Hyungshin Yim

Ginsenoside-Rh2-Induced Mitochondrial Depolarization and Apoptosis Are Associated with Reactive Oxygen Species- and Ca2+-Mediated c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase 1 Activation in HeLa Cells

We show here that Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the up-regulation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) activity during apoptosis induced by ginsenoside Rh2 (G-Rh2) in HeLa, MCF10A-ras, and MCF7 cells. Addition of antioxidants such as N-acetyl-l-cysteine or catalase attenuates G-Rh2-induced ROS generation, JNK1 activation, and apoptosis. The overexpression of catalase down-regulates caspase-3 and JNK1 activities. G-Rh2 treatment of cells results in mitochondrial depolarization, second mitochondrial activator of caspase release, and translocation of Bax into the mitochondria, and these events are inhibited by antioxidants. Ca2+ is also involved in mitochondrial depolarization during G-Rh2-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that ROS and Ca2+ are important signaling intermediates leading to stress-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase 1/JNK1 activation and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential in G-Rh2-induced apoptosis.

Current clinical trials with polo-like kinase 1 inhibitors in solid tumors.

Significant advances in cancer treatment have resulted from the targeted cancer therapy by understanding the process of malignant transformation. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) has been investigated as a target for cancer therapy for several years. Recently, anticancer drug candidates targeting PLK1 have been developed. To investigate the significance of PLK1 inhibitors in cancer patients, the current clinical statuses of PLK1 inhibitors including BI 2536, volasertib, and GSK461364A were analyzed. Monotherapy with BI 2536, the first human study of PLK1 inhibitors, has been terminated now, but its combinational study is still available in several solid tumors. The second-generation PLK1 inhibitor volasertib has an improved pharmacokinetic profile, safety, and efficacy, which is currently being developed under phase I/II. GSK461364 has shown a greater sensitive antitumor effect in p53-mutated cancer compared with that of p53-wild type cancer cells in a preclinical study. However, it has to be coadministered with an anticoagulator because of the high incidence of venous thrombotic emboli in clinical studies. PLK1 inhibitors showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, safety, and efficacy in patients with solid tumors. Further investigation with the use of PLK1 inhibitors in cancer patients who have mutated p53 or Ras and a high level of PLK1 as biomarkers is needed to consider the context and evaluation criteria of therapy.

Cdk2 activity is associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential during apoptosis

In this study we show that panaxadiol, a ginseng saponin with a dammarane skeleton, induces apoptotic cell death by depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential in human hepatoma SK-HEP-1 cells. Sequential activation of caspases-9, -3, and -7, but not of caspase-8, occurs after mitochondrial membrane depolarization and cytochrome c release from the mitochondria of panaxadiol-treated cells. Moreover, Cdk2 kinase activity, but not Cdc2 kinase activity, is markedly upregulated in the early stages of apoptosis. Olomoucine or roscovitine, specific Cdks inhibitors, effectively prevent mitochondrial membrane depolarization as well as apoptotic cell death in panaxadiol-treated cells. Thus, panaxadiol-treatment induces cell death-dependent activation of Cdk2 kinase activity, which is functionally associated with depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and subsequent cytochrome c release.

Polo-Like Kinase 1 Depletion Induces DNA Damage in Early S Prior to Caspase Activation

ABSTRACT Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) plays several roles in mitosis, and it has been suggested to have a role in tumorigenesis. We have previously reported that Plk1 depletion results in cell death in cancer cells, whereas normal cells survive similar depletion. However, Plk1 depletion together with p53 depletion induces cell death in normal cells as well. This communication presents evidence on the sequence of events that leads to cell death in cancer cells. DNA damage is detected at the first S phase following Plk1 depletion and is more severe in Plk1-depleted p53-null cancer cells. As a consequence of Plk1 depletion using lentivirus-based small interfering RNA techniques, prereplicative complex (pre-RC) formation is disrupted at the G1/S transition, and DNA synthesis is reduced during S phase of the first cycle after depletion. The levels of geminin, an inhibitor of DNA pre-RC, and Emi1, an inhibitor of anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome, are elevated in Plk1-depleted cells. The rate of cell cycling is slower in Plk1-depleted cells than in control cells when synchronized by serum starvation. Plk1 depletion results in disrupted DNA pre-RC formation, reduced DNA synthesis, and DNA damage before cells display severe mitotic catastrophe or apoptosis. Our data suggest that Plk1 is required for cell cycle progression not only in mitosis but also for DNA synthesis, maintenance of DNA integrity, and prevention of cell death.

Cleavage of Cdc6 by caspase-3 promotes ATM/ATR kinase-mediated apoptosis of HeLa cells.

We show that caspase-3 cleaves Cdc6 at D290/S and D442/G sites, producing p32-tCdc6 (truncated Cdc6) and p49-tCdc6, respectively, during etoposide- or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α–induced apoptosis. The expression of these tCdc6 proteins, p32- and p49-tCdc6, promotes etoposide-induced apoptosis. The expression of tCdc6 perturbs the loading of Mcm2 but not Orc2 onto chromatin and activates ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM and Rad-3 related (ATR) kinase activities with kinetics similar to that of the phosphorylation of Chk1/2. The activation kinetics are consistent with elevated cellular levels of p53 and mitochondrial levels of Bax. The tCdc6-induced effects are all suppressed to control levels by expressing a Cdc6 mutant that cannot be cleaved by caspase-3 (Cdc6-UM). Cdc6-UM expression attenuates the TNF-α–induced activation of ATM and caspase-3 activities. When ATM or ATR is down-expressed by using the small interfering RNA technique, the TNF-α– or tCdc6-induced activation of caspase-3 activities is suppressed in the cells. These results suggest that tCdc6 proteins act as dominant-negative inhibitors of replication initiation and that they disrupt chromatin structure and/or induce DNA damage, leading to the activation of ATM/ATR kinase activation and p53–Bax-mediated apoptosis.

Cell division cycle 6, a mitotic substrate of polo-like kinase 1, regulates chromosomal segregation mediated by cyclin-dependent kinase 1 and separase.

Defining the links between cell division and DNA replication is essential for understanding normal cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis. In this report we explore the effect of phosphorylation of cell division cycle 6 (Cdc6), a DNA replication initiation factor, by polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) on the regulation of chromosomal segregation. In mitosis, the phosphorylation of Cdc6 was highly increased, in correlation with the level of Plk1, and conversely, Cdc6 is hypophosphorylated in Plk1-depleted cells, although cyclin A- and cyclin B1-dependent kinases are active. Binding between Cdc6 and Plk1 occurs through the polo-box domain of Plk1, and Cdc6 is phosphorylated by Plk1 on T37. Immunohistochemistry studies reveal that Cdc6 and Plk1 colocalize to the central spindle in anaphase. Expression of T37V mutant of Cdc6 (Cdc6-TV) induces binucleated cells and incompletely separated nuclei. Wild-type Cdc6 but not Cdc6-TV binds cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1). Expression of wild-type Plk1 but not kinase-defective mutant promotes the binding of Cdc6 to Cdk1. Cells expressing wild-type Cdc6 display lower Cdk1 activity and higher separase activity than cells expressing Cdc6-TV. These results suggest that Plk1-mediated phosphorylation of Cdc6 promotes the interaction of Cdc6 and Cdk1, leading to the attenuation of Cdk1 activity, release of separase, and subsequent anaphase progression.

Predictive value of urinary and serum biomarkers in young children with febrile urinary tract infections

BackgroundEarly predictive biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be valuable diagnostic tools in children.MethodsThe study cohort comprised 73 pediatric patients with febrile UTIs [46 with acute pyelonephritis (APN) and 27 with lower UTIs] and 56 healthy children. Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) levels and serum cystatin C (sCysC) levels were measured.ResultsThe uNGAL/creatinine (Cr) and uKIM-1/Cr levels were higher in the UTI group than in the controls (P < 0.05). uNGAL/Cr and sCysC levels were higher in patients with APN than in those with lower UTIs (P < 0.05). uNGAL/Cr levels in both the APN and UTI groups decreased following the administration of antibiotics compared to those before treatment (P < 0.05). The uNGAL/Cr level was correlated with serum levels of white blood cells, C-reactive protein, CysC and with uKIM-1/Cr (P < 0.05). uKIM-1/Cr was also correlated with sCysC (P < 0.05). Receiver operating curve analyses showed good diagnostic profiles of uNGAL/Cr and uKIM-1/Cr for identifying UTIs [area under the curve (AUC) 0.9 and 0.66, respectively) and of uNGAL/Cr and sCysC for predicting APN (AUC 0.78 and 0.72, respectively).ConclusionsOur results suggest that uNGAL, uKIM-1 and sCysC levels may be useful for predicting and managing febrile UTIs in children.

Nek1 and TAZ Interact to Maintain Normal Levels of Polycystin 2

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in mice can arise from defects in Nek kinases, which participate in ciliogenesis. PKD can also arise from loss of the protein TAZ, an adaptor protein in the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex that targets the ciliary protein polycystin 2 (PC2) for degradation, but whether Nek and TAZ contribute to the same biochemical pathway is unknown. Here, we report that the nimA-related protein kinase Nek1 phosphorylates TAZ at a site essential for the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of PC2. Loss of Nek1 leads to underphosphorylation of TAZ, thereby promoting the abnormal accumulation of PC2. Furthermore, TAZ targets Nek1 for degradation. These data suggest that TAZ and Nek1 constitute a negative feedback loop linked through phosphorylation and ubiquitination and that the interaction of Nek1 and TAZ maintain PC2 at the level needed for proper ciliogenesis.

Transcriptional and post-translational regulation of the quiescence factor and putative tumor suppressor p150Sal2

The evolutionarily conserved SALL genes encode transcription factors with roles in embryonic development. The product of the SALL2 gene was first identified as a binding partner of the mouse polyoma virus large T antigen and later shown to possess tumor suppressor‐like functions. Independent studies identified SALL2 as a factor regulating the quiescent state in human fibroblasts. Here, we investigate factors that regulate the expression of SALL2 and turnover of p150Sal2 in growing vs. resting cells. The transcription factor AP4 increases along with SALL2 in quiescent cells and positively regulates SALL2 expression. TGFβ effectively inhibits expression of SALL2 and its regulator AP4 when added to quiescent fibroblasts. TGFβ repression of SALL2 and AP4 is independent of the induction of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) by TGFβ. p150Sal2 disappears rapidly on restoration of serum. In both growing fibroblasts and established ovarian surface epithelial cells, p150Sal2 undergoes polyubiquitination and proteosomal degradation. A CUL4/DDB1 E3 ligase containing RBBP7 as the p150Sal2 receptor has been identified as mediating the destruction of p150Sal2 as cells transition from a quiescent to an actively growing state.—Sung, C. K., Dahl, J., Yim, H., Rodig, S., Benjamin, T. L. Transcriptional and post‐translational regulation of the quiescence factor and putative tumor suppressor p150Sal2. FASEB J. 25, 1275–1283 (2011). www.fasebj.org

Cyclin-dependent protein kinase 2 activity is required for mitochondrial translocation of Bax and disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential during etoposide-induced apoptosis

Previous studies have suggested that upregulation of Cyclin A-dependent protein kinase 2 (Cdk2) activity is an essential event in apoptotic progression and the mitochondrial permeability transition in human cancer cells. Here, we show that upregulated Cyclin A/Cdk2 activity precedes the proteolytic cleavage of PARP and is correlated with the mitochondrial translocation of Bax and the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm) during etoposide-induced apoptosis in human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells. Etoposide-induced apoptotic cell death is efficiently prevented in cells that overexpress a dominant negative mutant of Cdk2 (Cdk2-dn) or p21WAF1/CIP1, a specific Cdk inhibitor. Conversely, apoptotic cell death is promoted in Cyclin A-expressing cells. Disruption of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential in etoposide-induced cells is prevented in cells that overexpress Cdk2-dn or p21WAF1/CIP1, while this transition is prominently promoted in Cyclin A-expressing cells. We screened for mitochondrial Cdk2 targets in the etoposide-induced cells and found that the mitochondrial level of Bax is elevated by more than three fold in etoposide-treated cells and this elevation is effectively prevented in cells expressing Cdk2-dn under the same conditions. Thus, we suggest that Cdk2 activity is involved in the mitochondrial translocation of Bax, which plays an important role in the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition during apoptotic progression.