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Tusa I, Menconi A, Tubita A, Rovida E. Pathophysiological Impact of the MEK5/ERK5 Pathway in Oxidative Stress. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081154. [PMID: 37190064 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress regulates many physiological and pathological processes. Indeed, a low increase in the basal level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential for various cellular functions, including signal transduction, gene expression, cell survival or death, as well as antioxidant capacity. However, if the amount of generated ROS overcomes the antioxidant capacity, excessive ROS results in cellular dysfunctions as a consequence of damage to cellular components, including DNA, lipids and proteins, and may eventually lead to cell death or carcinogenesis. Both in vitro and in vivo investigations have shown that activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (MEK5/ERK5) pathway is frequently involved in oxidative stress-elicited effects. In particular, accumulating evidence identified a prominent role of this pathway in the anti-oxidative response. In this respect, activation of krüppel-like factor 2/4 and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 emerged among the most frequent events in ERK5-mediated response to oxidative stress. This review summarizes what is known about the role of the MEK5/ERK5 pathway in the response to oxidative stress in pathophysiological contexts within the cardiovascular, respiratory, lymphohematopoietic, urinary and central nervous systems. The possible beneficial or detrimental effects exerted by the MEK5/ERK5 pathway in the above systems are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazia Tusa
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Menconi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tubita
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Rovida
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
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2
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Miller D, Harnor SJ, Martin MP, Noble RA, Wedge SR, Cano C. Modulation of ERK5 Activity as a Therapeutic Anti-Cancer Strategy. J Med Chem 2023; 66:4491-4502. [PMID: 37002872 PMCID: PMC10108346 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) signaling pathway is one of four conventional mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways. Genetic perturbation of ERK5 has suggested that modulation of ERK5 activity may have therapeutic potential in cancer chemotherapy. This Miniperspective examines the evidence for ERK5 as a drug target in cancer, the structure of ERK5, and the evolution of structurally distinct chemotypes of ERK5 kinase domain inhibitors. The emerging complexities of ERK5 pharmacology are discussed, including the confounding phenomenon of paradoxical ERK5 activation by small-molecule ERK5 inhibitors. The impact of the recent development and biological evaluation of potent and selective bifunctional degraders of ERK5 and future opportunities in ERK modulation are also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan
C. Miller
- Cancer
Research Horizons Therapeutic Innovation, Newcastle Drug Discovery
Group, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and
Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Bedson Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - Suzannah J. Harnor
- Cancer
Research Horizons Therapeutic Innovation, Newcastle Drug Discovery
Group, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and
Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Bedson Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew P. Martin
- Cancer
Research Horizons Therapeutic Innovation, Newcastle Drug Discovery
Group, Translational and Clinical Research
Institute, Paul O’Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A. Noble
- Cancer
Research Horizons Therapeutic Innovation, Newcastle Drug Discovery
Group, Translational and Clinical Research
Institute, Paul O’Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R. Wedge
- Cancer
Research Horizons Therapeutic Innovation, Newcastle Drug Discovery
Group, Translational and Clinical Research
Institute, Paul O’Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, United Kingdom
| | - Celine Cano
- Cancer
Research Horizons Therapeutic Innovation, Newcastle Drug Discovery
Group, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, School of Natural and
Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Bedson Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
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3
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The ERK5/NF-κB signaling pathway targets endometrial cancer proliferation and survival. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:524. [PMID: 36123565 PMCID: PMC9485191 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04541-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common type of gynecologic cancer in women of developed countries. Despite surgery combined with chemo-/radiotherapy regimens, overall survival of patients with high-risk EC tumors is poor, indicating a need for novel therapies. The MEK5-ERK5 pathway is activated in response to growth factors and to different stressors, including oxidative stress and cytokines. Previous evidence supports a role for the MEK5-ERK5 pathway in the pathology of several cancers. We investigated the role of ERK5 in EC. In silico analysis of the PanCancer Atlas dataset showed alterations in components of the MEK5-ERK5 pathway in 48% of EC patients. Here, we show that ERK5 inhibition or silencing decreased EGF-induced EC cell proliferation, and that genetic deletion of MEK5 resulted in EC impaired proliferation and reduced tumor growth capacity in nude mice. Pharmacologic inhibition or ERK5 silencing impaired NF-kB pathway in EC cells and xenografts. Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between ERK5 and p65/RELA protein levels in human EC tumor samples. Mechanistically, genetic or pharmacologic impairment of ERK5 resulted in downregulation of NEMO/IKKγ expression, leading to impaired p65/RELA activity and to apoptosis in EC cells and xenografts, which was rescued by NEMO/IKKγ overexpression. Notably, ERK5 inhibition, MEK5 deletion or NF-kB inhibition sensitized EC cells to standard EC chemotherapy (paclitaxel/carboplatin) toxicity, whereas ERK5 inhibition synergized with paclitaxel to reduce tumor xenograft growth in mice. Together, our results suggest that the ERK5-NEMO-NF-κB pathway mediates EC cell proliferation and survival. We propose the ERK5/NF-κB axis as new target for EC treatment.
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4
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Cook SJ, Lochhead PA. ERK5 Signalling and Resistance to ERK1/2 Pathway Therapeutics: The Path Less Travelled? Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:839997. [PMID: 35903549 PMCID: PMC9315226 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.839997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The RAS-regulated RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signalling pathway is frequently de-regulated in human cancer. Melanoma in particular exhibits a high incidence of activating BRAFV600E/K and NRASQ61L/K mutations and such cells are addicted to the activity of these mutant oncoproteins. As a result three different BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) have now been approved for BRAFV600E/K- mutant melanoma and have transformed the treatment of this disease. Despite this, clinical responses are typically transient as tumour cells develop resistance. These resistance mechanisms frequently involve reinstatement of ERK1/2 signalling and BRAFi are now deployed in combination with one of three approved MEK1/2 inhibitors (MEKi) to provide more durable, but still transient, clinical responses. Furthermore, inhibitors to ERK1/2 (ERK1/2i) have also been developed to counteract ERK1/2 signalling. However, recent studies have suggested that BRAFi/MEKi and ERK1/2i resistance can arise through activation of a parallel signalling pathway leading to activation of ERK5, an unusual protein kinase that contains both a kinase domain and a transcriptional transactivation domain. Here we review the evidence supporting ERK5 as a mediator of BRAFi/MEKi and ERK1/2i resistance. We also review the challenges in targeting ERK5 signalling with small molecules, including paradoxical activation of the transcriptional transactivation domain, and discuss new therapeutic modalities that could be employed to target ERK5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon J. Cook
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Pamela A. Lochhead, ; Simon J. Cook,
| | - Pamela A. Lochhead
- Signalling Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Pamela A. Lochhead, ; Simon J. Cook,
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5
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Li M, Liu X. Pitavastatin maintains MAPK7 expression and alleviates angiotensin II-induced vascular endothelial cell inflammation and injury. Exp Ther Med 2022; 23:132. [PMID: 35069813 PMCID: PMC8756435 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.11055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Statins have been reported to suppress vascular remodeling in rats with spontaneous hypertension. However, the possible effects of the statin pitavastatin on hypertension-induced endothelial inflammation and injury remain to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of pitavastatin on HUVEC injury and inflammation. HUVECs were exposed to angiotensin (Ang) II with or without pitavastatin co-treatment, after which MAPK7 expression was detected via reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. MAPK7 expression was additionally silenced in HUVECs via transfection with short hairpin RNA, followed by Ang II treatment with or without pitavastatin. Cell viability, inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, nitric oxide (NO) production and cell apoptosis were then measured by using Cell Conting Kit-8, ELISA, commercial corresponding kits and TUNEL staining, respectively. Western blotting was also used to determine the protein expression of endothelial NO synthase and endothelin 1, and the proteins involved in apoptosis. Results of the present study demonstrated that the expression levels of MAPK7 in Ang II-induced endothelial cells were decreased, which was reversed following treatment with pitavastatin. Pitavastatin reversed the Ang II-induced reduction in cell viability and reversed the Ang II-induced increase in inflammatory factor and ROS levels and apoptosis in HUVECs by activating MAPK7. Treatment with pitavastatin also increased the production of NO in addition to increasing the expression of endothelial NO synthase and endothelin-1 in Ang II-induced HUVECs through MAPK7 activation. Collectively, results from the present study demonstrated that treatment with pitavastatin preserves MAPK7 expression to alleviate Ang II-induced vascular endothelial cell inflammation and injury. Therefore, findings of the present study may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of pitavastatin on vascular endothelial cell inflammation and injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Department of Outpatient Nursing, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Department of Nursing, Chengdu Shuangliu District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan 610200, P.R. China
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6
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Clinical Significance and Regulation of ERK5 Expression and Function in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020348. [PMID: 35053510 PMCID: PMC8773716 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is a unique kinase among MAPKs family members, given its large structure characterized by the presence of a unique C-terminal domain. Despite increasing data demonstrating the relevance of the ERK5 pathway in the growth, survival, and differentiation of normal cells, ERK5 has recently attracted the attention of several research groups given its relevance in inflammatory disorders and cancer. Accumulating evidence reported its role in tumor initiation and progression. In this review, we explore the gene expression profile of ERK5 among cancers correlated with its clinical impact, as well as the prognostic value of ERK5 and pERK5 expression levels in tumors. We also summarize the importance of ERK5 in the maintenance of a cancer stem-like phenotype and explore the major known contributions of ERK5 in the tumor-associated microenvironment. Moreover, although several questions are still open concerning ERK5 molecular regulation, different ERK5 isoforms derived from the alternative splicing process are also described, highlighting the potential clinical relevance of targeting ERK5 pathways.
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7
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Small molecule ERK5 kinase inhibitors paradoxically activate ERK5 signalling: be careful what you wish for…. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:1859-1875. [PMID: 32915196 PMCID: PMC7609025 DOI: 10.1042/bst20190338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
ERK5 is a protein kinase that also contains a nuclear localisation signal and a transcriptional transactivation domain. Inhibition of ERK5 has therapeutic potential in cancer and inflammation and this has prompted the development of ERK5 kinase inhibitors (ERK5i). However, few ERK5i programmes have taken account of the ERK5 transactivation domain. We have recently shown that the binding of small molecule ERK5i to the ERK5 kinase domain stimulates nuclear localisation and paradoxical activation of its transactivation domain. Other kinase inhibitors paradoxically activate their intended kinase target, in some cases leading to severe physiological consequences highlighting the importance of mitigating these effects. Here, we review the assays used to monitor ERK5 activities (kinase and transcriptional) in cells, the challenges faced in development of small molecule inhibitors to the ERK5 pathway, and classify the molecular mechanisms of paradoxical activation of protein kinases by kinase inhibitors.
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8
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Paudel R, Fusi L, Schmidt M. The MEK5/ERK5 Pathway in Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22147594. [PMID: 34299213 PMCID: PMC8303459 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The MEK5/ERK5 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) cascade is a unique signaling module activated by both mitogens and stress stimuli, including cytokines, fluid shear stress, high osmolarity, and oxidative stress. Physiologically, it is mainly known as a mechanoreceptive pathway in the endothelium, where it transduces the various vasoprotective effects of laminar blood flow. However, it also maintains integrity in other tissues exposed to mechanical stress, including bone, cartilage, and muscle, where it exerts a key function as a survival and differentiation pathway. Beyond its diverse physiological roles, the MEK5/ERK5 pathway has also been implicated in various diseases, including cancer, where it has recently emerged as a major escape route, sustaining tumor cell survival and proliferation under drug stress. In addition, MEK5/ERK5 dysfunction may foster cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. Here, we highlight the importance of the MEK5/ERK5 pathway in health and disease, focusing on its role as a protective cascade in mechanical stress-exposed healthy tissues and its function as a therapy resistance pathway in cancers. We discuss the perspective of targeting this cascade for cancer treatment and weigh its chances and potential risks when considering its emerging role as a protective stress response pathway.
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9
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Sun C, Shen H, Cai H, Zhao Z, Gan G, Feng S, Chu P, Zeng M, Deng J, Ming F, Ma M, Jia J, He R, Cao D, Chen Z, Li J, Zhang L. Intestinal guard: Human CXCL17 modulates protective response against mycotoxins and CXCL17-mimetic peptides development. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 188:114586. [PMID: 33932472 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mycotoxin contamination is an ongoing and growing issue that can create health risks and even cause death. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of specific therapy against mycotoxins with few side effects. On the other hand, the strategic expression of CXCL17 in mucosal tissues suggests that it may be involved in immune response when exposed to mycotoxins, but the exact role of CXCL17 remains largely unknown. Using Caco-2 as a cell model of the intestinal epithelial barrier (the first line of defense against mycotoxins), we showed that a strong production of ROS-dependent CXCL17 was triggered by mycotoxins via p38 and JNK pathways. Under the mycotoxins stress, CXCL17 modulated enhanced immuno-protective response with a remission of inflammation and apoptosis through PI3K/AKT/mTOR. Based on our observed feedback of CXCL17 to the mycotoxins, we developed the CXCL17-mimetic peptides in silico (CX1 and CX2) that possessed the safety and the capability to ameliorate mycotoxins-inducible inflammation and apoptosis. In this study, the identification of detoxifying feature of CXCL17 is a prominent addition to the chemokine field, pointing out a new direction for curing the mycotoxins-caused damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongjun Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Haokun Shen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Haiming Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Zengjue Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Guanhua Gan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Saixiang Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Pinpin Chu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Min Zeng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Jinbo Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Feiping Ming
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Miaopeng Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Junhao Jia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Rongxiao He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Ding Cao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Zhiyang Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Linghua Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China.
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10
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Hoang VT, Matossian MD, La J, Hoang K, Ucar DA, Elliott S, Burks HE, Wright TD, Patel S, Bhatt A, Phamduy T, Chrisey D, Buechlein A, Rusch DB, Nephew KP, Anbalagan M, Rowan B, Cavanaugh JE, Flaherty PT, Miele L, Collins-Burow BM, Burow ME. Dual inhibition of MEK1/2 and MEK5 suppresses the EMT/migration axis in triple-negative breast cancer through FRA-1 regulation. J Cell Biochem 2021; 122:835-850. [PMID: 33876843 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents a clinical challenge due to the aggressive nature of the disease and a lack of targeted therapies. Constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway has been linked to chemoresistance and metastatic progression through distinct mechanisms, including activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) when cells adopt a motile and invasive phenotype through loss of epithelial markers (CDH1), and acquisition of mesenchymal markers (VIM, CDH2). Although MAPK/ERK1/2 kinase inhibitors (MEKi) are useful antitumor agents in a clinical setting, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved MEK1,2 dual inhibitors cobimetinib and trametinib, there are limitations to their clinical utility, primarily adaptation of the BRAF pathway and ocular toxicities. The MEK5 (HGNC: MAP2K5) pathway has important roles in metastatic progression of various cancer types, including those of the prostate, colon, bone and breast, and elevated levels of ERK5 expression in breast carcinomas are linked to a worse prognoses in TNBC patients. The purpose of this study is to explore MEK5 regulation of the EMT axis and to evaluate a novel pan-MEK inhibitor on clinically aggressive TNBC cells. Our results show a distinction between the MEK1/2 and MEK5 cascades in maintenance of the mesenchymal phenotype, suggesting that the MEK5 pathway may be necessary and sufficient in EMT regulation while MEK1/2 signaling further sustains the mesenchymal state of TNBC cells. Furthermore, additive effects on MET induction are evident through the inhibition of both MEK1/2 and MEK5. Taken together, these data demonstrate the need for a better understanding of the individual roles of MEK1/2 and MEK5 signaling in breast cancer and provide a rationale for the combined targeting of these pathways to circumvent compensatory signaling and subsequent therapeutic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T Hoang
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Margarite D Matossian
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jacqueline La
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Kristine Hoang
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Deniz A Ucar
- Department of Genetics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, LSUHSC, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Steven Elliott
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Hope E Burks
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Thomas D Wright
- Department of Pharmacology, Duquesne University, School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Saloni Patel
- Department of Pharmacology, Duquesne University, School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Akshita Bhatt
- Department of Pharmacology, Duquesne University, School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Theresa Phamduy
- Department of Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Douglas Chrisey
- Department of Physics, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Aaron Buechlein
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Douglas B Rusch
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Kenneth P Nephew
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Murali Anbalagan
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Brian Rowan
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jane E Cavanaugh
- Department of Pharmacology, Duquesne University, School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Patrick T Flaherty
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Duquesne University, School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics and Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, LSUHSC, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Bridgette M Collins-Burow
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.,Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Matthew E Burow
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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11
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Hoang VT, Matossian MD, Ucar DA, Elliott S, La J, Wright MK, Burks HE, Perles A, Hossain F, King CT, Browning VE, Bursavich J, Fang F, Del Valle L, Bhatt AB, Cavanaugh JE, Flaherty PT, Anbalagan M, Rowan BG, Bratton MR, Nephew KP, Miele L, Collins-Burow BM, Martin EC, Burow ME. ERK5 Is Required for Tumor Growth and Maintenance Through Regulation of the Extracellular Matrix in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1164. [PMID: 32850332 PMCID: PMC7416559 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members regulate diverse cellular processes involved in tumor initiation and progression, yet the role of ERK5 in cancer biology is not fully understood. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents a clinical challenge due to the aggressive nature of the disease and a lack of targeted therapies. ERK5 signaling contributes to drug resistance and metastatic progression through distinct mechanisms, including activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). More recently a role for ERK5 in regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been proposed, and here we investigated the necessity of ERK5 in TNBC tumor formation. Depletion of ERK5 expression using the CRISPR/Cas9 system in MDA-MB-231 and Hs-578T cells resulted in loss of mesenchymal features, as observed through gene expression profile and cell morphology, and suppressed TNBC cell migration. In vivo xenograft experiments revealed ERK5 knockout disrupted tumor growth kinetics, which was restored using high concentration Matrigel™ and ERK5-ko reduced expression of the angiogenesis marker CD31. These findings implicated a role for ERK5 in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and matrix integrity. RNA-sequencing analyses demonstrated downregulation of matrix-associated genes, integrins, and pro-angiogenic factors in ERK5-ko cells. Tissue decellularization combined with cryo-SEM and interrogation of biomechanical properties revealed that ERK5-ko resulted in loss of key ECM fiber alignment and mechanosensing capabilities in breast cancer xenografts compared to parental wild-type cells. In this study, we identified a novel role for ERK5 in tumor growth kinetics through modulation of the ECM and angiogenesis axis in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T. Hoang
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Margarite D. Matossian
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Deniz A. Ucar
- Department of Genetics, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Steven Elliott
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Jacqueline La
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Maryl K. Wright
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Hope E. Burks
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Aaron Perles
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Fokhrul Hossain
- Department of Genetics, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Connor T. King
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Valentino E. Browning
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Jacob Bursavich
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Fang Fang
- Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Luis Del Valle
- Department of Pathology, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Akshita B. Bhatt
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jane E. Cavanaugh
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Patrick T. Flaherty
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Muralidharan Anbalagan
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Brian G. Rowan
- Department of Structural and Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Melyssa R. Bratton
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Core, Xavier University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Kenneth P. Nephew
- Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Bridgette M. Collins-Burow
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Tulane Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Elizabeth C. Martin
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Matthew E. Burow
- Section of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
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12
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Efficient Suppression of NRAS-Driven Melanoma by Co-Inhibition of ERK1/2 and ERK5 MAPK Pathways. J Invest Dermatol 2020; 140:2455-2465.e10. [PMID: 32376279 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.03.972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is a highly malignant tumor typically driven by somatic mutation in the oncogenes BRAF or NRAS, leading to uncontrolled activation of the MEK/ERK MAPK pathway. Despite the availability of immunotherapy, MAPK pathway‒targeting regimens are still a valuable treatment option for BRAF-mutant melanoma. Unfortunately, patients with NRAS mutation do not benefit from such therapies owing to the lack of targetable BRAF mutations and a high degree of intrinsic and acquired resistance toward MEK inhibition. Here, we demonstrate that concomitant inhibition of ERK5 removes this constraint and effectively sensitizes NRAS-mutant melanoma cells for MAPK pathway‒targeting therapy. Using approved MEK inhibitors or a pharmacologic ERK inhibitor, we demonstrate that MAPK inhibition triggers a delayed activation of ERK5 through a PDGFR inhibitor-sensitive pathway in NRAS-mutant melanoma cells, resulting in sustained proliferation and survival. ERK5 phosphorylation also occurred naturally in NRAS-mutant melanoma cells and correlated with nuclear localization of its stem cell-associated effector KLF2. Importantly, MEK/ERK5 co-inhibition prevented long-term growth of human NRAS-mutant melanoma cells in vitro and effectively repressed tumor progression in a xenotransplant mouse model. Our findings suggest MEK/ERK5 cotargeting as a potential treatment option for NRAS-mutant melanoma, which currently is not amenable for targeted therapies.
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13
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Lochhead PA, Tucker JA, Tatum NJ, Wang J, Oxley D, Kidger AM, Johnson VP, Cassidy MA, Gray NS, Noble MEM, Cook SJ. Paradoxical activation of the protein kinase-transcription factor ERK5 by ERK5 kinase inhibitors. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1383. [PMID: 32170057 PMCID: PMC7069993 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15031-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The dual protein kinase-transcription factor, ERK5, is an emerging drug target in cancer and inflammation, and small-molecule ERK5 kinase inhibitors have been developed. However, selective ERK5 kinase inhibitors fail to recapitulate ERK5 genetic ablation phenotypes, suggesting kinase-independent functions for ERK5. Here we show that ERK5 kinase inhibitors cause paradoxical activation of ERK5 transcriptional activity mediated through its unique C-terminal transcriptional activation domain (TAD). Using the ERK5 kinase inhibitor, Compound 26 (ERK5-IN-1), as a paradigm, we have developed kinase-active, drug-resistant mutants of ERK5. With these mutants, we show that induction of ERK5 transcriptional activity requires direct binding of the inhibitor to the kinase domain. This in turn promotes conformational changes in the kinase domain that result in nuclear translocation of ERK5 and stimulation of gene transcription. This shows that both the ERK5 kinase and TAD must be considered when assessing the role of ERK5 and the effectiveness of anti-ERK5 therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela A Lochhead
- Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK.
| | - Julie A Tucker
- York Biomedical Research Institute and Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Natalie J Tatum
- CRUK Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David Oxley
- Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Andrew M Kidger
- Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Victoria P Johnson
- Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
- Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Megan A Cassidy
- Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Martin E M Noble
- CRUK Newcastle Drug Discovery Unit, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Simon J Cook
- Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK.
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14
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Targeted Avenues for Cancer Treatment: The MEK5-ERK5 Signaling Pathway. Trends Mol Med 2020; 26:394-407. [PMID: 32277933 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Twenty years have passed since extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) and its upstream activator, mitogen-activated protein kinase 5 (MEK5), first emerged onto the cancer research scene. Although we have come a long way in defining the liaison between dysregulated MEK5-ERK5 signaling and the pathogenesis of epithelial and nonepithelial malignancies, selective targeting of this unique pathway remains elusive. Here, we provide an updated review of the existing evidence for a correlation between aberrant MEK5-ERK5 (phospho)proteomic/transcriptomic profiles, aggressive cancer states, and poor patient outcomes. We then focus on emerging insights from preclinical models regarding the relevance of upregulated ERK5 activity in promoting tumor growth, metastasis, therapy resistance, undifferentiated traits, and immunosuppression, highlighting the opportunities, prospects, and challenges of selectively blocking this cascade for antineoplastic treatment and chemosensitization.
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15
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Ruiz de Porras V, Bystrup S, Cabrero-de Las Heras S, Musulén E, Palomero L, Alonso MH, Nieto R, Arango D, Moreno V, Queralt C, Manzano JL, Layos L, Bugés C, Martinez-Balibrea E. Tumor Expression of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 5 (Cdk5) Is a Prognostic Biomarker and Predicts Outcome of Oxaliplatin-Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101540. [PMID: 31614664 PMCID: PMC6826373 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that elevated expression of cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk5) contributes to the oncogenic initiation and progression of many types of cancers. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern of Cdk5 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines and in a large number of tumor samples in order to evaluate its relevance in this pathogenesis and possible use as a prognostic marker. We found that Cdk5 is highly expressed and activated in CRC cell lines and that silencing of the kinase decreases their migration ability. In tumor tissues, Cdk5 is overexpressed compared to normal tissues due to a copy number gain. In patients with localized disease, we found that high Cdk5 levels correlate with poor prognosis, while in the metastatic setting, this was only the case for patients receiving an oxaliplatin-based treatment. When exploring the Cdk5 levels in the consensus molecular subtypes (CMS), we found the lowest levels in subtype 1, where high Cdk5 again was associated with a poorer prognosis. In conclusion, we confirm that Cdk5 is involved in CRC and disease progression and that it could serve as a prognostic and predictive biomarker in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicenç Ruiz de Porras
- Program of predictive and personalized cancer medicine (PMPPC) Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Ctra. Can Ruti- Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
| | - Sara Bystrup
- Program of predictive and personalized cancer medicine (PMPPC) Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Ctra. Can Ruti- Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
| | - Sara Cabrero-de Las Heras
- Program of predictive and personalized cancer medicine (PMPPC) Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Ctra. Can Ruti- Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
| | - Eva Musulén
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari General de Catalunya, Grupo Quirónsalud, Pedro i Pons 1, 08195 Sant Cugat del Valles, Spain.
| | - Luis Palomero
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, 08908 L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- ONCOBELL Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, 08908 L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Maria Henar Alonso
- ONCOBELL Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, 08908 L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Oncology Data Analytics Program, Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO), 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Rocio Nieto
- Group of Biomedical Research in Digestive Tract Tumors, CIBBIM-Nanomedicine, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Diego Arango
- Group of Biomedical Research in Digestive Tract Tumors, CIBBIM-Nanomedicine, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Passeig Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Víctor Moreno
- ONCOBELL Program, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research, 08908 L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
- Oncology Data Analytics Program, Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO), 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Queralt
- Program of predictive and personalized cancer medicine (PMPPC) Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Ctra. Can Ruti- Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
| | - José Luis Manzano
- Program of predictive and personalized cancer medicine (PMPPC) Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Medical Oncology Service, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), 08908, Spain.
- B-ARGO group, Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti- Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
| | - Laura Layos
- Program of predictive and personalized cancer medicine (PMPPC) Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Medical Oncology Service, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), 08908, Spain.
- B-ARGO group, Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti- Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
| | - Cristina Bugés
- Program of predictive and personalized cancer medicine (PMPPC) Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Medical Oncology Service, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), 08908, Spain.
- B-ARGO group, Germans Trias I Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti- Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
| | - Eva Martinez-Balibrea
- Program of predictive and personalized cancer medicine (PMPPC) Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Ctra. Can Ruti-Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
- Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Ctra. Can Ruti- Camí de les escoles s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain.
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16
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Myers SM, Miller DC, Molyneux L, Arasta M, Bawn RH, Blackburn TJ, Cook SJ, Edwards N, Endicott JA, Golding BT, Griffin RJ, Hammonds T, Hardcastle IR, Harnor SJ, Heptinstall AB, Lochhead PA, Martin MP, Martin NC, Newell DR, Owen PJ, Pang LC, Reuillon T, Rigoreau LJM, Thomas HD, Tucker JA, Wang LZ, Wong AC, Noble MEM, Wedge SR, Cano C. Identification of a novel orally bioavailable ERK5 inhibitor with selectivity over p38α and BRD4. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 178:530-543. [PMID: 31212132 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.05.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) signalling has been implicated in driving a number of cellular phenotypes including endothelial cell angiogenesis and tumour cell motility. Novel ERK5 inhibitors were identified using high throughput screening, with a series of pyrrole-2-carboxamides substituted at the 4-position with an aroyl group being found to exhibit IC50 values in the micromolar range, but having no selectivity against p38α MAP kinase. Truncation of the N-substituent marginally enhanced potency (∼3-fold) against ERK5, but importantly attenuated inhibition of p38α. Systematic variation of the substituents on the aroyl group led to the selective inhibitor 4-(2-bromo-6-fluorobenzoyl)-N-(pyridin-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxamide (IC50 0.82 μM for ERK5; IC50 > 120 μM for p38α). The crystal structure (PDB 5O7I) of this compound in complex with ERK5 has been solved. This compound was orally bioavailable and inhibited bFGF-driven Matrigel plug angiogenesis and tumour xenograft growth. The selective ERK5 inhibitor described herein provides a lead for further development into a tool compound for more extensive studies seeking to examine the role of ERK5 signalling in cancer and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Myers
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Duncan C Miller
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Lauren Molyneux
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Mercedes Arasta
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Ruth H Bawn
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Timothy J Blackburn
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Simon J Cook
- Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Noel Edwards
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Jane A Endicott
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Bernard T Golding
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Roger J Griffin
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Tim Hammonds
- Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories, London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London, NW1 0NH, UK
| | - Ian R Hardcastle
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Suzannah J Harnor
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Amy B Heptinstall
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Pamela A Lochhead
- Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Mathew P Martin
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Nick C Martin
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - David R Newell
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Paul J Owen
- Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories, London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London, NW1 0NH, UK
| | - Leon C Pang
- Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories, London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London, NW1 0NH, UK
| | - Tristan Reuillon
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Laurent J M Rigoreau
- Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories, Jonas Webb Building, Babraham Campus, Babraham, Cambridgeshire, CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Huw D Thomas
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Julie A Tucker
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Lan-Zhen Wang
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Ai-Ching Wong
- Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories, London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London, NW1 0NH, UK
| | - Martin E M Noble
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Stephen R Wedge
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Paul O'Gorman Building, Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Celine Cano
- Newcastle Drug Discovery, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, School of Chemistry, Bedson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
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17
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Impact of ERK5 on the Hallmarks of Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061426. [PMID: 30901834 PMCID: PMC6471124 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) belongs to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family that consists of highly conserved enzymes expressed in all eukaryotic cells and elicits several biological responses, including cell survival, proliferation, migration, and differentiation. In recent years, accumulating lines of evidence point to a relevant role of ERK5 in the onset and progression of several types of cancer. In particular, it has been reported that ERK5 is a key signaling molecule involved in almost all the biological features of cancer cells so that its targeting is emerging as a promising strategy to suppress tumor growth and spreading. Based on that, in this review, we pinpoint the hallmark-specific role of ERK5 in cancer in order to identify biological features that will potentially benefit from ERK5 targeting.
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18
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Vaseva AV, Blake DR, Gilbert TSK, Ng S, Hostetter G, Azam SH, Ozkan-Dagliyan I, Gautam P, Bryant KL, Pearce KH, Herring LE, Han H, Graves LM, Witkiewicz AK, Knudsen ES, Pecot CV, Rashid N, Houghton PJ, Wennerberg K, Cox AD, Der CJ. KRAS Suppression-Induced Degradation of MYC Is Antagonized by a MEK5-ERK5 Compensatory Mechanism. Cancer Cell 2018; 34:807-822.e7. [PMID: 30423298 PMCID: PMC6321749 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Our recent ERK1/2 inhibitor analyses in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) indicated ERK1/2-independent mechanisms maintaining MYC protein stability. To identify these mechanisms, we determined the signaling networks by which mutant KRAS regulates MYC. Acute KRAS suppression caused rapid proteasome-dependent loss of MYC protein, through both ERK1/2-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Surprisingly, MYC degradation was independent of PI3K-AKT-GSK3β signaling and the E3 ligase FBWX7. We then established and applied a high-throughput screen for MYC protein degradation and performed a kinome-wide proteomics screen. We identified an ERK1/2-inhibition-induced feedforward mechanism dependent on EGFR and SRC, leading to ERK5 activation and phosphorylation of MYC at S62, preventing degradation. Concurrent inhibition of ERK1/2 and ERK5 disrupted this mechanism, synergistically causing loss of MYC and suppressing PDAC growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina V Vaseva
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; The Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Devon R Blake
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Thomas S K Gilbert
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Serina Ng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Galen Hostetter
- Pathology and Biorepository Core, The Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Salma H Azam
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Irem Ozkan-Dagliyan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Prson Gautam
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsten L Bryant
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kenneth H Pearce
- Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; UNC Michael Hooker Proteomics Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Haiyong Han
- Molecular Medicine Division, Translational Genomic Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
| | - Lee M Graves
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | | | - Erik S Knudsen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA
| | - Chad V Pecot
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Naim Rashid
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Peter J Houghton
- The Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Krister Wennerberg
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Adrienne D Cox
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Channing J Der
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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19
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Tusa I, Cheloni G, Poteti M, Gozzini A, DeSouza NH, Shan Y, Deng X, Gray NS, Li S, Rovida E, Dello Sbarba P. Targeting the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 5 Pathway to Suppress Human Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 11:929-943. [PMID: 30245209 PMCID: PMC6178886 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKi) are effective against chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but their inefficacy on leukemia stem cells (LSCs) may lead to relapse. To identify new druggable targets alternative to BCR/ABL, we investigated the role of the MEK5/ERK5 pathway in LSC maintenance in low oxygen, a feature of bone marrow stem cell niches. We found that MEK5/ERK5 pathway inhibition reduced the growth of CML patient-derived cells and cell lines in vitro and the number of leukemic cells in vivo. Treatment in vitro of primary CML cells with MEK5/ERK5 inhibitors, but not TKi, strikingly reduced culture repopulation ability (CRA), serial colony formation ability, long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs), and CD26-expressing cells. Importantly, MEK5/ERK5 inhibition was effective on CML cells regardless of the presence or absence of imatinib, and did not reduce CRA or LTC-ICs of normal CD34+ cells. Thus, targeting MEK/ERK5 may represent an innovative therapeutic approach to suppress CML progenitor/stem cells. ERK5 is constitutively active in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells ERK5 pathway inhibition reduces the growth of CML cells in vitro and in vivo ERK5 pathway inhibition strikingly reduces CML progenitor/stem cell maintenance The combination of ERK5i with imatinib reduces the expression of stem cell proteins
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazia Tusa
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Firenze, viale G.B. Morgagni, 50, Firenze 50134, Italy; Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Firenze 50134, Italy
| | - Giulia Cheloni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Firenze, viale G.B. Morgagni, 50, Firenze 50134, Italy; Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Firenze 50134, Italy
| | - Martina Poteti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Firenze, viale G.B. Morgagni, 50, Firenze 50134, Italy
| | - Antonella Gozzini
- Hematology Unit, Careggi University Hospital (AOUC), Firenze 50134, Italy
| | - Ngoc Ho DeSouza
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yi Shan
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Xianming Deng
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shaoguang Li
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Elisabetta Rovida
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Firenze, viale G.B. Morgagni, 50, Firenze 50134, Italy; Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Firenze 50134, Italy.
| | - Persio Dello Sbarba
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Firenze, viale G.B. Morgagni, 50, Firenze 50134, Italy; Istituto Toscano Tumori (ITT), Firenze 50134, Italy.
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20
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Ma Q, Tan Y, Chen X, Chen S, Sun Y, Zhou B. Regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway by miR-421-5p in rats under light pollution. Int J Mol Med 2018; 42:3329-3343. [PMID: 30221682 PMCID: PMC6202112 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the difference in the expression profiles of ovarian microRNA sequences in rats in a light pollution environment and rats in a normal light environment. Rats in the control group were exposed to 12‑h light/dark cycles, while rats in the model group were continuously exposed to 24‑h light. The ovaries were extracted from the two groups of rats, and Illumina HiSeq 2500 high‑throughput sequencing technology was used to detect the differences in microRNA (miRNA) expression among the two groups. Fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction was used to verify the differential expression of miRNA. The present study was designed to experimentally validate the interaction between miR‑421‑5p and mitogen‑activated protein kinase (MAPK) 7 by using the dual‑luciferase reporter system, and to explore the expression of proteins in the MAPK signaling pathway with a lentiviral vector‑mediated small hairpin RNA interference against microRNA‑421‑5p. The expression of 45 miRNAs was significantly different. In total, 13 miRNAs were upregulated, of which 5 miRNA sequences were known and 8 were predicted. Furthermore, 32 miRNAs were downregulated, of which 11 miRNA sequences were known and 21 were predicted. The results of the luciferase reporter assay confirmed the targeting association between miR‑421‑5p and MAPK7. The expression levels of MAPK and genes in its downstream signaling pathways, including c‑Fos, CREB and c‑Myc, were downregulated when miR‑421‑5p was overexpressed and upregulated when miR‑421‑5p was silenced. The differential expression of miRNAs may serve an important role in the development of the ovary in a light pollution environment. miR‑421‑5p may regulate ovarian growth and development by targeting the MAPK signaling pathway in light polluted rat ovaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianwen Ma
- Zhenjiang Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhenjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, P.R. China
| | - Yong Tan
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Chen
- Zhenjiang Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhenjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212000, P.R. China
| | - Shuping Chen
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Yuying Sun
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Beibei Zhou
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
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21
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Dompe N, Klijn C, Watson SA, Leng K, Port J, Cuellar T, Watanabe C, Haley B, Neve R, Evangelista M, Stokoe D. A CRISPR screen identifies MAPK7 as a target for combination with MEK inhibition in KRAS mutant NSCLC. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199264. [PMID: 29912950 PMCID: PMC6005515 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutant KRAS represents one of the most frequently observed oncogenes in NSCLC, yet no therapies are approved for tumors that express activated KRAS variants. While there is strong rationale for the use of MEK inhibitors to treat tumors with activated RAS/MAPK signaling, these have proven ineffective clinically. We therefore implemented a CRISPR screening approach to identify novel agents to sensitize KRAS mutant NSCLC cells to MEK inhibitor treatment. This approach identified multiple components of the canonical RAS/MAPK pathway consistent with previous studies. In addition, we identified MAPK7 as a novel, strong hit and validated this finding using multiple orthogonal approaches including knockdown and pharmacological inhibition. We show that MAPK7 inhibition attenuates the re-activation of MAPK signaling occurring following long-term MEK inhibition, thereby illustrating that MAPK7 mediates pathway reactivation in the face of MEK inhibition. Finally, genetic knockdown of MAPK7 combined with the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib in a mutant KRAS NSCLC xenograft model to mediate improved tumor growth inhibition. These data highlight that MAPK7 represents a promising target for combination treatment with MEK inhibition in KRAS mutant NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Dompe
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Christiaan Klijn
- Department of Bioinformatics, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Sara A. Watson
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Katherine Leng
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Jenna Port
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Trinna Cuellar
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Colin Watanabe
- Department of Bioinformatics, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Benjamin Haley
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Richard Neve
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Marie Evangelista
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - David Stokoe
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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22
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Tusa I, Gagliardi S, Tubita A, Pandolfi S, Urso C, Borgognoni L, Wang J, Deng X, Gray NS, Stecca B, Rovida E. ERK5 is activated by oncogenic BRAF and promotes melanoma growth. Oncogene 2018; 37:2601-2614. [PMID: 29483645 PMCID: PMC5945581 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0164-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is among the most aggressive cancers and its incidence is increasing worldwide. Targeted therapies and immunotherapy have improved the survival of patients with metastatic melanoma in the last few years; however, available treatments are still unsatisfactory. While the role of the BRAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 pathway in melanoma is well established, the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases MEK5-ERK5 remains poorly explored. Here we investigated the function of ERK5 signaling in melanoma. We show that ERK5 is consistently expressed in human melanoma tissues and is active in melanoma cells. Genetic silencing and pharmacological inhibition of ERK5 pathway drastically reduce the growth of melanoma cells and xenografts harboring wild-type (wt) or mutated BRAF (V600E). We also found that oncogenic BRAF positively regulates expression, phosphorylation, and nuclear localization of ERK5. Importantly, ERK5 kinase and transcriptional transactivator activities are enhanced by BRAF. Nevertheless, combined pharmacological inhibition of BRAFV600E and MEK5 is required to decrease nuclear ERK5, that is critical for the regulation of cell proliferation. Accordingly, combination of MEK5 or ERK5 inhibitors with BRAFV600E inhibitor vemurafenib is more effective than single treatments in reducing colony formation and growth of BRAFV600E melanoma cells and xenografts. Overall, these data support a key role of the ERK5 pathway for melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo and suggest that targeting ERK5, alone or in combination with BRAF-MEK1/2 inhibitors, might represent a novel approach for melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazia Tusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Tubita
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Pandolfi
- Core Research Laboratory - Istituto Toscano Tumori, Florence, Italy
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Carmelo Urso
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, Dermatopathology Section, S.M. Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Borgognoni
- Plastic Surgery Unit, Regional Melanoma Referral Center, S.M. Annunziata Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xianming Deng
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361102, China
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Barbara Stecca
- Core Research Laboratory - Istituto Toscano Tumori, Florence, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Rovida
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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23
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Dong X, Lv B, Li Y, Cheng Q, Su C, Yin G. MiR-143 regulates the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells through targeting MAPK7. Arch Biochem Biophys 2017; 630:47-53. [PMID: 28734729 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Revised: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating documents have been suggested that microRNA-143 (miR-143) function as a tumor suppressor, involved in many biological processes including tumor initiation and progression. However, the biological function and molecular mechanism of miR-143 in Osteosarcoma (OS) still remains to be further investigated. Despite many efforts have been made, the prognosis of OS is still unsatisfied. Thus, exploring the underlying mechanism of OS and finding new treatment targets is essential for improving the survival rate of OS patients. In our study, we determined the level of miR-143 in clinical OS tissues and cells, and explored its function and underlying mechanisms in the tumorigenesis of OS. Our findings revealed that miR-143 expression was significantly downregulated in OS tissues and cell lines. Gain-of-function assays indicated that forced expression of miR-143 in OS cells inhibited cell proliferation and migration/invasion. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that MAPK7 was targets gene of miR-143. The results of the present study indicated that miR-143 could be a potential target for treating OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiancheng Dong
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China; Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, PR China
| | - Bin Lv
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Yusong Li
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, PR China
| | - Qinghua Cheng
- Department of Orthopedics, People's Hospital of Lishui District in Nanjing City, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Chuan Su
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China; Department of Pathogen Biology & Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China.
| | - Guoyong Yin
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China; Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, PR China.
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24
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Hoang VT, Yan TJ, Cavanaugh JE, Flaherty PT, Beckman BS, Burow ME. Oncogenic signaling of MEK5-ERK5. Cancer Lett 2017; 392:51-59. [PMID: 28153789 PMCID: PMC5901897 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) regulate diverse cellular processes including proliferation, cell survival, differentiation, and apoptosis. While conventional MAPK constituents have well-defined roles in oncogenesis, the MEK5 pathway has only recently emerged in cancer research. In this review, we consider the MEK5 signaling cascade, focusing specifically on its involvement in drug resistance and regulation of aggressive cancer phenotypes. Moreover, we explore the role of MEK5/ERK5 in tumorigenesis and metastatic progression, discussing the discrepancies in preclinical studies and assessing its viability as a therapeutic target for anti-cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van T Hoang
- Department of Medicine-Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Thomas J Yan
- Department of Medicine-Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jane E Cavanaugh
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Patrick T Flaherty
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Mylan School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Matthew E Burow
- Department of Medicine-Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA; Tulane Cancer Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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25
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Simões AES, Rodrigues CMP, Borralho PM. The MEK5/ERK5 signalling pathway in cancer: a promising novel therapeutic target. Drug Discov Today 2016; 21:1654-1663. [PMID: 27320690 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2016.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Conventional mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members are among the most sought-after oncogenic effectors for the development of novel human cancer treatment strategies. MEK5/ERK5 has been the less-studied MAPK subfamily, despite its increasingly demonstrated relevance in the growth, survival, and differentiation of normal cells. MEK5/ERK5 signalling has already been proposed to have pivotal roles in several cancer hallmarks, and to mediate the effects of a range of oncogenes. Accumulating evidence indicates the contribution of MEK5/ERK5 signalling to therapy resistance and the benefits of using MEK5/ERK5 inhibitory strategies in the treatment of human cancer. Here, we explore the major known contributions of MEK5/ERK5 signalling to the onset and progression of several types of cancer, and highlight the potential clinical relevance of targeting MEK5/ERK5 pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- André E S Simões
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Cecília M P Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Pedro M Borralho
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
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26
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Giurisato E, Tournier C. Can tumor cells proliferate without ERK5? Cell Cycle 2016; 15:619-20. [PMID: 26822978 PMCID: PMC4845921 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2016.1143272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Giurisato
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Developmental and Molecular Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Cathy Tournier
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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