Hye Jin Jee

Nek6 is involved in G2/M phase cell cycle arrest through DNA damage-induced phosphorylation.

Nek6 is a recently identified NIMA-related kinase that is required for mitotic cell cycle progression. In the present study, we examined the role of Nek6 in the DNA damage response. We found that Nek6 is phosphorylated upon IR and UV irradiation through the DNA damage checkpoint in vivo. Nek6 is also directly phosphorylated by the checkpoint kinases Chk1 and Chk2 in vitro. Notably, Nek6 activation during mitosis is completely abolished by IR and UV irradiation. Moreover, the ectopic expression of Nek6 overrides DNA damage-induced G2/M arrest. These results suggest that Nek6 is a novel target of the DNA damage checkpoint and that the inhibition of Nek6 activity is required for proper cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase upon DNA damage.

Nek6 overexpression antagonizes p53-induced senescence in human cancer cells.

Nek6 is an NIMA-related kinase that plays a critical role in mitotic cell cycle progression. Recent studies have shown that Nek6 is upregulated in various human cancers, but the function of Nek6 in tumorigenesis is largely unknown. Here, we examined the role of Nek6 in cellular senescence. Our data revealed that Nek6 expression is decreased both in both the replicative senescence of human normal fibroblasts and premature senescence induced by p53 expression in EJ human bladder cancer cells and H1299 human lung cancer cells. Interestingly, the enforced expression of Nek6 in EJ and H1299 cells completely suppresses p53-induced senescence, whereas the expression of kinase-dead Nek6 did not affect p53-induced senescence. Mechanistic studies revealed that cell cycle arrest in the G1 and G2/M phases, as well as the reduction of cyclin B and cdc2 protein level upon p53 expression were significantly reduced by Nek6 overexpression. In addition, p53-induced increases in intracellular levels of ROS were also inhibited in cells overexpressing Nek6. These results suggest that the downregulation of Nek6 expression is required for the onset of p53-induced cellular senescence and imply a possible role of Nek6 in tumorigenesis.

Melatonin suppresses doxorubicin-induced premature senescence of A549 lung cancer cells by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction.

Abstract:  Melatonin is an indolamine that is synthesized in the pineal gland and shows a wide range of physiological functions. Although the anti‐aging properties of melatonin have been reported in a senescence‐accelerated mouse model, whether melatonin modulates cellular senescence has not been determined. In this study, we examined the effect of melatonin on anticancer drug‐induced cellular premature senescence. We found that the doxorubicin (DOX)‐induced senescence of A549 human lung cancer cells and IMR90 normal lung cells was substantially inhibited by cotreatment with melatonin in a dose‐dependent manner. Mechanistically, the DOX‐induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and the decrease in cyclinB and cdc2 expression were not affected by melatonin. However, the DOX‐induced increase in intracellular levels of ROS, which is necessary for premature senescence, was completely abolished upon melatonin cotreatment. In addition, the reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential that occurs upon DOX treatment was inhibited by melatonin. An aberrant increase in mitochondrial respiration was also significantly suppressed by melatonin, indicating that melatonin ameliorates the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by DOX treatment. The treatment of A549 cells with luzindole, a potent inhibitor of melatonin receptors, failed to prevent the effects of melatonin treatment on mitochondrial functions and premature senescence in cells also treated with DOX; this suggests that melatonin suppresses DOX‐induced senescence in a melatonin receptor‐independent manner. Together, these results reveal that melatonin has an inhibitory effect of melatonin on premature senescence at the cellular level and that melatonin protects A549 cells from DOX‐induced senescence. Thus, melatonin might have the therapeutic potential to prevent the side effects of anticancer drug therapy.

UV light induces premature senescence in Akt1-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts by increasing intracellular levels of ROS

Akt/PKB plays a pivotal role in cell survival and proliferation. Previously, we reported that UV-irradiation induces extensive cell death in Akt2(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) while Akt1(-/-) MEFs show cell cycle arrest. Here, we find that Akt1(-/-) MEFs exhibit phenotypic changes characteristics of senescence upon UV-irradiation. An enlarged and flattened morphology, a reduced cell proliferation and an increased senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA beta-gal) staining indicate that Akt1(-/-) MEFs undergo premature senescence after UV-irradiation. Restoring Akt1 expression in Akt1(-/-) MEFs suppressed SA beta-gal activity, indicating that UV-induced senescence is due to the absence of Akt1 function. Notably, levels of ROS were rapidly increased upon UV-irradiation and the ROS scavenger NAC inhibits UV-induced senescence of Akt1(-/-) MEFs, suggesting that UV light induces premature senescence in Akt1(-/-) MEFs by modulating intracellular levels of ROS. In conjunction with our previous work, this indicates that different isoforms of Akt have distinct function in response to UV-irradiation.

Loss of Med1/TRAP220 promotes the invasion and metastasis of human non-small-cell lung cancer cells by modulating the expression of metastasis-related genes

Med1/TRAP220 is an essential component of the TRAP/Mediator complex. In this study, we present a novel function of Med1 in human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. We found that the loss of Med1 expression was strongly associated with increased rates of invasion and metastasis in NSCLC patients. Consistent with lung cancer patient data, the knockdown of Med1 in NSCLC cell lines led to an increase in cell migration and invasion. Med1-depleted cells displayed an increase in metastasis in a xenograft tumor model and in an in vivo metastasis assay. Moreover, a microarray analysis revealed that the mRNA levels of the metastasis-related genes uPAR, ID2, ID4, PTP4A1, PKP3, TGM2, PLD1, TIMP2, RGS2, and HOXA4 were altered upon Med1 knockdown. Collectively, these results suggest that the loss of Med1 increases the invasive potential of human NSCLC cells by modulating the expression of metastasis-related genes.

Nek6 suppresses the premature senescence of human cancer cells induced by camptothecin and doxorubicin treatment

Cellular senescence plays an important role in tumor suppression. The mitotic kinase Nek6 has recently been shown to be overexpressed in various cancers and has been implicated in tumorigenesis. Previously, we reported that the down-regulation of Nek6 expression was required for p53-induced senescence. In this study, we examined the effect of Nek6 overexpression on the premature senescence of cancer cells induced by the anticancer drugs camptothecin (CPT) and doxorubicin (DOX). We found that CPT- and DOX-induced morphology changes and increases in senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining were significantly inhibited in EJ human bladder cancer cells and H1299 human lung cancer cells overexpressing HA-Nek6. DOX-induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and the reduction in cyclin B and cdc2 levels after DOX treatment were significantly reduced by Nek6 overexpression. In addition, an increase in the intracellular levels of ROS in response to DOX was also inhibited in cells overexpressing Nek6. These results suggest that the increased expression of Nek6 renders cancer cells resistant to premature senescence, and targeting Nek6 could be an efficient strategy for cancer treatment.

DNA damage induces down-regulation of PEPCK and G6P gene expression through degradation of PGC-1α

Hepatic gluconeogenesis plays a crucial role in glucose homeostasis. Although it is well established that various cellular processes are modulated by DNA damage, whether the DNA damage signaling pathway regulates gluconeogenesis has not yet been studied. In this study, we found that mRNA levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6P), key enzymes for gluconeogenesis, were dramatically decreased upon IR- and UV-irradiation. PEPCK and G6P promoter activities were also suppressed by IR- and UV-irradiation, suggesting that PEPCK and G6P gene transcription are down-regulated upon DNA damage. We also found that the protein level of PGC-1α, which is a critical transcription factor for PEPCK gene expression, is decreased upon UV-irradiation. The decreased PGC-1α protein level was abolished by MG132, a potent proteasome inhibitor, suggesting that PGC-1α is degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway upon UV-irradiation. These results reveal a novel link between glucose metabolism and the DNA damage signaling pathway and suggest a possible role for PEPCK and G6P in the DNA damage response.

p21WAF1/CIP1 deficiency induces mitochondrial dysfunction in HCT116 colon cancer cells

p21(WAF1/CIP1) is a critical regulator of cell cycle progression. However, the role of p21 in mitochondrial function remains poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effect of p21 deficiency on mitochondrial function in HCT116 human colon cancer cells. We found that there was a significant increase in the mitochondrial mass of p21(-/-) HCT116 cells, as measured by 10-N-nonyl-acridine orange staining, as well as an increase in the mitochondrial DNA content. In contrast, p53(-/-) cells had a mitochondrial mass comparable to that of wild-type HCT116 cells. In addition, the expression levels of the mitochondrial biogenesis regulators PGC-1α and TFAM and AMPK activity were also elevated in p21(-/-) cells, indicating that p21 deficiency induces the rate of mitochondrial biogenesis through the AMPK-PGC-1α axis. However, the increase in mitochondrial biogenesis in p21(-/-) cells did not accompany an increase in the cellular steady-state level of ATP. Furthermore, p21(-/-) cells exhibited significant proliferation impairment in galactose medium, suggesting that p21 deficiency induces a defect in the mitochondrial respiratory chain in HCT116 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that the loss of p21 results in an aberrant increase in the mitochondrial mass and in mitochondrial dysfunction in HCT116 cells, indicating that p21 is required to maintain proper mitochondrial mass and respiratory function.

Cooperation between p21 and Akt is required for p53‐dependent cellular senescence

Cellular senescence has been implicated in normal aging, tissue homeostasis, and tumor suppression. Although p53 has been shown to be a central mediator of cellular senescence, the signaling pathway by which it induces senescence remains incompletely understood. In this study, we have shown that both Akt and p21 are required to induce cellular senescence in response to p53 expression. In a p53‐induced senescence model, we found that Akt activation was essential for inducing a cellular senescence phenotype. Surprisingly, Akt inhibition did not abolish p53‐induced cell cycle arrest, but it suppressed the increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The results of the cell cycle and morphological analysis suggest that p53 induced quiescence, not senescence, following Akt inhibition. Conversely, the inhibition of p21 induction abolished cell cycle arrest but did not affect the p53‐induced increase in ROS levels. Additionally, p21 and Akt separately controlled cell cycle arrest and ROS levels, respectively, during H‐Ras‐induced senescence in human normal fibroblasts. The mechanistic analysis revealed that Akt increased ROS levels through NOX4 induction, and increased Akt‐dependent NF‐κB binding to the NOX4 promoter is responsible for NOX4 induction upon p53 expression. We further showed that Akt activation upon p53 expression is mediated by mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2. In addition, p53‐mediated IL6 and IL8 induction was abrogated by Akt inhibition, suggesting that Akt activation is also required for the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype. Collectively, these results suggest that p53 simultaneously controls multiple pathways to induce cellular senescence through p21 and Akt.

The inhibition of Nek6 function sensitizes human cancer cells to premature senescence upon serum reduction or anticancer drug treatment

The induction of premature senescence in cancer cells was proposed as an effective cancer treatment strategy. In this paper, we show that the inhibition of Nek6 expression by Nek6 siRNA-mediated knockdown or the overexpression of a dominant negative form of Nek6 (Nek6KM) induced premature senescence as well as cell death under reduced serum conditions in multiple cancer cell lines, including both p53 wild-type and p53 mutant/null backgrounds. Moreover, cancer cells expressing Nek6KM exhibited significantly increased premature senescence upon treatment with the anticancer drugs doxorubicin (DOX) and camptothecin (CPT). Significantly, the overexpression of Nek6KM also inhibited tumor growth and promoted premature senescence in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. Taken together, our results further confirm that Nek6 plays an important role in the premature senescence of cancer cells, suggesting that Nek6 may be a potential therapeutic target for human cancers.