Activation of MEK kinase 1 by the c-Abl protein tyrosine kinase in response to DNA damage

ATM and the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase activate NF-kappaB through a common MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/p90(rsk) signaling pathway in response to distinct forms of DNA damage

We have identified a novel pathway of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) signaling that results in nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and chemoresistance in response to DNA damage. We show that the anthracycline doxorubicin (DOX) and its congener N-benzyladriamycin (AD 288) selectively activate ATM and DNA-PK, respectively. Both ATM and DNA-PK promote sequential activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/p90(rsk) signaling cascade in a p53-independent fashion. In turn, p90(rsk) interacts with the IkappaB kinase 2 (IKK-2) catalytic subunit of IKK, thereby inducing NF-kappaB activity and cell survival. Collectively, our findings suggest that distinct members of the phosphatidylinositol kinase family activate a common prosurvival MAPK/IKK/NF-kappaB pathway that opposes the apoptotic response following DNA damage.

Requirement of caspase-mediated cleavage of c-Abl during stress-induced apoptosis

c-Abl protein tyrosine kinase plays an important role in cell cycle control and apoptosis. Furthermore, induction of apoptosis correlates with the activation of c-Abl. Here, we demonstrate the cleavage of c-Abl by caspases during apoptosis. Caspases separate c-Abl into functional domains including a Src-kinase, a fragment containing nuclear import sequences, a fragment with an actin-binding domain and nuclear export sequence. Caspase cleavage increases the kinase activity of c-Abl as demonstrated by in vitro kinase assays as well as by auto- and substrate phosphorylation. Cells in which c-Abl expression was knocked down by RNA interference resisted cisplatin- but not TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. A similar selective resistance against cisplatin-induced apoptosis was observed when cleavage resistant c-Abl was overexpressed in treated cells. Our data suggest the selective requirement of c-Abl cleavage by caspases for stress-induced, but not for TNFalpha-induced apoptosis.

Cisplatin: mode of cytotoxic action and molecular basis of resistance

Cisplatin is one of the most potent antitumor agents known, displaying clinical activity against a wide variety of solid tumors. Its cytotoxic mode of action is mediated by its interaction with DNA to form DNA adducts, primarily intrastrand crosslink adducts, which activate several signal transduction pathways, including those involving ATR, p53, p73, and MAPK, and culminate in the activation of apoptosis. DNA damage-mediated apoptotic signals, however, can be attenuated, and the resistance that ensues is a major limitation of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The mechanisms responsible for cisplatin resistance are several, and contribute to the multifactorial nature of the problem. Resistance mechanisms that limit the extent of DNA damage include reduced drug uptake, increased drug inactivation, and increased DNA adduct repair. Origins of these pharmacologic-based mechanisms, however, are at the molecular level. Mechanisms that inhibit propagation of the DNA damage signal to the apoptotic machinery include loss of damage recognition, overexpression of HER-2/neu, activation of the PI3-K/Akt (also known as PI3-K/PKB) pathway, loss of p53 function, overexpression of antiapoptotic bcl-2, and interference in caspase activation. The molecular signature defining the resistant phenotype varies between tumors, and the number of resistance mechanisms activated in response to selection pressures dictates the overall extent of cisplatin resistance.

MEK kinase 1 mediates the antiapoptotic effect of the Bcr-Abl oncogene through NF-κB activation

Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase, a chimeric oncoprotein responsible for chronic myelogenous leukemia, constitutively activates several signal transduction pathways that stimulate cell proliferation and prevent apoptosis in hematopoietic cells. The antiapoptotic function of Bcr-Abl is necessary for hematopoietic transformation, and also contributes to leukemogenesis. Herein, we show for the first time that cell transformation induced by Bcr-Abl leads to increased expression and kinase activity of MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1), which acts upstream of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and NF-kappaB signaling pathways. Inhibition of MEKK1 activity using a dominant-negative MEKK1 mutant (MEKK1km) diminished the ability of Bcr-Abl to protect cells from genotoxin-induced apoptosis, but had no effect on the proliferation of Bcr-Abl-transformed cells. Expression of MEKK1km also reduced NF-kappaB activation, and inhibited antiapoptotic c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 mRNA expression in response to the genotoxin. By contrast, neither JNK nor ERK activation was affected. These results indicate that MEKK1 is a downstream target of Bcr-Abl, and that the antiapoptotic effect of Bcr-Abl in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells is mediated via the MEKK1-NF-kappaB pathway.

Regulation and mechanisms of mammalian double-strand break repair

The double-strand break (DSB) is believed to be one of the most severe types of DNA damage, and if left unrepaired is lethal to the cell. Several different types of repair act on the DSB. The most important in mammalian cells are nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination repair (HRR). NHEJ is the predominant type of DSB repair in mammalian cells, as opposed to lower eucaryotes, but HRR has recently been implicated in critical cell signaling and regulatory functions that are essential for cell viability. Whereas NHEJ repair appears constitutive, HRR is regulated by the cell cycle and inducible signal transduction pathways. More is known about the molecular details of NHEJ than HRR in mammalian cells. This review focuses on the mechanisms and regulation of DSB repair in mammalian cells, the signaling pathways that regulate these processes and the potential crosstalk between NHEJ and HRR, and between repair and other stress-induced pathways with emphasis on the regulatory circuitry associated with the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein.

Role of Jun and Jun kinase in resistance of cancer cells to therapy

A series of kinases, the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, serves to regulate cellular responses to various environmental influences in metazoans. Three major pathways have been described, each with some overlap in substrate specificity that causes activation of parallel pathways. The activation of one of these, the Jun kinase pathway, has been implicated in apoptotic responses to DNA damage, cell stress and cytotoxic drugs. Under most circumstances in non-malignant cells it appears that c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation is a pro-apoptotic event that results in turn in activation of pro-apoptotic members of Bcl-2 family and cytochrome c release from mitochondria. In cells with dysregulated/mutated proliferation or cell cycle controls, the role of JNK and of c-Jun is more controversial. We distinguish between the transcriptional effects of JNK and other protein interactions in which it participates. The initiation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathways by JNK is independent of its transcriptional effects for the most part. In certain cell types, c-Jun overexpression is clearly a basis for resistance to DNA-damaging drugs, and resistance reversal has been observed using c-jun antisense. This preliminary evidence suggests that c-jun may have a role in drug resistance, but additional work with patient tumor samples is required to validate the potential of the JNK pathway as a target.

Epidermal growth factor and ionizing radiation up-regulate the DNA repair genes XRCC1 and ERCC1 in DU145 and LNCaP prostate carcinoma through MAPK signaling

This work examined the importance of radiation-induced and ligand-induced EGFR-ERK signaling for the regulation of DNA repair proteins XRCC1 and ERCC1 in prostate carcinoma cells, DU145 (TP53(mut)), displaying EGFR-TGFA-dependent autocrine growth and high MAPK (ERK1/2) activity, and LNCaP (TP53(wt)) cells expressing low constitutive levels of ERK1/2 activity. Using quantitative RT-PCR and Western analyses, we determined that ionizing radiation activated the DNA repair genes XRCC1 and ERCC1 in an ERK1/2-dependent fashion for each cell line. After irradiation, a rapid increase followed by a decrease in ERK1/2 activity preceded the increase in XRCC1/ERCC1 expression in DU145 cells, while only the rapid decrease in ERK1/2 preceded the increase in XRCC1/ERCC1 expression in LNCaP cells. Administration of EGF, however, markedly increased the up-regulation of phospho-ERK, ERCC1 and XRCC1 in both cell lines. Although the EGFR inhibitor tyrphostin (AG-1478) and the MEK inhibitor PD90859 both attenuated EGF-induced levels of the ERCC1 and XRCC1 protein, PD98059 blocked the induction of ERCC1 and XRCC1 by radiation more effectively in both cell lines. Inhibition of ERK at a level that reduced the up-regulation of DNA repair led to the persistence of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites of DNA damage and increased cell killing. Taken together, these data imply a complex control of DNA repair activation that may be more generally dependent on MAPK (ERK1/2) signaling than was previously noted. These data provide novel insights into the capacity of the EGFR-ERK signaling to modulate DNA repair in cancer cells and into the functional significance of this signaling.

Protein kinases and their involvement in the cellular responses to genotoxic stress

Cells are constantly subjected to genotoxic stress, and much has been learned regarding their response to this type of stress during the past year. In general, the cellular genotoxic response can be thought to occur in three stages: (1) damage sensing; (2) activation of signal transduction pathways; (3) biological consequences and attenuation of the response. The biological consequences, in particular, include cell cycle arrest and cell death. Although our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular genotoxic stress responses remains incomplete, many cellular components have been identified over the years, including a group of protein kinases that appears to play a major role. Various DNA-damaging agents can activate these protein kinases, triggering a protein phosphorylation cascade that leads to the activation of transcription factors, and altering gene expression. In this review, the involvement of protein kinases, particularly the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), at different stages of the genotoxic response is discussed.

Activation of SAPK/JNK signaling by protein kinase Cdelta in response to DNA damage

The cellular response to genotoxic stress includes activation of protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta). The functional role of PKCdelta in the DNA damage response is unknown. The present studies demonstrate that PKCdelta is required in part for induction of the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK/JNK) in cells treated with 1-beta-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (araC) and other genotoxic agents. DNA damage-induced SAPK activation was attenuated by (i) treatment with rottlerin, (ii) expression of a kinase-inactive PKCdelta(K-R) mutant, and (iii) down-regulation of PKCdelta by small interfering RNA (siRNA). Coexpression studies demonstrate that PKCdelta activates SAPK by an MKK7-dependent, SEK1-independent mechanism. Previous work has shown that the nuclear Lyn tyrosine kinase activates the MEKK1 --> MKK7 --> SAPK pathway but not through a direct interaction with MEKK1. The present results extend those observations by demonstrating that Lyn activates PKCdelta, and in turn, MEKK1 is activated by a PKCdelta-dependent mechanism. These findings indicate that PKCdelta functions in the activation of SAPK through a Lyn --> PKCdelta --> MEKK1 --> MKK7 --> SAPK signaling cascade in response to DNA damage.

Cellular response to oxidative stress: signaling for suicide and survival

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), whether produced endogenously as a consequence of normal cell functions or derived from external sources, pose a constant threat to cells living in an aerobic environment as they can result in severe damage to DNA, protein, and lipids. The importance of oxidative damage to the pathogenesis of many diseases as well as to degenerative processes of aging has becoming increasingly apparent over the past few years. Cells contain a number of antioxidant defenses to minimize fluctuations in ROS, but ROS generation often exceeds the cell's antioxidant capacity, resulting in a condition termed oxidative stress. Host survival depends upon the ability of cells and tissues to adapt to or resist the stress, and repair or remove damaged molecules or cells. Numerous stress response mechanisms have evolved for these purposes, and they are rapidly activated in response to oxidative insults. Some of the pathways are preferentially linked to enhanced survival, while others are more frequently associated with cell death. Still others have been implicated in both extremes depending on the particular circumstances. In this review, we discuss the various signaling pathways known to be activated in response to oxidative stress in mammalian cells, the mechanisms leading to their activation, and their roles in influencing cell survival. These pathways constitute important avenues for therapeutic interventions aimed at limiting oxidative damage or attenuating its sequelae.

Inhibition of c-Abl with STI571 attenuates stress-activated protein kinase activation and apoptosis in the cellular response to 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine

The response of myeloid leukemia cells to treatment with 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) includes activation of the c-Abl protein tyrosine kinase and the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK). The present studies demonstrate that treatment of human U-937 leukemia cells with ara-C is associated with translocation of SAPK to mitochondria. STI571 (imatinib mesylate), an inhibitor of c-Abl, blocked both activation and mitochondrial targeting of SAPK in the ara-C response. In concert with these effects of STI571, similar findings were obtained in c-Abl-deficient cells. The results further show that STI571 inhibits ara-C-induced loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, caspase-3 activation, and apoptosis. These findings demonstrate that STI571 down-regulates c-Abl-mediated signals that target the mitochondria in the apoptotic response to ara-C.

Tyrosine kinase oncogenes in normal hematopoiesis and hematological disease

Tyrosine kinase oncogenes are formed as a result of mutations that induce constitutive kinase activity. Many of these tyrosine kinase oncogenes that are derived from genes, such as c-Abl, c-Fes, Flt3, c-Fms, c-Kit and PDGFRbeta, that are normally involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis or hematopoietic cell function. Despite differences in structure, normal function, and subcellular location, many of the tyrosine kinase oncogenes signal through the same pathways, and typically enhance proliferation and prolong viability. They represent excellent potential drug targets, and it is likely that additional mutations will be identified in other kinases, their immediate downstream targets, or in proteins regulating their function.

c-Abl tyrosine kinase regulates the human Rad9 checkpoint protein in response to DNA damage

The ubiquitously expressed c-Abl tyrosine kinase is activated in the apoptotic response of cells to DNA damage. The mechanisms by which c-Abl signals the induction of apoptosis are not understood. Here we show that c-Abl binds constitutively to the mammalian homolog of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rad9 cell cycle checkpoint protein. The SH3 domain of c-Abl interacts directly with the C-terminal region of Rad9. c-Abl phosphorylates the Rad9 Bcl-2 homology 3 domain (Tyr-28) in vitro and in cells exposed to DNA-damaging agents. The results also demonstrate that c-Abl-mediated phosphorylation of Rad9 induces binding of Rad9 to the antiapototic Bcl-x(L) protein. The regulation of Rad9 by c-Abl in the DNA damage response is further supported by the demonstration that the interaction between c-Abl and Rad9 contributes to DNA damage-induced apoptosis. These findings indicate that Rad9 is regulated by a c-Abl-dependent mechanism in the apoptotic response to genotoxic stress.

ATM: genome stability, neuronal development, and cancer cross paths

One of the cornerstones of the web of signaling pathways governing cellular life and differentiation is the DNA damage response. It spans a complex network of pathways, ranging from DNA repair to modulation of numerous processes in the cell. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are formed as a result of genotoxic stress or normal recombinational processes, are extremely lethal lesions that rapidly mobilize this intricate defense system. The master controller that pilots cellular responses to DSBs is the ATM protein kinase, which turns on this network by phosphorylating key players in its various branches. ATM is the protein product of the gene mutated in the human genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), which is characterized by neuronal degeneration, immunodeficiency, sterility, genomic instability, cancer predisposition, and radiation sensitivity. The clinical and cellular phenotype of A-T attests to the numerous roles of ATM, on the one hand, and to the link between the DNA damage response and developmental processes on the other hand. Recent studies of this protein and its effectors, combined with a thorough investigation of animal models of A-T, have led to new insights into the mode of action of this master controller of the DNA damage response. The evidence that ATM is involved in signaling pathways other than those related to damage response, particularly ones relating to cellular growth and differentiation, reinforces the multifaceted nature of this protein, in which genome stability, developmental processes, and cancer cross paths.

ATM-dependent activation of the gene encoding MAP kinase phosphatase 5 by radiomimetic DNA damage

Cellular responses to DNA damage are mediated by an extensive network of signaling pathways. The ATM protein kinase is a master regulator of the response to double-strand breaks (DSBs), the most cytotoxic DNA lesion caused by ionizing radiation. ATM is the protein missing or inactive in patients with the pleiotropic genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). A major response to DNA damage is altered expression of numerous genes. While studying gene expression in control and A-T cells following treatment with the radiomimetic chemical neocarzinostatin (NCS), we identified an expressed sequence tag that represented a gene that was induced by DSBs in an ATM-dependent manner. The corresponding cDNA encoded a dual specificity phosphatase of the MAP kinase phosphatase family, MKP-5. MKP-5 dephosphorylates and inactivates the stress-activated MAP kinases JNK and p38. The phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle of JNK and p38 by NCS was attenuated in A-T cells. Thus, ATM modulates this cycle in response to DSBs. These results further highlight ATM as a link between the DNA damage response and major signaling pathways involved in proliferative and apoptotic processes.

The ups and downs of MEK kinase interactions

MEK kinases (MEKKs) comprise a family of related serine-threonine protein kinases that regulate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways leading to c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 activation, induced by cellular stress (e.g., UV and gamma irradiation, osmotic stress, heat shock, protein synthesis inhibitors), inflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumour necrosis factor alpha, TNFalpha, and interleukin-1, IL1) and G protein-coupled receptor agonists (e.g., thrombin). These stress-activated kinases have been implicated in apoptosis, oncogenic transformation, and inflammatory responses in various cell types. At present, the signalling events involving MEKKs are not well understood. This review summarises our current knowledge concerning the regulation and function of MEKK family members, with particular emphasis on those factors capable of directly interacting with distinct MEKK isoforms.

Targeting of the c-Abl tyrosine kinase to mitochondria in endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis

The ubiquitously expressed c-Abl tyrosine kinase localizes to the nucleus and cytoplasm. Using confocal microscopy, we demonstrated that c-Abl colocalizes with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein grp78. Expression of c-Abl in the ER was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. Subcellular fractionation studies further indicate that over 20% of cellular c-Abl is detectable in the ER. The results also demonstrate that induction of ER stress with calcium ionophore A23187, brefeldin A, or tunicamycin is associated with translocation of ER-associated c-Abl to mitochondria. In concert with targeting of c-Abl to mitochondria, cytochrome c is released in the response to ER stress by a c-Abl-dependent mechanism, and ER stress-induced apoptosis is attenuated in c-Abl-deficient cells. These findings indicate that c-Abl is involved in signaling from the ER to mitochondria and thereby the apoptotic response to ER stress.

Role of mitogen-activated protein kinases in the response of tumor cells to chemotherapy

Antitumor agents, despite having diverse primary mechanisms of action, mediate their effects by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. Cellular commitment to apoptosis, or the ability to evade apoptosis in response to damage, involves the integration of a complex network of survival and death pathways. Among the best-characterized pathways regulating cell survival and cell death are those mediated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. Not surprisingly, MAPK signaling pathways have been implicated in the response of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. Indeed, literature in this area has grown enormously in recent years, and the present review attempts to provide an overview and perspective of these advances. While the activities of the major MAPK subgroups are subject to modulation upon exposure of different types of cancer cell lines to diverse classes of antitumor agents, the response tend to be context-dependent, and can differ depending on the system and conditions. Despite these complexities, some important trends have surfaced, and molecular connections between MAPK signaling pathways and the apoptotic regulatory machinery are beginning to emerge. With increased evidence supporting a role for MAPK signaling in antitumor drug action, MAPK modulators may have potential as chemotherapeutic drugs themselves or as chemosensitizing agents. The ability of MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitors to block survival signaling in specific contexts and promote drug cytotoxicity represents an example, and recent knowledge of the pro-apoptotic functions of JNK and p38 suggests possible new approaches to targeted therapy. However, it will be important first to extrapolate the knowledge gained from these laboratory findings, and begin to address the role of MAPKs in the clinical response to chemotherapeutic drugs.

Mitochondrial targeting of JNK/SAPK in the phorbol ester response of myeloid leukemia cells

Treatment of human U-937 myeloid leukemia cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) is associated with activation of the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) and induction of terminal monocytic differentiation. The present studies demonstrate that TPA targets SAPK to mitochondria by a mechanism dependent on activation of protein kinase C (PKC) beta. Translocation of SAPK to mitochondria in response to TPA is associated with release of cytochrome c, caspase-3 activation and induction of apoptosis. The results show that TPA induces the association of SAPK with the mitochondrial anti-apoptotic Bcl-x(L) protein. Overexpression of Bcl-x(L) attenuated the apoptotic response to TPA treatment. Moreover, expression of Bcl-x(L) mutated at sites of SAPK phosphorylation (Thr-47, -115) was more effective than wild-type Bcl-x(L) in abrogating TPA-induced cytochrome c release and apoptosis. By contrast, expression of Bcl-x(L) had little effect on induction of the monocytic phenotype. These findings indicate that myeloid leukemia cells respond to TPA with targeting of SAPK to mitochondria and that this response contributes to terminal differentiation through the release of cytochrome c and induction of apoptosis.

Interaction of hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 and c-Abl tyrosine kinase in response to genotoxic stress

The c-Abl protein tyrosine kinase is activated by certain DNA-damaging agents and regulates induction of the stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK). The hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) has also been shown to act upstream to the SAPK/JNK signaling pathway. We report here that exposure of hematopoietic Jurkat T cells to genotoxic agents is associated with activation of HPK1. The results demonstrate that exposure of Jurkat cells to DNA-damaging agents is associated with translocation of active c-Abl from nuclei to cytoplasm and binding of c-Abl to HPK1. Our findings also demonstrate that c-Abl phosphorylates HPK1 in cytoplasm and stimulates HPK1 activity. The functional significance of the c-Abl-HPK1 interaction is supported by the demonstration that this complex regulates SAPK/JNK activation. Overexpression of c-Abl(K-R) inhibits HPK1-induced activation of SAPK/JNK. Conversely, the dominant negative mutant of HPK1 blocks c-Abl-mediated induction of SAPK/JNK. These findings indicate that activation of HPK1 and formation of HPK1/c-Abl complexes are functionally important in the stress response of hematopoietic cells to genotoxic agents.

Targeting of the c-Abl tyrosine kinase to mitochondria in the necrotic cell death response to oxidative stress

The ubiquitously expressed c-Abl tyrosine kinase is activated in the response of cells to genotoxic and oxidative stress. The present study demonstrates that reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce targeting of c-Abl to mitochondria. We show that ROS-induced localization of c-Abl to mitochondria is dependent on activation of protein kinase C (PKC)delta and the c-Abl kinase function. Targeting of c-Abl to mitochondria is associated with ROS-induced loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. The results also demonstrate that c-Abl is necessary for ROS-induced depletion of ATP and the activation of a necrosis-like cell death. These findings indicate that the c-Abl kinase targets to mitochondria in response to oxidative stress and thereby mediates mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death.