Barr virus gene product BHRF1

Constitutive expression of the c-myc proto-oncogene in growth factor-deprived fibroblasts promotes proliferation and induces apoptosis. In these cells, apoptosis can be inhibited by survival factors such as insulin-like growth factor I or the bcl-2 proto-oncogene product. Deregulated c-Myc expression is a common feature in Epstein-Barr virus-positive Burkitt's lymphoma in which the c-myc gene is reciprocally translocated and placed under the control of one of the immunoglobulin loci. BHRF1 is an Epstein-Barr virus protein expressed early in the lytic cycle. BHRF1 is a member of the Bcl-2 family and has been shown to suppress apoptosis and to increase cell survival in different settings. In the present study, we report that BHRF1 inhibits c-Myc-induced apoptosis which occurs in the absence of survival factors. It does not, however, affect the capacity of c-Myc to promote cell growth. These findings demonstrate that BHRF1 has not only structural but also functional similarities to Bcl-2.

Increased sensitivity of human vascular smooth muscle cells from atherosclerotic plaques to p53-mediated apoptosis

The recent demonstration that apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) occurs in human atherosclerotic plaques suggests that VSMC apoptosis may promote plaque rupture and subsequent myocardial infarction. In culture, human plaque VSMCs show higher rates of apoptosis than VSMCs from normal vessels, although the mechanism of this effect is unknown. In earlier studies, we have shown that the tumor suppressor gene p53 regulates apoptosis of rat VSMCs after deregulated cell cycle control. We therefore analyzed p53 function in cultured VSMCs derived from human coronary plaques or the media of normal coronary arteries. VSMCs with reduced or increased p53 activity were created by infecting VSMCs with retroviruses containing a dominant-negative p53 minigene or a chimeric p53 protein (p53TMER), which could be activated pharmacologically. Basal p53 protein expression and transcriptional activity were similar in plaque and normal VSMCs, and suppression of p53 activity blocked growth arrest in response to DNA damage in both VSMC types. In contrast, suppression of p53 activity failed to block apoptosis of plaque or normal VSMCs in low- or high-serum conditions or after DNA damage. Furthermore, in plaque VSMCs, p53 overexpression induced apoptosis in all conditions tested and also induced growth arrest. p53-mediated apoptosis was independent of new gene transcription or protein synthesis but was suppressed by prior growth arrest of cells, indicating that growth status can regulate sensitivity to p53-mediated apoptosis. No effect of increased p53 activity was seen in normal VSMCs. We conclude that VSMCs from human plaques have an increased sensitivity to p53-mediated apoptosis compared with normal VSMCs. Our data also suggest that the mechanism of p53-mediated apoptosis of plaque VSMCs may be distinct from that inducing growth arrest.

Large induction of c-Myc is not essential for the mitogenic response of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts

Quiescent Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts can be stimulated to reenter the cell cycle following stimulation with growth factors. Among these, bombesin is a potent mitogen for Swiss 3T3 cells and can act synergistically with insulin to stimulate DNA synthesis through protein kinase C-independent pathways. One of the earliest nuclear responses of quiescent cells treated with a combination of bombesin and insulin is a dramatic increase in c-Myc expression, and it has been suggested that this proto-oncogene plays a central role in the mitogenic response. In the present study, we have taken two approaches to study the relationship between c-Myc expression and the reinitiation of DNA synthesis. First, low concentrations of bombesin, in the presence of insulin, stimulated DNA synthesis in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts in the absence of a large increase in c-myc mRNA or protein levels. Second, selective down-regulation of phorbol ester-inducible protein kinase C in Swiss 3T3 cells resulted in a 90% decrease in the induction of c-myc mRNA and an 80% reduction in Myc protein expression but did not affect the mitogenic response to bombesin and insulin. These observations were confirmed in detailed dose-response and time-course experiments. We conclude that the large induction of c-Myc is not an essential event for the entry of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts into S phase. Quantitation of Myc protein levels using a sensitive ELISA indicated that quiescent cells could enter S phase with only 450 c-Myc molecules per cell. These results indicate that cells in the G0 phase of the cell cycle can be stimulated to reinitiate DNA synthesis with only marginal increases in Myc protein expression.

Induction of apoptosis by tamoxifen-activation of a p53-estrogen receptor fusion protein expressed in E1A and T24 H-ras transformed p53-/- mouse embryo fibroblasts

A fusion gene consisting of wild-type p53 linked to a modified ligand binding domain of the murine estrogen receptor has been constructed and should be a useful tool for studying controlled activation of wild-type p53 function in a variety of experimental cell systems. The protein product of this gene, p53ERTM, is expressed in cells constitutively but is not functional unless associated with tamoxifen or 4-hydroxytamoxifen. p53ERTM was introduced into p53-deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) expressing the E1A and T24 H-ras oncogenes. Activation of p53 in these transformed cells by the addition of tamoxifen or 4-hydroxytamoxifen resulted in apoptosis. In addition to engaging the apoptotic machinery, the tamoxifen-activated fusion protein exhibited other functions characteristic of wild-type p53, such as induction of WAF1 and MDM2 gene expression and activation of the p53-dependent spindle checkpoint in cells treated with nocodazole. Activation of p53ERTM expressed in p53-positive MEFs coexpressing E1A and ras had, at most, only a small cytotoxic effect. When three cell lines of transformed p53+/+ fibroblasts not expressing p53ERTM were tested for sensitivity to the DNA-damaging drug doxorubicin, the p53+/+ clones displayed either comparable sensitivity, or at most an increase in drug sensitivity of less than fourfold, as compared to several p53-/- cell lines. Our data show that restoration of wild-type p53 activity is sufficient to trigger apoptosis in p53-/- MEFs transformed with E1A and T24 H-ras and suggest that rare propagable clones of p53-normal MEFs expressing the E1A and T24 H-ras oncogenes have suffered compensatory alterations that compromise the ability to undergo p53-dependent apoptosis.

Inducible site-directed recombination in mouse embryonic stem cells

The site-directed recombinase Cre can be employed to delete or express genes in cell lines or animals. Clearly, the ability to control remotely the activity of this enzyme would be highly desirable. To this end we have constructed expression vectors for fusion proteins consisting of the Cre recombinase and a mutated hormone-binding domain of the murine oestrogen receptor. The latter still binds the anti-oestrogen drug tamoxifen but no longer 17 beta-oestradiol. We show here that in embryonic stem cells expressing such fusion proteins, tamoxifen can efficiently induce Cre-mediated recombination, thereby activating a stably integrated LacZ reporter gene. In the presence of either 10 microM tamoxifen or 800 nM 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, recombination of the LacZ gene is complete within 3-4 days. By placing a tamoxifen-binding domain on both ends of the Cre protein, the enzymatic activity of Cre can be even more tightly controlled. Transgenic mice expressing such an tamoxifen-inducible Cre enzyme may thus provide a new and useful genetic tool to mutate or delete genes at specific times during development or in adult animals.

A modified oestrogen receptor ligand-binding domain as an improved switch for the regulation of heterologous proteins

A number of proteins have been rendered functionally oestrogen-dependent by fusion with the hormone-binding domain of the oestrogen receptor. There are, however, several significant disadvantages with such fusion proteins. First, their use in cells in vitro requires phenol red-free medium and laborious stripping of steroid hormones from serum in order to avoid constitutive activation. Secondly, control of oestrogen receptor fusion proteins in vivo is precluded by high endogenous levels of circulating oestrogens. Thirdly, the hormone-binding domain of the oestrogen receptor functions as a hormone-dependent transcriptional activation domain making interpretation of fusions with transcription factors problematical. In order to overcome these drawbacks we have used a transcriptionally inactive mutant of the murine oestrogen receptor which is unable to bind oestrogen yet retains normal affinity for the synthetic ligand, 4-hydroxytamoxifen. When the hormone-binding domain of this mutant oestrogen receptor is fused to the C-terminus of the c-Myc protein, Myc-induced proliferation and apoptosis in fibroblasts becomes dependent on 4-hydroxytamoxifen, but remains refractory to 17 beta-oestradiol.

Down-regulation of the c-myc proto-oncogene in inhibition of vascular smooth-muscle cell proliferation: a signal for growth arrest?

Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell proliferation contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty and vein graft disease. The regulation of genes involved in VSM cell proliferation, particularly by naturally occurring inhibitors, is therefore of some importance. We have investigated the role of the c-myc proto-oncogene in growth arrest of exponentially proliferating rat VSM cells, following mitogen withdrawal, treatment with heparin (50 micrograms/ml), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) (100 i.u./ml), or the cyclic nucleotide analogues, 8-bromo-adenosine-3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP; 0.1 mM) and 8-bromoguanosine-3'5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP; 0.1 mM). Growth arrest was accompanied by down-regulation of c-Myc protein and mRNA following treatment with all inhibitors. Serum withdrawal or IFN-gamma treatment suppressed c-myc expression by more than 50% within 2 h, and this occurred throughout the cell cycle. Platelet-derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor all contributed independently to the maintenance of c-myc expression. Heparin, 8-Br-cAMP or 8-Br-cGMP also suppressed c-myc, but this occurred later, after 24-48 h, and was also observed following arrest by metabolic block. We conclude that c-myc expression is linked to VSM cell growth arrest in response to endogenous regulators and metabolic block. Down-regulation of c-myc expression may thus be an essential part of the arrest programme in VSM cells induced by many pharmacological agents.

The c-Myc protein induces cell cycle progression and apoptosis through dimerization with Max

The c-Myc protein (Myc) is involved in cellular transformation and mitogenesis, but is also a potent inducer of programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Whether these apparently opposite functions are mediated through common or distinct molecular mechanisms remains unclear. Myc and its partner protein, Max, dimerize and bind DNA in vitro and in vivo through basic/helix-loop-helix/leucine zipper motifs (bHLH-LZ). By using complementary leucine zipper mutants (termed MycEG and MaxEG), which dimerize efficiently with each other but not with their wild-type partners, we demonstrate that both cell cycle progression and apoptosis in nontransformed rodent fibroblasts are induced by Myc-Max dimers. MycEG or MaxEG alone are inactive, but co-expression restores ability to prevent withdrawal from the cell cycle and to induce cell death upon removal of growth factors. Thus, Myc can control two alternative cell fates through dimerization with a single partner, Max.

The role of c-myc in cell growth

Recent experiments have established that the c-myc oncogene encodes a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that interacts with a specific intracellular partner, Max, and probably manifests its effects through transcriptional modulation. In addition, the range of biological functions attributed to expression of c-myc has grown to include not only transformation and mitogenesis but also cell death.

Oncogenic activity of the c-Myc protein requires dimerization with Max

c-Myc (Myc) and Max proteins dimerize and bind DNA through basic-helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper motifs (b-HLH-LZ). Using a genetic approach, we demonstrate that binding to Max is essential for Myc transforming activity and that Myc homodimers are inactive. Mutants of Myc and Max that bind efficiently to each other but not to their wild-type partners were generated by either exchanging the HLH-LZ domains or reciprocally modifying LZ dimerization specificities. While transformation defective on their own, complementary mutants restore Myc transforming activity when coexpressed in cells. The HLH-LZ exchange mutants also have dominant negative activity on wild-type Myc function. In addition, wild-type max antagonizes myc function in a dose-dependent manner, presumably through competition of Max-Max and Myc-Max dimers for common target DNA sites. Therefore, Max can function as both suppressor and activator of Myc. A general model for the role of Myc and Max in growth control is discussed.

Transcriptional activation by the human c-Myc oncoprotein in yeast requires interaction with Max

The c-myc protein (Myc) contains an amino-terminal transcriptional activation domain and a carboxy-terminal basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper (bHLH-Z) domain that directs dimerization of Myc with its partner, the max protein (Max), and promotes DNA binding to sites containing a CACGTG core consensus sequence. Despite these characteristics and the observation that Myc can modulate gene expression, a direct role for Myc or Max as transcription factors has never been demonstrated. Here we use Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an in vivo model system to show that the Myc protein is a sequence-specific transcriptional activator whose DNA binding is strictly dependent on dimerization with Max. Transactivation is mediated by the amino-terminal domain of Myc. We find that Max homodimers bind to the same DNA sequence as Myc+Max but that they fail to transactivate and thus can antagonize Myc+Max function. We also show that the Max HLH-Z domain has a higher affinity for the Myc HLH-Z domain than for itself, and suggest that the heterodimeric Myc+Max activator forms preferentially at equilibrium.

Max and c-Myc/Max DNA-binding activities in cell extracts

We have examined the interactions and DNA-binding activities of the c-Myc oncoprotein and its partner Max. In cell extracts virtually all c-Myc molecules are associated with Max in heterodimeric complexes. Moreover, DNA-binding studies with in vitro-translated protein and cell extracts show that both Max alone and c-Myc/Max bind the same DNA sequence. Conversely, c-Myc is unable to bind this sequence in the absence of Max. These findings suggest that c-Myc may function via obligate complex formation with Max.

Induction of apoptosis in fibroblasts by c-myc protein

Although Rat-1 fibroblasts expressing c-myc constitutively are unable to arrest growth in low serum, their numbers do not increase in culture because of substantial cell death. We show this cell death to be dependent upon expression of c-myc protein and to occur by apoptosis. Regions of the c-myc protein required for induction of apoptosis overlap with regions necessary for cotransformation, autoregulation, and inhibition of differentiation, suggesting that the apoptotic function of c-myc protein is related to its other functions. Moreover, cells with higher levels of c-myc protein are more prone to cell death upon serum deprivation. Finally, we demonstrate that deregulated c-myc expression induces apoptosis in cells growth arrested by a variety of means and at various points in the cell cycle.

c-myc protein expression in untransformed fibroblasts

We have examined and quantitated the expression of c-myc protein in two untransformed fibroblast cell lines, murine Swiss 3T3 and human MRC-5, c-myc protein is not detectable in quiescent cells, but it is rapidly induced upon mitogenic stimulation. Peak expression is seen about 3-5 h after serum stimulation, and corresponds to about 3-6000 molecules per cell (mpc). Thereafter, levels fall back to a quiescent level in confluent fibroblasts, but remain elevated at 1-3000 mpc in subconfluent cells. The c-myc protein is phosphorylated and has the same size and short half-life as seen in tumour cells. Removal of serum growth factors from the culture medium causes very rapid loss of the c-myc protein from all cells, irrespective of their positions in the cell cycle. Thus, c-myc expression is continuously dependent upon the presence of mitogens. However, no single tested mitogen is obligatory for maintenance of expression in proliferating cells. Growth arrest of cells, either by metabolite starvation or by drugs which inhibit DNA synthesis, does not affect expression of the c-myc protein, which remains completely dependent upon the presence of mitogens. These data are consistent with the c-myc protein's having a continuous role in proliferating cells as an intracellular integrator of growth regulatory signalling pathways.

Domains of human c-myc protein required for autosuppression and cooperation with ras oncogenes are overlapping

Amino acids 106 to 143 and 354 to 433 of the human c-myc protein (439 amino acids) were shown to be required for the protein to suppress c-myc gene transcription and were found to exactly overlap with those necessary for c-myc to cooperate with ras oncogenes in the transformation of rat embryo fibroblasts. The essential carboxyl-terminal region harbors structural motifs (a basic region, a helix-loop-helix motif, and a "leucine zipper"), which, in other proteins, can mediate dimerization and sequence-specific DNA binding.

The role of myc oncogenes in cell growth and differentiation

The myc oncoproteins are expressed in a wide range of normal adult and embryonic tissues. They are also found to be over-expressed in a variety of tumor types. All myc proteins are short-lived nuclear phosphoproteins thought to act as regulatory components of cell proliferation. The rapid induction of c-myc mRNA and protein following the addition of growth factors to quiescent cells, together with the short half-life of these molecules, suggests that they are sensitive and continuous indicators of external stimuli, consistent with a role in signal transduction. Furthermore, in untransformed cells, c-myc protein expression is tightly regulated, at least in part, by a mechanism of autoregulation. Deregulated expression of myc genes is a frequent observation in tumors and may lead to a cell becoming independent of one or more growth factors, with the concomitant potential for uncontrolled proliferation. Although the precise functions of the myc proteins are unknown, they all bear the hallmarks of multimeric DNA-binding proteins probably involved in the regulation of expression of specific genes.

A sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbence assay for the c-fos and v-fos oncoproteins

The c-fos nuclear oncoprotein is rapidly induced when the growth of normal cells is initiated by mitogens, and it is also synthesized in several cell systems in response to stimuli that do not cause cell proliferation. When expressed inappropriately, c-fos, and its retroviral counterpart v-fos, can transform susceptible cells in vivo and in vitro. We have developed a simple and sensitive ELISA for the c-fos and v-fos proteins. Fos proteins are captured from cell lysates by an antibody specific for an amino-terminal peptide substantially conserved between v-fos and c-fos; the captured proteins are recognised by a second antibody against a different peptide sequence also conserved in the two proteins. The second antibody has been conjugated to alkaline phosphatase to provide an enzyme label; bound alkaline phosphatase is measured with a sensitive cycling enzyme system that generates a coloured end-product. We show that the fos ELISA is immunologically specific and use it to monitor increased c-fos expression in serum-stimulated HeLa cells and human fibroblasts, and in mitogen-stimulated murine thymocytes.

Characterization of a heat shock-induced insoluble complex in the nuclei of cells

The formation of an insoluble complex in isolated nuclei incubated at physiological temperature (37 degrees C) is demonstrated. A similar complex is shown to form in the nuclei of intact cells subjected to temperatures that induce the classical heat-shock response. The formation of this complex occurs rapidly in response to hyperthermia and is induced by small increases in temperature both in vitro and in vivo. We have characterized the formation of the complex in isolated nuclei and the nuclei of intact cells. A small number of the subset of nuclear proteins involved in the complex have been identified. The significance of the loss of solubility of these proteins in the nucleus following hyperthermia is discussed.