Antonella Sassano

Protein kinase c-δ (PKC-δ) is activated by Type I interferons and mediates phosphorylation of Stat1 on serine 727

It is well established that engagement of the Type I interferon (IFN) receptor results in activation of JAKs (Janus kinases), which in turn regulate tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT proteins. Subsequently, the IFN-dependent tyrosine-phosphorylated/activated STATs translocate to the nucleus to regulate gene transcription. In addition to tyrosine phosphorylation, phosphorylation of Stat1 on serine 727 is essential for induction of its transcriptional activity, but the IFNα-dependent serine kinase that regulates such phosphorylation remains unknown. In the present study we provide evidence that PKC-δ, a member of the protein kinase C family of proteins, is activated during engagement of the Type I IFN receptor and associates with Stat1. Such an activation of PKC-δ appears to be critical for phosphorylation of Stat1 on serine 727, as inhibition of PKC-δ activation diminishes the IFNα- or IFNβ-dependent serine phosphorylation of Stat1. In addition, treatment of cells with the PKC-δ inhibitor rottlerin or the expression of a dominant-negative PKC-δ mutant results in inhibition of IFNα- and IFNβ-dependent gene transcription via ISRE or GAS elements. Interestingly, PKC-δ inhibition also blocks activation of the p38 MAP kinase, the function of which is required for IFNα-dependent transcriptional regulation, suggesting a dual mechanism by which this kinase participates in the generation of IFNα responses. Altogether, these findings indicate that PKC-δ functions as a serine kinase for Stat1 and an upstream regulator of the p38 MAP kinase and plays an important role in the induction of Type I IFN-biological responses.

Role of the Akt pathway in mRNA translation of interferon-stimulated genes

Multiple signaling pathways are engaged by the type I and II IFN receptors, but their specific roles and possible coordination in the generation of IFN-mediated biological responses remain unknown. We provide evidence that activation of Akt kinases is required for IFN-inducible engagement of the mTOR/p70 S6 kinase pathway. Our data establish that Akt activity is essential for up-regulation of key IFN-α- and IFN-γ-inducible proteins, which have important functional consequences in the induction of IFN responses. Such effects of the Akt pathway are unrelated to regulatory activities on IFN-dependent STAT phosphorylation/activation or transcriptional regulation. By contrast, they reflect regulatory activities on mRNA translation via direct control of the mTOR pathway. In studies using Akt1 and Akt2 double knockout cells, we found that the absence of Akt kinases results in dramatic reduction in IFN-induced antiviral responses, establishing a critical role of the Akt pathway in IFN signaling. Thus, activation of the Akt pathway by the IFN receptors complements the function of IFN-activated JAK–STAT pathways, by allowing mRNA translation of IFN-stimulated genes and, ultimately, the induction of the biological effects of IFNs.

Critical roles for mTORC2- and rapamycin-insensitive mTORC1-complexes in growth and survival of BCR-ABL-expressing leukemic cells

mTOR-generated signals play critical roles in growth of leukemic cells by controlling mRNA translation of genes that promote mitogenic responses. Despite extensive work on the functional relevance of rapamycin-sensitive mTORC1 complexes, much less is known on the roles of rapamycin-insensitive (RI) complexes, including mTORC2 and RI-mTORC1, in BCR-ABL-leukemogenesis. We provide evidence for the presence of mTORC2 complexes in BCR-ABL-transformed cells and identify phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 on Thr37/46 and Ser65 as RI-mTORC1 signals in primary chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. Our studies establish that a unique dual mTORC2/mTORC1 inhibitor, OSI-027, induces potent suppressive effects on primitive leukemic progenitors from CML patients and generates antileukemic responses in cells expressing the T315I-BCR-ABL mutation, which is refractory to all BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors currently in clinical use. Induction of apoptosis by OSI-027 appears to negatively correlate with induction of autophagy in some types of BCR-ABL transformed cells, as shown by the induction of autophagy during OSI-027-treatment and the potentiation of apoptosis by concomitant inhibition of such autophagy. Altogether, our studies establish critical roles for mTORC2 and RI-mTORC1 complexes in survival and growth of BCR-ABL cells and suggest that dual therapeutic targeting of such complexes may provide an approach to overcome leukemic cell resistance in CML and Ph+ ALL.In recent years, there have been substantial research advances on the mechanisms by which BCR-ABL transforms hematopoietic cells and promotes leukemic cell growth and survival. Among the diverse signaling cascades activated by BCR-ABL, the mTOR pathway plays a critical role in mRNA translation of genes that promote leukemogenesis and mitogenic responses. We have recently shown that dual targeting of mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes using a catalytic mTOR inhibitor, OSI-027, results in generation of potent antileukemic effects against BCR-ABL transformed cells. Such effects were also seen in cells expressing the T315I mutation, which is resistant to all currently approved BCR-ABL kinase inhibitors. Our studies also demonstrate that such dual catalytic inhibition of mTORC2 and mTORC1 complexes in BCR-ABL-expressing K562 cells results in induction of autophagy, and that inhibition of the autophagic process using chloroquine promotes apoptosis of these cells. Altogether, our studies suggest that autophagy may be a limiting factor for the induction of apoptosis during dual mTORC2-mTORC1 targeting, in at least some types of BCR-ABL-expressing cells and have raised the potential of combinations of catalytic inhibitors of mTOR with autophagy inhibitors for the treatment of refractory Ph(+) leukemias.

Statins in tumor suppression.

Statins are HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors with important cholesterol-lowering properties. The introduction of these agents in clinical medicine has had a major impact and has changed the natural history of coronary artery disease in humans. Beyond their cholesterol-lowering properties, statins exhibit important anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. Extensive studies over the last few years have demonstrated that statins generate pro-apoptotic, growth inhibitory, and pro-differentiation responses on neoplastic cells of diverse origin. In addition, several cellular pathways activated by statins have been identified and key mechanisms involved in the generation of their antitumor effects have been characterized. Because of such in vitro effects, extensive efforts are underway to establish their utility in cancer prevention and their potential use in the treatment of certain malignancies, in combination with other agents. This review summarizes the documented effects of statins on different tumor cell types and discusses the cellular mechanisms of action of statins in malignant cells. The clinical-translational implications of the ongoing research efforts are also discussed.

Activation of Protein Kinase Cδ by IFN-γ

Engagement of the type II IFN (IFN-γ) receptor results in activation of the Janus kinase-Stat pathway and induction of gene transcription via IFN-γ-activated site (GAS) elements in the promoters of IFN-γ-inducible genes. An important event in IFN-γ-dependent gene transcription is phosphorylation of Stat1 on Ser727, which is regulated by a kinase activated downstream of the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase. Here we provide evidence that a member of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of proteins is activated downstream of the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase and is engaged in IFN-γ signaling. Our data demonstrate that PKCδ is rapidly phosphorylated during engagement of the type II IFNR and its kinase domain is induced. Subsequently, the activated PKCδ associates with a member of the Stat family of proteins, Stat1, which acts as a substrate for its kinase activity and undergoes phosphorylation on Ser727. Inhibition of PKCδ activity diminishes phosphorylation of Stat1 on Ser727 and IFN-γ-dependent transcriptional regulation via IFN-γ-activated site elements, without affecting the phosphorylation of the protein on Tyr701. Thus, PKCδ is activated during engagement of the IFN-γ receptor and plays an important role in IFN-γ signaling by mediating serine phosphorylation of Stat1 and facilitating transcription of IFN-γ-stimulated genes.

Activation of Protein Kinase Cδ by All-trans-retinoic Acid

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is a potent inhibitor of leukemia cell proliferation and induces differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo. For RA to induce its biological effects in target cells, binding to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors is required. The resulting complexes bind to RA-responsive elements (RAREs) in the promoters of RA-inducible genes to initiate gene transcription and to generate protein products that mediate the biological effects of RA. In this report, we provide evidence that a member of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of proteins, PKCδ, is activated during RA treatment of the NB-4 and HL-60 acute myeloid leukemia cell lines as well as the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Such RA-dependent phosphorylation was also observed in primary acute promyelocytic leukemia cells and resulted in activation of the kinase domain of PKCδ. In studies aimed at understanding the functional relevance of PKCδ in the induction of RA responses, we found that pharmacological inhibition of PKCδ (but not of other PKC isoforms) diminished RA-dependent gene transcription via RAREs. On the other hand, overexpression of a constitutively active form of the kinase strongly enhanced RA-dependent gene transcription via RAREs. Gel shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that PKCδ associated with retinoic acid receptor-α and was present in an RA-inducible protein complex that bound to RAREs. Pharmacological inhibition of PKCδ activity abrogated the induction of cell differentiation and growth inhibition of NB-4 blast cells, demonstrating that its function is required for such effects. Altogether, our data provide strong evidence that PKCδ is activated in an RA-dependent manner and plays a critical role in the generation of the biological effects of RA in malignant cells.

Regulatory Effects of Mammalian Target of Rapamycin-activated Pathways in Type I and II Interferon Signaling

The mechanisms regulating initiation of mRNA translation for the generation of protein products that mediate interferon (IFN) responses are largely unknown. We have previously shown that both Type I and II IFNs engage the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), resulting in downstream phosphorylation and deactivation of the translational repressor 4E-BP1 (eIF4E-binding protein 1). In the current study, we provide direct evidence that such regulation of 4E-BP1 by IFNα or IFNγ results in sequential dissociation of 4E-BP1 from eukaryotic initiation factor-4E and subsequent formation of a functional complex between eukaryotic initiation factor-4E and eukaryotic initiation factor-4G, to allow initiation of mRNA translation. We also demonstrate that the induction of key IFNα- or IFNγ-inducible proteins (ISG15 (interferon-stimulated gene 15) and CXCL10) that mediate IFN responses are enhanced in 4E-BP1 (4E-BP1-/-) knockout MEFs, as compared with wild-type 4E-BP1+/+ MEFs. On the other hand, IFN-dependent transcriptional regulation of the Isg15 and Cxcl10 genes is intact in the absence of 4E-BP1, as determined by real time reverse transcriptase-PCR assays and promoter assays for ISRE and GAS, establishing that 4E-BP1 plays a selective negative regulatory role in IFN-induced mRNA translation. Interestingly, the induction of expression of ISG15 and CXCL10 proteins by IFNs was also strongly enhanced in cells lacking expression of the tuberin (TSC2-/-) or hamartin (TSC1-/-) genes, consistent with the known negative regulatory effect of the TSC1-TSC2 complex on mTOR activation. In other work, we demonstrate that the induction of an IFN-dependent antiviral response is strongly enhanced in cells lacking expression of 4E-BP1 and TSC2, demonstrating that these elements of the IFN-activated mTOR pathway exhibit important regulatory effects in the generation of IFN responses. Taken altogether, our data suggest an important role for mTOR-dependent pathways in IFN signaling and identify 4E-BP1 and TSC1-TSC2 as key components in the generation of IFN-dependent biological responses.

Cutting Edge: Activation of the p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway Mediates Cytokine-Induced Hemopoietic Suppression in Aplastic Anemia

Myelosuppressive cytokines, in particular IFN-γ and TNF-α, play an important role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic aplastic anemia in humans. It is unknown whether these negative regulators of hemopoiesis suppress stem cells by activating a common signaling cascade or via distinct nonoverlapping pathways. In this study, we provide evidence that a common element in signaling for IFN-γ and TNF-α in human hemopoietic progenitors is the p38/MapKapK-2 signaling cascade. Our studies indicate that pharmacological inhibition of p38 reverses the suppressive effects of IFN-γ and TNF-α on normal human bone marrow-derived erythroid and myeloid progenitors. Most importantly, inhibition of p38 strongly enhances hemopoietic progenitor colony formation from aplastic anemia bone marrows in vitro. Thus, p38 appears to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of aplastic anemia, suggesting that selective pharmacological inhibitors of this kinase may prove useful in the treatment of aplastic anemia and other cytokine-mediated bone marrow failure syndromes.

Activation of protein kinase C-delta (PKC-delta) by All-trans-retinoic acid

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is a potent inhibitor of leukemia cell proliferation and induces differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo. For RA to induce its biological effects in target cells, binding to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors is required. The resulting complexes bind to RA-responsive elements (RAREs) in the promoters of RA-inducible genes to initiate gene transcription and to generate protein products that mediate the biological effects of RA. In this report, we provide evidence that a member of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of proteins, PKCδ, is activated during RA treatment of the NB-4 and HL-60 acute myeloid leukemia cell lines as well as the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Such RA-dependent phosphorylation was also observed in primary acute promyelocytic leukemia cells and resulted in activation of the kinase domain of PKCδ. In studies aimed at understanding the functional relevance of PKCδ in the induction of RA responses, we found that pharmacological inhibition of PKCδ (but not of other PKC isoforms) diminished RA-dependent gene transcription via RAREs. On the other hand, overexpression of a constitutively active form of the kinase strongly enhanced RA-dependent gene transcription via RAREs. Gel shift assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that PKCδ associated with retinoic acid receptor-α and was present in an RA-inducible protein complex that bound to RAREs. Pharmacological inhibition of PKCδ activity abrogated the induction of cell differentiation and growth inhibition of NB-4 blast cells, demonstrating that its function is required for such effects. Altogether, our data provide strong evidence that PKCδ is activated in an RA-dependent manner and plays a critical role in the generation of the biological effects of RA in malignant cells.

Dual mTORC2/mTORC1 targeting results in potent suppressive effects on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) progenitors

Purpose: To determine whether mTORC2 and rapamycin-insensitive (RI)-mTORC1 complexes are present in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and to examine the effects of dual mTORC2/mTORC1 inhibition on primitive AML leukemic progenitors. Experimental Design: Combinations of different experimental approaches were used, including immunoblotting to detect phosphorylated/activated forms of elements of the mTOR pathway in leukemic cell lines and primary AML blasts; cell-proliferation assays; direct assessment of mRNA translation in polysomal fractions of leukemic cells; and clonogenic assays in methylcellulose to evaluate leukemic progenitor-colony formation. Results: mTORC2 complexes are active in AML cells and play critical roles in leukemogenesis. RI-mTORC1 complexes are also formed and regulate the activity of the translational repressor 4E-BP1 in AML cells. OSI-027 blocks mTORC1 and mTORC2 activities and suppresses mRNA translation of cyclin D1 and other genes that mediate proliferative responses in AML cells. Moreover, OSI-027 acts as a potent suppressor of primitive leukemic precursors from AML patients and is much more effective than rapamycin in eliciting antileukemic effects in vitro. Conclusions: Dual targeting of mTORC2 and mTORC1 results in potent suppressive effects on primitive leukemic progenitors from AML patients. Inhibition of the mTOR catalytic site with OSI-027 results in suppression of both mTORC2 and RI-mTORC1 complexes and elicits much more potent antileukemic responses than selective mTORC1 targeting with rapamycin. Clin Cancer Res; 17(13); 4378–88. ©2011 AACR.