purvalanol-a and Colonic-Neoplasms

Purvalanol, a novel cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, is referred to as a strong apoptotic inducer which causes cell cycle arrest in various cancer cells such as prostate, breast and colon cancer cell lines. Various physiological and pathological conditions such as glucose starvation, inhibition of protein glycosylation and oxidative stress may cause an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to the unfolded protein response (UPR) and autophagy. Lacking proteosomal function on aggregates of unfolded proteins, ER stress may induce autophagic machinery. Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved process, is characterized by massive degradation of cytosolic contents. In the present study, our aim was to determine the time-dependent, ER-mediated apoptotic and autophagy induction of purvalanol in HCT 116 colon cancer cells. Fifteen micromoles of purvalanol induced a reduction in cell viability by 20 and 35% within 24 and 48 h, respectively. HCT 116 colon cancer cells were exposed to purvalanol, which activated ER stress via upregulation of PERK, IRE1α gene expression, eIF-2α phosphorylation and ATF-6 cleavage at early time-points in the HCT 116 colon cancer cells. Moreover, we determined that during purvalanol-mediated ER stress, autophagic machinery was also activated prior to apoptotic cell death finalization. Beclin-1 and Atg-5 expression levels were upregulated and LC3 was cleaved after a 6 h purvalanol treatment. Purvalanol induced mitochondrial membrane potential loss, caspase-7 and caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage following a 48 h treatment. Thus, we conclude that the anticancer effect of purvalanol in HCT 116 cells was due to ER stress-mediated apoptosis; however, purvalanol triggered autophagy, which functions as a cell survival mechanism at early time-points.

Topics: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Cell Cycle Checkpoints; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; HCT116 Cells; Humans; Neoplasm Proteins; Purines; Unfolded Protein Response

The purine-derived analogs, roscovitine and purvalanol are selective synthetic inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) induced cell cycle arrest and lead to apoptotic cell death in various cancer cells. Although a number of studies investigated the molecular mechanism of each CDK inhibitor on apoptotic cell death mechanism with their therapeutic potential, their regulatory role on autophagy is not clarified yet. In this paper, our aim was to investigate molecular mechanism of CDK inhibitors on autophagy and apoptosis in wild type (wt) and Bax deficient HCT 116 cells. Exposure of HCT 116 wt and Bax(-/-) cells to roscovitine or purvalanol for 24h decreased cell viability in dose-dependent manner. However, Bax deficient HCT 116 cells were found more resistant against purvalanol treatment compared to wt cells. We also established that both CDK inhibitors induced apoptosis through activating mitochondria-mediated pathway in caspase-dependent manner regardless of Bax expression in HCT 116 colon cancer cells. Concomitantly, we determined that purvalanol was also effective on autophagy in HCT 116 colon cancer cells. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-MA treatment enhanced the purvalanol induced apoptotic cell death in HCT 116 Bax(-/-) cells. Our results revealed that mechanistic action of each CDK inhibitor on cell death mechanism differs. While purvalanol treatment activated apoptosis and autophagy in HCT 116 cells, roscovitine was only effective on caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway. Another important difference between two CDK inhibitors, although roscovitine treatment overcame Bax-mediated drug resistance in HCT 116 cells, purvalanol did not exert same effect.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Autophagy; bcl-2-Associated X Protein; Blotting, Western; CDC2 Protein Kinase; Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Drug Synergism; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Flow Cytometry; Humans; Immunoprecipitation; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Methylcholanthrene; Purines; Roscovitine; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Roscovitine and purvalanol are purine derivative cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors that induce apoptosis in various types of cancer cells. However, their impact on the apoptotic cell death mechanism requires further elucidation. Natural polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine play essential roles in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation. Increased levels of polyamines in cells are considered to be involved in cancer progression. Intracellular polyamine levels are under the control of several catabolic enzymes, such as spermidine/spermine-N-acetyl transferase (SSAT), acetylpolyamine oxidase (APAO) and spermine oxidase (SMO), which could be altered by several therapeutic drugs. However, the possible role of polyamines in drug-induced apoptosis has yet to be clarified. In the present study, our aim was to determine the modulation of the polyamine catabolic pathway related to CDK inhibitor-induced apoptosis in Caco-2 cells. We found that roscovitine and purvalanol (each 20 µM) induced apoptosis by activating caspase-9 and -3, and inhibiting the mitochondrial membrane potential in Caco-2 cells. CDK inhibitors decreased the intracellular putrescine and spermine levels without affecting spermidine levels. Although both roscovitine and purvalanol induced SSAT expression, they did not exert a significant effect on the APAO expression profile. SSAT transient silencing prevented roscovitine-induced apoptosis compared to parental cells. Thus, we concluded that roscovitine and purvalanol significantly induce apoptosis in Caco-2 cells by modulating the polyamine catabolism, and that SSAT could be an important target in evaluating the potential role of polyamines in apoptotic cell death.

Topics: Acetyltransferases; Apoptosis; Caco-2 Cells; Caspase 3; Caspase 9; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; Humans; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; Polyamines; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Purines; Putrescine; RNA Interference; RNA, Small Interfering; Roscovitine; Spermine

The nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Src is frequently over-expressed or hyperactivated in various human cancers and contributes to cancer progression in cooperation with up-regulated growth factor receptors. However, Src-selective anticancer drugs are still in clinical trials. To identify more effective inhibitors of c-Src-mediated cancer progression, we developed a new screening platform using Csk-deficient cells that can be transformed by c-Src. We found that purvalanol A, developed as a CDK inhibitor, potently suppressed the anchorage-independent growth of c-Src-transformed cells, indicating that the activation of CDKs contributes to the c-Src transformation. We also found that purvalanol A suppressed the c-Src activity as effectively as the Src-selective inhibitor PP2, and that it reverted the transformed morphology to a nearly normal shape with less cytotoxicity than PP2. Purvalanol A induced a strong G2-M arrest, whereas PP2 weakly acted on the G1-S transition. Furthermore, when compared with PP2, purvalanol A more effectively suppressed the growth of human colon cancer HT29 and SW480 cells, in which Src family kinases and CDKs are activated. These findings demonstrate that the coordinated inhibition of cell cycle progression and tyrosine kinase signaling by the multi-selective purvalanol A is effective in suppressing cancer progression associated with c-Src up-regulation.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; CDC2 Protein Kinase; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Colon; Colonic Neoplasms; CSK Tyrosine-Protein Kinase; HT29 Cells; Humans; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Purines; src-Family Kinases

The restoration of checkpoint mechanisms may provide a rational anticancer approach, but the molecular circuitries of how this can be achieved therapeutically are poorly understood. A pivotal signaling network in colorectal cancer cells involves glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK3beta), a multifunctional kinase whose role in tumor cell survival is not defined.. We used molecular, genetic, and pharmacologic antagonists of GSK3beta in p53+/+ or p53-/- colorectal cancer cells. We monitored kinase activity in immunoprecipitation, protein expression by immunoblotting, and cell death by multiparametric flow cytometry. A xenograft colorectal cancer model was used to study antitumor activity in vivo.. Treatment of p53+/+ colorectal cancer cells with pharmacologic inhibitors of GSK3beta resulted in sustained elevation of p53, with up-regulation of p21(Waf1/Cip1) and loss of survivin levels. Molecular targeting of GSK3beta by overexpression of a GSK3beta dominant-negative mutant, or acute-silencing of GSK3beta by RNA interference, reproduced the induction of transcriptionally active p53 in colorectal cancer cells. This pathway was recapitulated by deregulated Wnt/T-cell factor signaling, with elevation of the tumor suppressor p14ARF, and reduced expression of the p53 antagonist, MDM2. Rather than cell cycle arrest, GSK3beta blockade resulted in p53-dependent apoptosis, which was contributed by acute loss of survivin and inhibition of colorectal cancer growth in mice.. Acute ablation of GSK3beta in colorectal cancer cells activates p53-dependent apoptosis and antagonizes tumor growth. This pathway may be exploited for rational treatment of colorectal cancer patients retaining wild-type p53.

Topics: Apoptosis; beta Catenin; Blotting, Western; CDC2 Protein Kinase; Cell Cycle Proteins; Colonic Neoplasms; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; HCT116 Cells; Humans; Indoles; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; Maleimides; Microtubule-Associated Proteins; Mutation; Neoplasm Proteins; Nuclear Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; Purines; RNA Interference; Survivin; TCF Transcription Factors; Thiadiazoles; Trans-Activators; Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein; Transcription Factors; Transfection; Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53