Biomedical subjects

T Skorski

Publications and source records attributed to T Skorski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Fusion tyrosine kinases: a result and cause of genomic instability.

Reciprocal chromosomal translocations may arise as a result of unfaithful repair of spontaneous DNA double-strand breaks, most probably induced by oxidative stress, radiation, genotoxic chemicals and/or replication stress. Genes encoding tyrosine kinases are targeted by these mechanisms resulting in the generation of chimera genes encoding fusion tyrosine kinases (FTKs). FTKs display transforming activity owing to their constitutive kinase activity causing deregulated proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and adhesion. Moreover, FTKs are able to facilitate DNA repair, prolong activation of G(2)/M and S cell cycle checkpoints, and elevate expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-X(L), making malignant cells less responsive to antitumor treatment. FTKs may also stimulate the generation of reactive oxygen species and enhance spontaneous DNA damage in tumor cells. Unfortunately, FTKs compromise the fidelity of DNA repair mechanisms, which contribute to the accumulation of additional genetic abnormalities leading to the resistance to inhibitors such as imatinib mesylate and malignant progression of the disease.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 in nucleophosmin/ anaplastic lymphoma kinase-mediated malignant transformation of lymphoid cells.

The NPM/ALK fusion gene, formed by the t(2;5) translocation in anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, encodes a M(r) 75,000 hybrid protein that containsthe amino-terminal portion of the nucleolar phosphoprotein nucleophosmin(NPM) joined to the entire cytoplasmic portion of the receptor tyrosine kinase anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). NPM/ALK encodes a constitutively activated tyrosine kinase that belongs to the family of tyrosine kinases activated by chromosomal translocation. Our studies show that NPM/ALK, similar to other members of this family, activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) and that this activation is essential for lymphomagenesis. NPM/ALK-mediated activation of STAT5 was demonstrated by detection of: (a) constitutive tyrosine phosphorylation and enhanced DNA binding ability of STAT5 in NPM/ALK-transformed cells; and (b) NPM/ALK-dependent stimulation of STAT5-mediated transactivation of the beta-casein promoter. Retroviral infection of NPM/ALK+ cells with a dominant-negative STAT5B mutant (STAT5-DNM) inhibited the antiapoptotic activity of NPM/ALK in growth factor and serum-free medium. In addition, STAT5-DNM inhibited proliferation and diminished the clonogenic properties of NPM/ALK-positive cells. Finally, SCID mice injected with NPM/ALK+ cells infected with a virus carrying STAT5-DNM survived significantly longer than mice inoculated with NPM/ALK+ cells infected with the empty virus. Necropsy identified a widespread ALK+ lymphoma in lymph nodes and liver of the affected animals. Together, our data indicate that NPM/ALK-induced activation of STAT5 may play an important role in NPM/ALK-mediated lymphomagenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Adenosine nucleotide modulates the physical interaction between hMSH2 and BRCA1.

We have identified the physical interaction between the Breast Cancer susceptibility gene product BRCA1 and the Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene product hMSH2, both in vitro and in vivo. The BRCA1-hMSH2 association involved several well-defined regions of both proteins which include the adenosine nucleotide binding domain of hMSH2. Moreover, the interaction of BRCA1 with purified hMSH2-hMSH6 appears to be modulated by adenosine nucleotide much like G protein downstream interaction/signaling is modulated by guanosine nucleotide. BARD1, another BRCA1-interacting protein, was also found to interact with hMSH2. In addition, BRCA1 was found to associate with both hMSH3 and hMSH6, the heterodimeric partners of hMSH2. These observations implicate BRCA1/BARD1 as downstream effectors of the adenosine nucleotide-activated hMSH2-hMSH6 signaling complex, and suggest a global role for BRCA1 in DNA damage processing. The functional interaction between BRCA1 and hMSH2 may provide a partial explanation for the background of gynecological and colorectal cancer in both HNPCC and BRCA1 kindreds, respectively.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed2001

Role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt pathway in nucleophosmin/anaplastic lymphoma kinase-mediated lymphomagenesis.

The NPM/ALK fusion gene, formed by the t(2;5) translocation in a subset of anaplastic large cell lymphomas, encodes a Mr 75,000 hybrid protein that contains the NH2-terminal portion of the nucleolar phosphoprotein nucleophosmin (NPM) joined to the entire cytoplasmic portion of the receptor tyrosine kinase anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). NPM/ALK encodes a constitutively activated tyrosine kinase that belongs to the family of tyrosine kinases activated by chromosomal translocations. Our studies showed that NPM/ALK, similar to other members of this family, activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and its downstream effector, serine/threonine kinase (Akt). PI3K was found in complex with NPM/ALK. Both PI3K and Akt kinase were permanently activated in NPM/ALK-transfected BaF3 murine hematopoietic cells and in NPM/ALK-positive, but not in NPM/ALK-negative, patient-derived anaplastic large cell lymphoma cell lines. In addition, Akt was phosphorylated/activated in protein samples isolated from four patients diagnosed with ALK-positive T/null-cell lymphomas. The PI3K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002 induced apoptosis in NPM/ALK+ cells but exerted only minor effects on the control BaF3 parental cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated by growth factors. Furthermore, retroviral infection of NPM/ALK+ BaF3 cells with a dominant-negative PI3K mutant (delta p85) or a dominant-negative Akt mutant (K179M) inhibited proliferation and clonogenic properties of the infected cells. Finally, the Akt mutant (K179M) suppressed the tumorigenicity of NPM/ALK-transfected BaF3 cells injected into syngeneic mice. In conclusion, our data indicate that NPM/ALK constitutively activates the PI3K-Akt pathway and that this pathway plays an important role in the NPM/ALK-mediated malignant transformation.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

BCR/ABL regulates mammalian RecA homologs, resulting in drug resistance.

RAD51 is one of six mitotic human homologs of the E. coli RecA protein (RAD51-Paralogs) that play a central role in homologous recombination and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Here we demonstrate that RAD51 is important for resistance to cisplatin and mitomycin C in cells expressing the BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase. BCR/ABL significantly enhances the expression of RAD51 and several RAD51-Paralogs. RAD51 overexpression is mediated by a STAT5-dependent transcription as well as by inhibition of caspase-3-dependent cleavage. Phosphorylation of the RAD51 Tyr-315 residue by BCR/ABL appears essential for enhanced DSB repair and drug resistance. Induction of the mammalian RecA homologs establishes a unique mechanism for DNA damage resistance in mammalian cells transformed by an oncogenic tyrosine kinase.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed2000

Progressive changes in the leukemogenic signaling in BCR/ABL-transformed cells.

Our previous study indicated that BCR/ABL SH2 domain and BCR/ABL SH3 domain+SH2 domain complex are required for immediate activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase PI-3k)--> Akt serine/threonine kinase pathway and of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), respectively, in hematopoietic cells. We show here that the defect in activation of PI-3k/Akt by BCR/ABL DeltaSH2 mutant (SH2 domain deleted) and of STAT5 by BCR/ABL DeltaSH3+DeltaSH2 mutant (SH3 and SH2 domains deleted) is not permanent and both Akt and STAT5 could be 're-activated' by in vitro culture. This phenomenon was responsible for increased resistance to apoptosis, growth factor-independent proliferation and leukemogenesis in SCID mice. Incubation of cells with BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 abrogated the 're-activation' of Akt or STAT5 by BCR/ABL SH3+SH2 mutants in some clones, in the others Akt and STAT5 activation became independent on BCR/ABL kinase activity. The immediate upstream activators of Akt and STAT5 such as PI-3k and Jak-2 were also activated. In addition, the common beta subunit of IL-3/IL-5/GM-CSF receptor was tyrosine phosphorylated in the clones in which 're-activation' was dependent on the BCR/ABL kinase activity. These results suggested that 're-activation' of Akt and STAT5, in the absence of functional BCR/ABL SH3+SH2 domains, may be achieved by two different mechanisms: (i) BCR/ABL kinase-dependent activation of alternative pathway(s) and (ii) additional genetic changes stimulating Akt and STAT5 independently of BCR/ABL. Oncogene (2000) 19, 4117 - 4124

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Activation of mitochondrial Raf-1 is involved in the antiapoptotic effects of Akt.

The Akt serine/threonine kinase is required for the survival of many cell types and for transformation of hematopoietic cells by the BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase. Analysis of the potential mechanisms whereby Akt promotes survival of hematopoietic cells revealed that it induced the activity of plasma membrane and mitochondrial Raf-1 in a Ras-independent, but PKC-dependent manner. Inhibition of plasma membrane Raf-1-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase activity had no effect on the enhanced survival of cells expressing Akt. By contrast, suppression of mitochondrial Raf-1 enzymatic activity by expression of a mitochondria-targeted Raf-1 dominant-negative mutant rendered Akt-expressing cells susceptible to apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation and was accompanied by inhibition of BAD, but not mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphorylation. Together, these data indicate that PKC-dependent activation of Raf-1 plays an important role in Akt-dependent antiapoptotic effects.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 activation by BCR/ABL is dependent on intact Src homology (SH)3 and SH2 domains of BCR/ABL and is required for leukemogenesis.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)5 is constitutively activated in BCR/ ABL-expressing cells, but the mechanisms and functional consequences of such activation are unknown. We show here that BCR/ABL induces phosphorylation and activation of STAT5 by a mechanism that requires the BCR/ABL Src homology (SH)2 domain and the proline-rich binding site of the SH3 domain. Upon expression in 32Dcl3 growth factor-dependent myeloid precursor cells, STAT5 activation-deficient BCR/ABL SH3+SH2 domain mutants functioned as tyrosine kinase and activated Ras, but failed to protect from apoptosis induced by withdrawal of interleukin 3 and/or serum and did not induce leukemia in severe combined immunodeficiency mice. In complementation assays, expression of a dominant-active STAT5B mutant (STAT5B-DAM), but not wild-type STAT5B (STAT5B-WT), in 32Dcl3 cells transfected with STAT5 activation-deficient BCR/ABL SH3+SH2 mutants restored protection from apoptosis, stimulated growth factor-independent cell cycle progression, and rescued the leukemogenic potential in mice. Moreover, expression of a dominant-negative STAT5B mutant (STAT5B-DNM) in 32Dcl3 cells transfected with wild-type BCR/ABL inhibited apoptosis resistance, growth factor-independent proliferation, and the leukemogenic potential of these cells. In retrovirally infected mouse bone marrow cells, expression of STAT5B-DNM inhibited BCR/ABL-dependent transformation. Moreover, STAT5B-DAM, but not STAT5B-WT, markedly enhanced the ability of STAT5 activation-defective BCR/ABL SH3+SH2 mutants to induce growth factor-independent colony formation of primary mouse bone marrow progenitor cells. However, STAT5B-DAM did not rescue the growth factor-independent colony formation of kinase-deficient K1172R BCR/ABL or the triple mutant Y177F+R522L+ Y793F BCR/ABL, both of which also fail to activate STAT5. Together, these data demonstrate that STAT5 activation by BCR/ABL is dependent on signaling from more than one domain and document the important role of STAT5-regulated pathways in BCR/ABL leukemogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Cooperative action of germ-line mutations in decorin and p53 accelerates lymphoma tumorigenesis.

Ectopic expression of decorin in a wide variety of transformed cells results in growth arrest and the inability to generate tumors in nude mice. This process is caused by a decorin-mediated activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, which leads to a sustained induction of endogenous p21(WAF1/CIP1) (the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21) and growth arrest. However, mice harboring a targeted disruption of the decorin gene do not develop spontaneous tumors. To test the role of decorin in tumorigenesis, we generated mice lacking both decorin and p53, an established tumor-suppressor gene. Mice lacking both genes showed a faster rate of tumor development and succumbed almost uniformly to thymic lymphomas within 6 months [mean survival age (T50) approximately 4 months]. Mice harboring one decorin allele and no p53 gene developed the same spectrum of tumors as the double knockout animals, but had a survival rate similar to the p53 null animals (T50 approximately 6 months). Ectopic expression of decorin in thymic lymphoma cells isolated from double mutant animals markedly suppressed their colony-forming ability. When these lymphoma cells were cocultured with fibroblasts derived from either wild-type or decorin null embryos, the cells grew faster in the absence of decorin. Moreover, exogenous decorin proteoglycan or its protein core significantly retarded their growth in vitro. These results indicate that the lack of decorin is permissive for lymphoma tumorigenesis in a mouse model predisposed to cancer and suggest that germ-line mutations in decorin and p53 may cooperate in the transformation of lymphocytes and ultimately lead to a more aggressive phenotype by shortening the tumor latency.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Enhanced anti-tumor effects with microencapsulated c-myc antisense oligonucleotide.

A phosphorothioate c-myc antisense oligonucleotide was complexed with zinc and encapsulated into injectable biodegradable microspheres. The efficacy of this novel formulation was compared with intravenous administration of the unencapsulated drug in human melanoma and leukemia xenografts in immunocompromised mice. The microencapsulated formulation was more effective as shown by reduced tumor growth, a decreased number of metastases, reduced c-myc expression, and increased survival in the melanoma model, and decreased metastatic potential and increased survival in the leukemia model. These results show that, as has been demonstrated previously with protein and peptide drugs, greater therapeutic efficacy can be obtained when antisense oligonucleotides are delivered from sustained-release formulations.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

BCR/ABL-mediated leukemogenesis requires the activity of the small GTP-binding protein Rac.

The phenotype of hematopoietic cells transformed by the BCR/ABL oncoprotein of the Philadelphia chromosome is characterized by growth factor-independent proliferation, reduced susceptibility to apoptosis, and altered adhesion and motility. The mechanisms underlying this phenotype are not fully understood, but there is evidence that some of the properties of BCR/ABL-expressing cells are dependent on the activation of downstream effector molecules such as RAS, PI-3k, and bcl-2. We show here that the small GTP-binding protein Rac is activated by BCR/ABL in a tyrosine kinase-dependent manner. Upon transfection with a vector carrying the dominant-negative N17Rac, BCR/ABL-expressing myeloid precursor 32Dcl3 cells retained the resistance to growth factor deprivation-induced apoptosis but showed a decrease in proliferative potential in the absence of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and markedly reduced invasive properties. Moreover, compared with BCR/ABL-expressing cells, fewer BCR/ABL plus N17Rac double transfectants were capable of homing to bone marrow and spleen. Consistent with these findings, survival of SCID mice injected with the BCR/ABL plus N17Rac double transfectants was markedly prolonged as compared with that of mice injected with BCR/ABL-expressing cells. Together, these data support the important role of a Rac-dependent pathway(s) controlling motility in BCR/ABL-mediated leukemogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

TLS/FUS, a pro-oncogene involved in multiple chromosomal translocations, is a novel regulator of BCR/ABL-mediated leukemogenesis.

The leukemogenic potential of BCR/ABL oncoproteins depends on their tyrosine kinase activity and involves the activation of several downstream effectors, some of which are essential for cell transformation. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and Southwestern blot analyses with a double-stranded oligonucleotide containing a zinc finger consensus sequence, we identified a 68 kDa DNA-binding protein specifically induced by BCR/ABL. The peptide sequence of the affinity-purified protein was identical to that of the RNA-binding protein FUS (also called TLS). Binding activity of FUS required a functional BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase necessary to induce PKCbetaII-dependent FUS phosphorylation. Moreover, suppression of PKCbetaII activity in BCR/ABL-expressing cells by treatment with the PKCbetaII inhibitor CGP53353, or by expression of a dominant-negative PKCbetaII, markedly impaired the ability of FUS to bind DNA. Suppression of FUS expression in myeloid precursor 32Dcl3 cells transfected with a FUS antisense construct was associated with upregulation of the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR) and downregulation of interleukin-3 receptor (IL-3R) beta-chain expression, and accelerated G-CSF-stimulated differentiation. Downregulation of FUS expression in BCR/ABL-expressing 32Dcl3 cells was associated with suppression of growth factor-independent colony formation, restoration of G-CSF-induced granulocytic differentiation and reduced tumorigenic potential in vivo. Together, these results suggest that FUS might function as a regulator of BCR/ABL leukemogenesis, promoting growth factor independence and preventing differentiation via modulation of cytokine receptor expression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Expression of constitutively active Raf-1 in the mitochondria restores antiapoptotic and leukemogenic potential of a transformation-deficient BCR/ABL mutant.

The oncogenic BCR/ABL protein protects hematopoietic cells from apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation, but the mechanisms are only partially understood. A BCR/ABL mutant lacking amino acids 176-426 in the BCR domain (p185DeltaBCR) failed to protect interleukin 3-deprived 32Dcl3 myeloid precursor cells from apoptosis, although it possessed tyrosine kinase activity and was capable of activating the Ras-Raf-MAP kinase pathway. Compared to p185 wild-type transfectants, p185DeltaBCR-transfected cells showed markedly reduced levels of Bcl-2 and expressed the hypophosphorylated, proapoptotic form of BAD. Bcl-2 expression in the mitochondrial fraction of p185DeltaBCR cells was also markedly diminished and mitochondrial RAF was undetectable. In p185DeltaBCR cells transfected with a mitochondria-targeted, constitutively active RAF (M-Raf) BAD was expressed in the hyperphosphorylated form and released from the mitochondria into the cytosol. p185DeltaBCR/M-Raf-transfected cells were completely resistant to apoptosis induced by growth factor deprivation in vitro. Moreover, constitutive expression of dominant-negative M-Raf (K375W) enhanced the susceptibility of 32Dcl3 cells expressing wild-type BCR/ABL to apoptosis. In severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, p185DeltaBCR/M-Raf double transfectants were leukemogenic, whereas cells expressing only p185DeltaBCR showed no leukemogenic potential. Together, these data support the existence of a BCR/ABL-dependent pathway that leads to expression of an active RAF in the mitochondria and promotes antiapoptotic and leukemia-inducing effects of BCR/ABL.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Role of p53 in hematopoietic recovery after cytotoxic treatment.

Prompt reconstitution of hematopoiesis after cytoreductive therapy is essential for patient recovery and may have a positive impact on long-term prognosis. We examined the role of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in hematopoietic recovery in vivo after treatment with the cytotoxic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). We used p53 knock-out (p53-/-) and wild-type (p53+/+) mice injected with 5-FU as the experimental model. Analysis of the repopulation ability and clonogenic activity of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and their lineage-committed descendants showed a greater number of HSCs responsible for reconstitution of lethally irradiated recipients in p53-/- bone marrow cells (BMCs) recovering after 5-FU treatment than in the corresponding p53+/+ BMCs. In post-5-FU recovering BMCs, the percentage of HSC-enriched Lin- Sca-1(+) c-Kit+ cells was about threefold higher in p53-/- than in p53+/+ cells. Although the percentage of the most primitive HSCs (Lin- Sca-1(+) c-Kit+ CD34(low/-)) did not depend on p53, the percentage of multipotential HSCs and committed progenitors (Lin- Sca-1(+) c-Kit+ CD34(high/+)) was almost fourfold higher in post-5-FU recovering p53-/- BMCs than in their p53+/+ counterparts. The pool of HSCs from 5-FU-treated p53-/- BMCs was exhausted more slowly than that from the p53+/+ population as shown in vivo using pre-spleen colony-forming unit (CFU-S) assay and in vitro using long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs) and methylcellulose replating assays. Clonogenic activity of various lineage-specific descendants was significantly higher in post-5-FU regenerating p53-/- BMCs than in p53+/+ BMCs, probably because of their increased sensitivity to growth factors. Despite all these changes and the dramatic difference in sensitivity of p53-/- and p53+/+ BMCs to 5-FU-induced apoptosis, lineage commitment and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors appeared to be independent of p53 status. These studies suggest that suppression of p53 function facilitates hematopoietic reconstitution after cytoreductive therapy by: (1) delaying the exhaustion of the most primitive HSC pool, (2) stimulating the production of multipotential HSCs, (3) increasing the sensitivity of hematopoietic cells to growth factors, and (4) decreasing the sensitivity to apoptosis.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

The SH3 domain contributes to BCR/ABL-dependent leukemogenesis in vivo: role in adhesion, invasion, and homing.

To determine the possible role of the BCR/ABL oncoprotein SH3 domain in BCR/ABL-dependent leukemogenesis, we studied the biologic properties of a BCR/ABL SH3 deletion mutant (delta SH3 BCR/ABL) constitutively expressed in murine hematopoietic cells. delta SH3 BCR/ABL was able to activate known BCR/ABL-dependent downstream effector molecules such as RAS, PI-3kinase, MAPK, JNK, MYC, JUN, STATs, and BCL-2. Moreover, expression of delta SH3 BCR/ABL protected 32Dcl3 murine myeloid precursor cells from apoptosis, induced their growth factor-independent proliferation, and resulted in transformation of primary bone marrow cells in vitro. Unexpectedly, leukemic growth from cells expressing delta SH3 BCR/ABL was significantly retarded in SCID mice compared with that of cells expressing the wild-type protein. In vitro and in vivo studies to determine the adhesive and invasive properties of delta SH3 BCR/ABL-expressing cells showed their decreased interaction to collagen IV- and laminin-coated plates and their reduced capacity to invade the stroma and to seed the bone marrow and spleen. The decreased interaction with collagen type IV and laminin was consistent with a reduced expression of alpha 2 integrin by delta SH3 BCR/ABL-transfected 32Dcl3 cells. Moreover, as compared with wild-type BCR/ABL, which localizes primarily in the cytoskeletal/membrane fraction, delta SH3 BCR/ABL was more evenly distributed between the cytoskeleton/membrane and the cytosol compartments. Together, the data indicate that the SH3 domain of BCR/ABL is dispensable for in vitro transformation of hematopoietic cells but is essential for full leukemogenic potential in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

[Storage of human bone marrow before transplantation at 4 degrees C. The effect of cell proliferation potential particularly in hematopoietic cloned cell lines].

The possibility of storage of human bone marrow CD34+ cells at 4 degrees C for bone marrow transplantation purposes was investigated. The cells were placed in Iscove medium supplemented with 20% serum (15% bovine calf serum + 5% human AB serum) for three weeks at 4 degrees C. During storage time clonogenicity of granulocytic-monocytic (CFU-GM) erythropoietic (BFU-E) and megakaryocytic (CFU-Meg) progenitors were investigated. It turns out that it is possible to keep human CD34+ cells at 4 degrees C for at least few days before transplantation. At day four of storage the number of CFU-GM and BFU-E cells still exceeded 50% of cells present at day 0. We have found however, CFU-Meg progenitors in comparison to others are much more sensitive to metabolic storage stress. This enhanced sensitivity of megakaryocytic progenitors could explain at least partially the well known ++phenomenon of retardation of thrombopoietic recovery in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Antigens, CD34↗

PubMed1997

Transformation of hematopoietic cells by BCR/ABL requires activation of a PI-3k/Akt-dependent pathway.

The BCR/ABL oncogenic tyrosine kinase activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3k) by a mechanism that requires binding of BCR/ABL to p85, the regulatory subunit of PI-3k, and an intact BCR/ABL SH2 domain. SH2 domain BCR/ABL mutants deficient in PI-3k activation failed to stimulate Akt kinase, a recently identified PI-3k downstream effector with oncogenic potential, but did activate p21 RAS and p70 S6 kinase. The PI-3k/Akt pathway is essential for BCR/ABL leukemogenesis as indicated by experiments demonstrating that wortmannin, a PI-3k specific inhibitor at low concentrations, suppressed BCR/ABL-dependent colony formation of murine marrow cells, and that a kinase-deficient Akt mutant with dominant-negative activity inhibited BCR/ABL-dependent transformation of murine bone marrow cells in vitro and suppressed leukemia development in SCID mice. In complementation assays using mouse marrow progenitor cells, the ability of transformation-defective SH2 domain BCR/ABL mutants to induce growth factor-independent colony formation and leukemia in SCID mice was markedly enhanced by expression of constitutively active Akt. In retrovirally infected mouse marrow cells, the BCR/ABL mutant lacking the SH2 domain was unable to upregulate the expression of c-Myc and Bcl-2; in contrast, expression of a constitutively active Akt mutant induced Bcl-2 and c-Myc expression, and stimulated the transcription activation function of c-Myc. Together, these data demonstrate the requirement for the BCR/ABL SH2 domain in PI-3k activation and document the essential role of the PI-3k/Akt pathway in BCR/ABL leukemogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Ectopic expression of decorin protein core causes a generalized growth suppression in neoplastic cells of various histogenetic origin and requires endogenous p21, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases.

Decorin belongs to a family of secreted, small, leucine-rich proteoglycans that affect matrix assembly and cellular growth. Ectopic expression of decorin proteoglycan or protein core as a mutated form lacking any glycosaminoglycan side chains induced growth suppression in neoplastic cells of various histogenetic origins, including tumor cells derived from gastrointestinal, genital, skeletal, cutaneous, or bone marrow tissues. Exogenously added recombinant decorin also suppressed overall growth of the parental cell lines. In all stably-transfected clones, growth retardation was specifically associated with induction of the potent cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, but not p27, and subsequent translocation of p21 protein into the nuclei of decorin-expressing cells. This led to a greater proportion of the cells arrested in G1 phase of the cell cycle. These changes were independent of functional p53 or retinoblastoma protein. De novo expression of decorin in HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells harboring a disrupted p21 gene failed to induce growth suppression, in contrast to the wild-type cells in which p21 and growth arrest could be induced. These findings indicate that ectopic production of decorin protein core can retard the growth of a variety of tumor cells and that endogenous p21 is a required downstream effector of this biological axis.

Animals↗