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Phase 1 trial and biomarker analysis of Buparlisib with weekly Cisplatin and Radiotherapy in high risk locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the Head and Neck.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the pan-PI3K inhibitor buparlisib with weekly cisplatin and radiotherapy among patients with locally advanced (LA) squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) and tobacco history. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with stage III/IV LA-SCCHN (AJCC7), ≥10 pack-year tobacco use treated with curative intent were enrolled. Patients received buparlisib during a 2-week run-in phase and during standard 70Gy of radiotherapy plus weekly cisplatin. An exploratory analysis of genomic sequencing was performed on biopsy specimens Results: Twenty-three patients were enrolled (n=17 at the MTD (buparlisib 40 mg daily, CDDP 30mg/m2/week)). Ninety-one percent (21/23) had stage IV disease. HPV was detected in 15 of 18 cases with oral/oropharyngeal disease. 5 patients suffered recurrences of whom 3 had activating mutations along the PI3K pathway. In 5 patients whose disease responded during the 2 week run-in phase with buparlisib alone, 3 of 4 with sequencing data showed loss-of-function mutations in either Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Factor 3 (TRAF3), and/or Cylindromatosis Lysine Deubiquinatinase (CYLD). Preclinical studies with mutations in TRAF3 or CYLD via CRISPR/Cas9 knockout in HPV+SCCHN cells demonstrate that loss of TRAF3 or CYLD may sensitize SCCHN cell lines to PI3K through mechanisms other than blocking NFκb pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Buparlisib with CRT was feasible and active, though escalation to the standard weekly cisplatin dose of 40 mg/m2 was not possible. Our data suggests that TRAF3/CYLD mutant SCCHN may be susceptible to PI3K inhibition whereas PI3K pathway activation appeared to be associated with poor outcomes in this limited dataset.

Journal Article↗

The conserved phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway determines heart size in mice.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) has been shown to regulate cell and organ size in Drosophila, but the role of PI3K in vertebrates in vivo is not well understood. To examine the role of PI3K in intact mammalian tissue, we have created and characterized transgenic mice expressing constitutively active or dominant-negative mutants of PI3K in the heart. Cardiac- specific expression of constitutively active PI3K resulted in mice with larger hearts, while dominant-negative PI3K resulted in mice with smaller hearts. The increase or decrease in heart size was associated with comparable increase or decrease in myocyte size. Cardiomyopathic changes, such as myocyte necrosis, apoptosis, interstitial fibrosis or contractile dysfunction, were not observed in either of the transgenic mice. Thus, the PI3K pathway is necessary and sufficient to promote organ growth in mammals.

Animals↗

Spatial and temporal regulation of 3-phosphoinositides by PI 3-kinase and PTEN mediates chemotaxis.

We have investigated the mechanisms of leading edge formation in chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells. We demonstrate that while phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) transiently translocates to the plasma membrane in response to chemoattractant stimulation and to the leading edge in chemotaxing cells, PTEN, a negative regulator of PI3K pathways, exhibits a reciprocal pattern of localization. By uniformly localizing PI3K along the plasma membrane, we show that chemotaxis pathways are activated along the lateral sides of cells and PI3K can initiate pseudopod formation, providing evidence for a direct instructional role of PI3K in leading edge formation. These findings provide evidence that differential subcellular localization and activation of PI3K and PTEN is required for proper chemotaxis.

Animals↗

Convergent proliferative response and divergent morphogenic pathways induced by epicardial and endocardial signaling in fetal heart development.

Heart development requires cardiomyocyte proliferation, coupled with morphogenic differentiation of the inner trabecular myocardium and the outer compact zone myocardium. In mouse embryos lacking the retinoic acid receptor RXRalpha, proliferation and morphogenesis of the compact zone fails. We demonstrated previously that epicardial cells, in response to retinoic acid, secrete an activity that promotes cell proliferation. In this study, we have investigated downstream signaling pathways that are elicited in response to this factor. We find that cells treated in culture activate PI3 kinase and Erk pathways, and that these are required for a proliferative response. In vivo, phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3beta (PI3K pathway) and of Erk1/2 and p90rsk (Erk pathway) is substantially reduced in RXRalpha-deficient heart tissue. Neuregulin, a mitogen secreted from the endocardium which promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation and trabecular differentiation, also activates proliferation via PI3K and Erk pathways. However, the epicardial factor is not neuregulin, and does not function via the neuregulin receptor. Gene markers known to be selectively expressed in trabecular or compact myocardium in vivo are differentially activated in cell culture by treatment with neuregulin or epicardial factor, and are misexpressed in RXRalpha(-/-) heart tissue. We therefore conclude that epicardial and endocardial signals converge on common proliferative components, but diverge in downstream pathways that lead to compact vs. trabecular morphogenic differentiation.

Animals↗

Three-dimensional nanofibrillar surfaces promote self-renewal in mouse embryonic stem cells.

The regulation of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) fate is controlled by the interplay of signaling networks that either promote self-renewal or induce differentiation. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a cytokine that is required for stem cell renewal in mouse but not in human embryonic stem cells. However, feeder layers of embryonic fibroblasts are capable of inducing stem cell renewal in both cell types, suggesting that the self-renewal signaling pathways may also be promoted by other triggers, such as alternative cytokines and/or chemical or physical properties of the extracellular matrix (ECM) secreted by feeder fibroblasts. We have recently used a synthetic polyamide matrix (Ultra-Web) whose three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrillar organization resembles the ECM/basement membrane. Growth of mESCs on this nanofibrillar surface greatly enhanced proliferation and self-renewal in comparison with growth on tissue culture surfaces without nanofibers, despite the presence of LIF in both systems. Enhanced proliferation and self-renewal of the stem cells on nanofibrillar surfaces were correlated with the activation of the small GTPase Rac, the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, and the enhanced expression of Nanog, a homeoprotein required for maintenance of pluripotency. Inhibitors of PI3K reduced the expression level of Nanog in mESCs cultured on 3D nanofibrillar surfaces. These results provide support for the view that the three-dimensionality of the culture surface may function as a cue for the activation of Rac and PI3K signaling pathways, resulting in stem cell proliferation and self-renewal.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗

Invited review: the circle of life: cell cycle regulation in airway smooth muscle.

Severe asthma is characterized by increased airway smooth muscle (ASM) mass, due predominantly to ASM hyperplasia. Diverse stimuli, which include growth factors, plasma- or inflammatory cell-derived mediators, contractile agonists, cytokines, and extracellular matrix proteins, induce ASM proliferation. Mitogens act via receptor tyrosine kinase, G protein-coupled receptors, or cytokine receptors, to activate p21ras and stimulate two parallel signaling pathways in ASM cells, namely, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways. ERK and PI3K regulate cell cycle protein expression and thus modulate cell cycle traversal. ERK activation and downstream effectors of PI3K, such as Rac1 and Cdc42, stimulate expression of cyclin D1, a key regulator of G(1) progression in the mammalian cell cycle. In addition, PI3K activates 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase, an enzyme that also regulates the translation of many cell cycle proteins, including the elongation factor E2F. The present review examines the mitogens and critical signal transduction pathways that stimulate ASM cell proliferation. Further study in this area may reveal new therapeutic targets to abrogate ASM hyperplasia in diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Animals↗

Oscillatory shear stress increases smooth muscle cell proliferation and Akt phosphorylation.

PURPOSE: Hemodynamic forces affect smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and migration both in vitro and in vivo. However, the effects of oscillatory shear stress (SS) on SMC proliferation and signal transduction pathways that control survival are not well described. METHODS: Bovine aortic SMC were exposed to arterial levels of oscillatory SS (14 dyne/cm(2)) with an orbital shaker; control cells were exposed to static conditions (0 dyne/cm(2)). Cell number and (3)[H]thymidine incorporation were measured after 1, 3, or 5 days of SS. Activation of the Akt pathway was assessed with the Western blot technique. Specificity of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway was determined with the Western blot technique with the inhibitors LY294002 (10 micromol/L) or wortmannin (25 nmol/L). RESULTS: Arterial levels of oscillatory SS increased SMC cell number by 20.1 +/- 3.7% and (3)[H]thymidine incorporation by 33.4% +/- 6.8% at 5 days. To identify whether SS increased activity of the SMC survival pathway, Akt activation was measured. SMC exposed to SS demonstrated increased Akt phosphorylation compared with control cells, with maximal phosphorylation at 60 minutes. Both PI3K inhibitors specifically inhibited the increase in Akt phosphorylation in SMC exposed to oscillatory SS. CONCLUSION: SMC directly respond to oscillatory SS by increasing DNA synthesis, proliferation, and activation of the PI3K-Akt signal transduction pathway. These results suggest a mechanism of SMC survival and proliferation in response to endothelial-denuding arterial injury.

Animals↗

Resveratrol-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells involves a caspase-independent mechanism with downregulation of Bcl-2 and NF-kappaB.

Resveratrol (RES), a chemopreventive molecule, inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells of different etiologies. We previously showed that RES alters the cell cycle and induces apoptosis in MCF-7 breast tumor cells by interfering with the estrogen receptor (ERaalpha)-dependent phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Here, we analyzed signaling downstream of PI3K, to understand the mechanisms of RES-induced apoptosis. Apoptotic death by RES in MCF-7 was mediated by Bcl-2 downregulation since overexpression of this protein abolished apoptosis. Decreased Bcl-2 levels were not related to cytochrome c release, activation of caspases 3/8 or poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase proteolysis. However, RES decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production. NF-kappaB, a regulator of Bcl-2 expression, and calpain protease activity, a regulator of NF-kappaB, were both inhibited by RES. The patterns for NF-kappaB and calpain activities followed that of PI3K and were inhibited by LY294002. NF-kappaB inhibition coincided with diminished MMP-9 activity and cell migration. These data suggest that RES-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 could involve an oxidative, caspase-independent mechanism, whereby inhibition of PI3K signaling converges to Bcl-2 through NF-kappaB and calpain protease activity. Therefore, Bcl-2 and NF-kappaB could be considered potential targets for the chemopreventive activity of RES in estrogen-responsive tumor cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

GDNF and insulin cooperate to enhance the proliferation and differentiation of enteric crest-derived cells.

Previously we have shown that glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) stimulates modest increases in the proliferation of avian enteric crest-derived cells and similar increases in the phosphorylation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) downstream substrate Akt (Akt-P). In the present study we tested whether GDNF-independent increases in PI3K activation would be sufficient to support proliferation. We found that insulin induces a large increase in the phosphorylation of Akt and can initiate DNA synthesis in avian enteric crest-derived cells, but is unable to maintain proliferation over time in culture, measured by BrdU incorporation. GDNF can also initiate DNA synthesis, but it too is unable to maintain BrdU incorporation in cultured enteric crest-derived cells. Sustained incorporation of BrdU after 16-48 h in culture is shown to be dependent on a combination of GDNF and insulin. Using a phospho-specific antibody, we found Akt-P levels to be similar in the proliferating (BrdU incorporation maintained from 16-48 h in culture) and nonproliferating populations, suggesting that Akt-P levels were not solely controlling the extent of BrdU incorporation. A minimum level of PI3K activation, however, is required, as shown by the dose-dependent reduction in proliferation with the PI3K inhibitor LY-294002. We conclude that the integrity of the PI3K pathway is essential for enteric crest-derived cell proliferation, but that the absolute levels of Akt-P do not determine the extent of proliferation. The enhanced proliferation in cultures containing both GDNF and insulin suggests that other pathways are involved, including the possibility that PI3K downstream effectors other than Akt are important in the regulation of avian enteric crest-derived cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase is important in late-stage fibroblast growth factor-1-mediated angiogenesis in vivo.

We previously reported that overexpression of a secreted version of fibroblast growth factor-1 (sp-FGF-1) has the ability to induce angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). In our current study, we examine the effects of sp-FGF-1 through a time course analysis of angiogenesis in the chicken CAM on days 3, 4, and 5 after gene transfection. Significant angiogenesis was observed on days 4 and 5 after gene transfection in the CAM assay. To evaluate the role of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in sp-FGF-1-induced angiogenesis, we analyzed mRNA expression levels of PI3K and protein activity through its immediate downstream target, AKT-1. We found upregulation of both PI3K and AKT mRNA expression levels in day 5 sp-FGF-1 versus day 5 vector control-transfected CAMs. Furthermore, by blocking PI3K phosphorylation using the specific inhibitor, LY294002, we found that downstream phosphorylation of AKT-1 was inhibited. More importantly, the blockade of the PI3K pathway via LY294002 in sp-FGF-1-transfected CAMs significantly inhibited angiogenesis. These results further elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the sp-FGF-1 signaling pathway and it underscores the importance of PI3K signaling in FGF-1-stimulated angiogenesis in vivo. It also provides a basis for the role of sp-FGF-1 in the development of therapeutic treatments to combat vascular insufficiencies and angiogenesis-dependent cancers.

Animals↗

The forkhead transcription factor FoxO regulates transcription of p27Kip1 and Bim in response to IL-2.

The cytokine IL-2 plays a very important role in the proliferation and survival of activated T cells. These effects of IL-2 are dependent on signaling through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. We and others have shown that PI3K, through activation of protein kinase B/Akt, inhibits transcriptional activation by a number of forkhead transcription factors (FoxO1, FoxO3, and FoxO4). In this study we have investigated the role of these forkhead transcription factors in the IL-2-induced T cell proliferation and survival. We show that IL-2 regulates phosphorylation of FoxO3 in a PI3K-dependent fashion. Phosphorylation and inactivation of FoxO3 appears to play an important role in IL-2-mediated T cell survival, because mere activation of FoxO3 is sufficient to trigger apoptosis in T cells. Indeed, active FoxO3 can induce expression of IL-2-regulated genes, such as the cdk inhibitor p27(Kip1) and the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim. Furthermore, we show that IL-2 triggers a rapid, PI3K-dependent, phosphorylation of FoxO1a in primary T cells. Thus, we propose that inactivation of FoxO transcription factors by IL-2 plays a critical role in T cell proliferation and survival.

Animals↗

[Effect of metformin on gene expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of antihyperglycemic agent metformin on the gene expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK)-a key enzyme within the regulation of gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes and to determine whether the effects of metformin on hepatocytes are transmitted throughout the known insulin signaling pathways. METHODS: Confluent H4IIE rat heptoma cells were cultured with metformin 0.1 mmol/L for 16 h and then stimulated with various agents: insulin, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), dexamethasone, signaling transduction inhibitor wortmannin and UO126. The gene expression of PEPCK was examined by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: Metformin significantly decreased basal PEPCK mRNA levels by 75% (P < 0.01). Incubation with metformin alone had no significant effect on cAMP/dexamethasone stimulated PEPCK gene expression. In contrast, insulin 0.1 nmol/L significantly inhibited cAMP/dexamethasone stimulated PEPCK gene expression by 67% (P < 0.01), when insulin 0.1 nmol/L was present together with metformin, cAMP/dexamethasone induced PEPCK gene expression was decreased by 94% (P < 0.01). Both insulin signaling pathway inhibitors, phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor UO126, had no significant effect on inhibited PEPCK mRNA expression by metformin, but wortmannin blocked significantly inhibitory regulation of insulin on PEPCK gene expression (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Metformin can inhibit the PEPCK gene expression via either an insulin-independent or interaction with insulin manner. The inhibitory effects of insulin on PEPCK gene expression are mediated through PI3K pathway, not MAPK pathway.

Animals↗

Neuregulin promotes autophagic cell death of prostate cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in males. Autocrine/paracrine growth factors for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been identified in prostate tumors suggesting a role for EGFR in the progression of prostate cancer. The androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP, expresses the EGFR as well as two additional members of the family; ErbB-2 and ErbB-3, which can be activated by neuregulin (NRG) isoforms. The effect of ErbB ligands on the viability of LNCaP cells was studied. METHODS: In the present study, we examined the effect of NRG on LNCaP cell growth and survival in the absence of androgen mimetic by the MTT assay, FACS analysis, nuclei staining, and Western blotting. RESULTS: Our results demonstrate that NRG activates ErbB-2/ErbB-3 heterodimers and induces cell death of LNCaP cells. By contrast, EGF activates ErbB-1/ErbB-1 or ErbB-1/ErbB-2 dimers and induces cell growth and survival. Interestingly, LNCaP cells treated with PI3K inhibitor underwent cell death but cells treated with both NRG and PI3K inhibitor survived as the control cells, indicating that the PI3K pathway may mediate NRG-induced cell death. NRG-induced cell death was not inhibited by the broad-spectrum caspases inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-FMK). However, NRG-induced cell death was inhibited by type II cell death inhibitor, 3-methyladenine. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that NRG induces type II cell death of LNCaP cells through PI3K-dependent pathway.

Adenine↗

[Overexpression of HER2/neu downregulates wild p53 protein expression via PI3K and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways in human breast cancer cells].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of HER2/neu overexpression on wild p53 protein expression and to delineate the related signal pathways. METHODS: Lipofectin method was used to transfer HER2/neu into human breast tumor cell line MCF7. Overexpression of HER2/neu was then determined by Western blot. Western blot was also used to detect the quantity of p53, Akt, p-Akt, p-Raf, p-MEK, p-ERK protein. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect p53 mRNA expression. PI3K pathway inhibitor LY294002 and MEK inhibitor U0126 were used to block the two pathways. The subsequent effect on p53 protein expression was then determined. RESULTS: HER2/neu-overexpressed MCF7 clone (MCF7-neu3) was successfully established, in which the amount of HER2/neu protein was 13 times more than that in parental MCF7 cells. The amount of p53 protein in MCF7-neu3 was 40% of that in parental MCF7 cells (P < 0.01), while there was no difference on p53 mRNA level. There were 2.5, 2.0, 1.6 and 1.6 fold increase in the amount of p-Akt, p-Raf, p-MEK, p-ERK protein respectively in MCF7-neu3 to that in parental MCF7 cells (P < 0.01). When treated with LY294002 or U0126 for 24 hours, the amount of wild p53 protein in MCF7-neu3 cells was 1.7 or 1.5 times higher than those in DMSO treated cells. There were 4.7 or 5.3 times increase in the p53 protein when MCF7-neu3 cells were treated with LY294002 or U0126 for 48 hours (P < 0.01). Similar results were not seen in MDA-MB-453 cells which contained mutant p53. CONCLUSIONS: HER2/neu overexpression can activate PI3K and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways, resulting in reduction of wild p53 protein expression. This may be the molecular mechanism responsible for the poor prognosis and therapeutic non-responsiveness in HER2/neu-overexpressed breast cancer patients.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PI3K-FRAP/mTOR pathway is critical for hepatocyte proliferation whereas MEK/ERK supports both proliferation and survival.

Growth factors are known to favor both proliferation and survival of hepatocytes. In this work, we investigated the role of 2 main signaling pathways, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), in these processes. First, evidence was provided that the PI3K cascade as well as the MEK/ERK cascade is a key transduction pathway controlling hepatocyte proliferation, as ascertained by arrest of DNA synthesis in the presence of LY294002, a specific PI3K inhibitor. Inhibition of FRAP/mTOR by rapamycin also abrogated DNA replication and protein synthesis induced by growth factor. We showed that expression of cyclin D1 at messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels was regulated by this pathway. We highlighted that 4E-BP1 phosphorylation was not activated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) but was under an insulin-regulation mechanism through a PI3K-FRAP/mTOR activation that could account for the permissive role of insulin on hepatocyte proliferation. No interference between the MEK/ERK pathway and 4E-BP1 phosphorylation was detected, whereas p70S6K phosphorylation induced by EGF was under a U0126-sensitive regulation. Last, we established that the antiapoptotic function of EGF was dependent on MEK, whereas LY294002 and rapamycin had no direct effect on cell survival. Taken together, these data highlight the regulation and the role of 2 pathways that mediate growth-related response by acting onto distinct steps. In conclusion, hepatocyte progression in late G1 phase induced by EGF generates survival signals depending on MEK activation, whereas PI3K and MEK/ERK cascades are both necessary for hepatocyte replication.

Animals↗

Frutalin, a galactose-binding lectin, induces chemotaxis and rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton in human neutrophils: involvement of tyrosine kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase.

Several lectin-like molecules have been shown as potent activators of leukocytes. Galactose-binding lectins are of special interest since they could interact with several endogenous molecules involved in the innate and specific immune responses. The effects of Frutalin (FTL), an alpha-D-galactose (Gal)-binding plant lectin, on the modulation of neutrophil (PMN) functions were investigated. FTL induced a dose-dependent PMN migration in mice pleural cavity. Moreover, FTL was also a potent direct chemotactic for human PMN, in vitro, and triggered oxidative burst in these cells. These effects were accompanied by a rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton dynamic, activation of tyrosine kinase (TK) pathways, increase in focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation, and its subsequent association to phosphoinositide3-kinase (PI3K). All those effects were inhibited in the presence of Gal, suggesting specific carbohydrate recognition for FTL effects. The activations of TK and PI3K pathways are essential events for FTL-induced chemotaxis, since inhibitors of these pathways, genistein and LY294002, inhibited neutrophil migration in vitro. The data indicate that sugar-protein interactions between a soluble lectin and galacto-components on neutrophil surface trigger the TK pathway, inducing FAK and PI3K activation, interfering with cell motility and oxidative response.

Actins↗

PI3-kinase is essential for ADP-stimulated integrin alpha(IIb)beta3-mediated platelet calcium oscillation, implications for P2Y receptor pathways in integrin alpha(IIb)beta3-initiated signaling cross-talks.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is important for platelet activation. Recent studies showed that PI3K and oscillative calcium could cross talk to each other and positively regulate integrin alpha (IIb)beta3-mediated outside-in signaling. However, the mechanism of this feedback regulation remains to be further characterized. Here we found that treatments of both PI3K inhibitor wortmannin and P2Y1 inhibitor A3P5P could inhibit granular secretion in platelets. Additionally, when RGD-substrate adherent platelets were treated with the ADP scavenger apyrase to deplete the granular-released ADP, their attachments in engaging with substrates became looser and the frequency of calcium oscillation decreased. Since it is known that ADP stimulates the PI3K and calcium signal primarily through P2Y12 and P2Y1 receptors respectively, our data indicated that integrin alpha(IIb)beta3 downstream PI3K and calcium activation might be not completely coupled to integrin associated signaling complex, but in part through feedback stimulation by granular released ADP. Our data indicates the important roles of PI3K and granular released ADP in coordinating the feedback regulations in integrin alpha(IIb)beta3-mediated platelet activation.

Actins↗

Adaptive hypersensitivity following long-term estrogen deprivation: involvement of multiple signal pathways.

Long-term estrogen deprivation causes hypersensitivity of MCF-7 cells to the mitogenic effect of estradiol (E2) which is associated with activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). However, several lines of evidence indicate that MAPK activation is not the exclusive mechanism for E2 hypersensitivity and multiple signal pathways might be involved. The current study explores the possible role of the PI3 kinase (PI3K) pathway in development of E2 hypersensitivity. Basal PI3K activity in long-term estrogen deprived MCF-7 cells (LTED) was elevated as evidenced by increased phosphorylation of three downstream effectors, Akt, p70 S6 kinase, and eukaryotic initiation factor-4E binding protein (4E-BP1), which was blocked by the specific inhibitor of PI3K, LY294002. Dual blockade of both MAPK and PI3K completely reversed E2 hypersensitivity of LTED cells. Enhancement in aromatase activity is another phenomenon accompanied with E2 hypersensitivity. In aromatase over-expressing MCF-7 cells, aromatase activity was reduced by inhibitors of MAPK and PI3K suggesting the involvement of protein phosphorylation in the regulation of aromatase activity. Our data suggest that in addition to the MAP kinase pathway, activation of the PI3 kinase pathway is involved in E2 hypersensitivity, which develops during adaptation of MCF-7 cells to the low estrogen environment.

Adaptation, Physiological↗