ERK activation in arsenite-treated G1-enriched CL3 cells contributes to survival, DNA repair inhibition, and micronucleus formation

A systematic review and meta-analysis of bidirectional effect of arsenic on ERK signaling pathway

Arsenic is a toxic metal, which ultimately leads to cell apoptosis. ERK is considered a key transcriptional regulator of arsenic‑induced apoptosis. Due to a few controversial issues about arsenic‑mediated extracellular signal‑regulated MAP kinases (ERK) signaling, a meta‑analysis was performed. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that high doses (≥2 µmol/l) of arsenic increased the expression of Ras, ERK, ERK1, ERK2, phosphorylated (p)‑ERK, p‑ERK1, and p‑ERK2, while low doses (<2 µmol/l) decreased the expression of Ras, ERK1, p‑ERK, and p‑ERK2 when compared to control groups. Long term exposure (>24 h) to arsenic led to inhibition of expression of ERK1, p‑ERK1, and p‑ERK2, whereas short‑term exposure (≤24 h) triggered the expression of ERK1, ERK2, p‑ERK, p‑ERK1, and p‑ERK2. Furthermore, normal cells exposed to arsenic exhibited higher production levels of Ras and p‑ERK. Conversely, exposure of cancer cells to arsenic showed a lower level of production of Ras and p‑ERK as well as higher level of p‑ERK1 and p‑ERK2 as compared to control group. Short‑term exposure of normal cells to high doses of arsenic may promote ERK signaling pathway. In contrast, long‑term exposure of cancer cells to low doses of arsenic may inhibit ERK signaling pathway. This study may be helpful in providing a theoretical basis for the diverging result of arsenic adverse effects on one hand and therapeutic mechanisms on the other concerning arsenic‑induced apoptosis.

Sensitivity to sodium arsenite in human melanoma cells depends upon susceptibility to arsenite-induced mitotic arrest

Arsenic induces clinical remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia and has potential for treatment of other cancers. The current study examines factors influencing sensitivity to arsenic using human malignant melanoma cell lines. A375 and SK-Mel-2 cells were sensitive to clinically achievable concentrations of arsenite, whereas SK-Mel-3 and SK-Mel-28 cells required supratherapeutic levels for toxicity. Inhibition of glutathione synthesis, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, and multidrug resistance protein (MRP) transporter function attenuated arsenite resistance, consistent with studies suggesting that arsenite is extruded from the cell as a glutathione conjugate by MRP-1. However, MRP-1 was not overexpressed in resistant lines and GST-pi was only slightly elevated. ICP-MS analysis indicated that arsenite-resistant SK-Mel-28 cells did not accumulate less arsenic than arsenite-sensitive A375 cells, suggesting that resistance was not attributable to reduced arsenic accumulation but rather to intrinsic properties of resistant cell lines. The mode of arsenite-induced cell death was apoptosis. Arsenite-induced apoptosis is associated with cell cycle alterations. Cell cycle analysis revealed arsenite-sensitive cells arrested in mitosis whereas arsenite-resistant cells did not, suggesting that induction of mitotic arrest occurs at lower intracellular arsenic concentrations. Higher intracellular arsenic levels induced cell cycle arrest in the S-phase and G(2)-phase in SK-Mel-3 and SK-Mel-28 cells, respectively. The lack of arsenite-induced mitotic arrest in resistant cell lines was associated with a weakened spindle checkpoint resulting from reduced expression of spindle checkpoint protein BUBR1. These data suggest that arsenite has potential for treatment of solid tumors but a functional spindle checkpoint is a prerequisite for a positive response to its clinical application.

Cyclin B1 proteolysis via p38 MAPK signaling participates in G2 checkpoint elicited by arsenite

Timely induction of cyclin B1 controls mitotic entry, whereas its proteolysis is essential for mitotic exit. By contrast, cyclin B1 transcription is repressed during G(2) arrest induced by DNA damage. The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is involved in the G(2) checkpoint; yet, its impact on cyclin B1 protein levels remains unclear. Here we show that untimely proteolysis of cyclin B1 following p38 activation contributes to G(2) checkpoint. Exposing early G(2) cells to arsenite impeded cyclin B1 protein accumulation, Cdk1 activation, and G(2)-to-M progression. Conversely, cyclin B1 was non-degradable in late G(2) and mitotic cells after arsenite. Cyclin B1 proteolysis was enhanced by arsenite in early G(2) and asynchronous cells. This rapid destruction of cyclin B1 was mediated via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway probably in a Cdc20 and Cdh1 independent mechanism. Under arsenite, inhibition of p38 activation or depletion of p38alpha suppressed cyclin B1 ubiquitination and proteolysis, while forced expression of MKK6-p38 accelerated these events. Inactivation of p38 in arsenite-treated early G(2) cells allowed G(2)-to-M progression, blocked apoptosis, increased cell viability, and decreased micronucleus formation. Thus, p38 signaling pathway triggering cyclin B1 proteolysis after arsenite may play an important role in connecting G(2) arrest with apoptosis or genome instability.