MCF-7 breast cancer cells transfected with protein kinase C-alpha exhibit altered expression of other protein kinase C isoforms and display a more aggressive neoplastic phenotype

Age-related clusters and favorable immune phenotypes in breast cancer of the young

Breast cancer (BC) patients aged below 40 years at diagnosis experience aggressive disease and poorer survival compared to women diagnosed at 40-49 years, but the age-related biology is described to little extent. Here, we explored transcriptional alterations in BC to gain better understanding of age-related tumor biology. We studied a subset of the Bergen in-house cohort (n=127, age range 26-49) and used the NanoString Breast Cancer 360 expression panel on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue, and publicly available global breast cancer mRNA expression data (n=204, age range 22-49), to explore differentially expressed genes between the young (age <40) and older (age 40-49) patients. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering was applied to identify gene expression-based patient clusters. We applied established computational approaches to define the PAM50 subtypes, Risk of recurrence scores (ROR), and Risk groups, and to infer the proportions of 22 immune cell types from bulk gene expression profiles of patients aged <50 at breast cancer diagnosis. Differentially expressed genes and gene sets were investigated using OncoEnrichR and g:Profiler to describe functional profiles and pathway enrichment. We identified four age-related patient clusters presenting distinct characteristics of PAM50 subtypes and ROR profiles, which demonstrated independent prognostic value when adjusted for traditional clinico-pathologic variables and the known molecular subtypes. Our findings showed better survival than expected in the basal-enriched cluster 2, and in triple negative and basal-like BC. Deconvolution analyses of immunophenotypes indicated higher levels of M0 and M1 macrophages than M2 macrophages in subsets of young BC. Our approach identifies age-based patient clusters with distinct clinico-pathologic profiles, to a large extent overlapping with the PAM50 subtypes, although with independent prognostic value in multivariate survival analyses. The patient clusters provided new insight in the immune cell distribution across tumor subtypes, potentially contributing to survival differences between the clusters and the molecular subtypes and indicating age-related mechanisms improving outcome. Our study confirms the applicability of ROR as a valid prognosticator also in a young breast cancer cohort.

Circulating plasma phospholipid fatty acid levels and breast cancer risk in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort

Prospective studies that objectively measure circulating levels of fatty acids are needed to clarify their role in the etiology of breast cancer. Thirty-eight phospholipid fatty acids were measured using gas chromatograph in the plasma fraction of blood samples collected prospectively from 2718 postmenopausal women (905 breast cancer cases) enrolled in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort. Associations of 28 fatty acids that passed quality control metrics (modeled as per 1-SD increase) with breast cancer risk were assessed using multiple variable conditional logistic regression models to compute odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The false discovery rate (q value) was computed to account for multiple comparisons. Myristic acid levels were positively associated with breast cancer risk (OR, 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07-1.28; q value = 0.03). Borderline associations were also found for palmitoleic acid (OR, 1.14, 95% CI: 1.04-1.24) and desaturation index16 (OR, 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.20) at nominal P values (<.03) (q values>0.05). These findings suggest that higher circulating levels of myristic acid, sourced from dietary intake of palm kernel oils along with increased de novo synthesis of fatty acids, may increase breast cancer risk. Additional studies are needed to investigate de novo synthesis of fatty acid in breast cancer tissues.

Notch signaling pathway: a comprehensive prognostic and gene expression profile analysis in breast cancer

Breast cancer is a complex disease exhibiting a great degree of heterogeneity due to different molecular subtypes. Notch signaling regulates the differentiation of breast epithelial cells during normal development and plays a crucial role in breast cancer progression through the abnormal expression of the Notch up-and down-stream effectors. To date, there are only a few patient-centered clinical studies using datasets characterizing the role of Notch signaling pathway regulators in breast cancer; thus, we investigate the role and functionality of these factors in different subtypes using publicly available databases containing records from large studies. High-throughput genomic data and clinical information extracted from TCGA were analyzed. We performed Kaplan-Meier survival and differential gene expression analyses using the HALLMARK_NOTCH_SIGNALING gene set. To determine if epigenetic regulation of the Notch regulators contributes to their expression, we analyzed methylation levels of these factors using the TCGA HumanMethylation450 Array data. Notch receptors and ligands expression is generally associated with the tumor subtype, grade, and stage. Furthermore, we showed gene expression levels of most Notch factors were associated with DNA methylation rate. Modulating the expression levels of Notch receptors and effectors can be a potential therapeutic approach for breast cancer. As we outline herein, elucidating the novel prognostic and regulatory roles of Notch implicate this pathway as an essential mediator controlling breast cancer progression.

The Role of PKC and HIF-1 and the Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicinal Compounds on Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Neuronal death occurs during cerebral ischemia. However, when hemoperfusion and oxygen supply are resumed to the ischemic focus of the brain tissue, the brain tissue damage is further aggravated, resulting in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) to the patients. Protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role in CIRI. Through the IP3/DAG/Ca²⁺ signaling pathway, it promotes the influx of calcium ions in neurons and causes calcium overload, which aggravates the damage. At the same time, when brain cells are hypoxic, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is expressed, which regulates the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and reduces nerve cell injury. It also fights hypoxic-ischemic injury by increasing the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to promote blood vessel formation. The PKC and HIF-1 signaling pathways are also linked to CIRI. HIF-1 activates the PKC and ERK pathways via the upregulation of VEGF, leading to increased Cx43 phosphorylation and dysfunction and aggravating CIRI. Existing studies have shown that certain traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compounds regulate the PKC and HIF-1 signaling pathways and alleviate CIRI. These compounds downregulate the PKC and the activity of the PKC-related signaling pathways to alleviate CIRI. They can also promote the expression of HIF-1, increase the content of VEGF in ischemic tissues to promote the generation of blood vessels, and improve microcirculation. TCM compounds can inhibit the cascade of reactions underlying disease occurrence and development by targeting multiple components using different herbal formulations to improve the structural and material changes in the brain cells, which alleviate CIRI and protect the brain tissue. This study briefly describes the role of PKC and HIF-1, their relationship in CIRI, and the effect of TCM on them.

Growth Inhibition and Apoptotic Effect of Pine Extract and Abietic Acid on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells via Alteration of Multiple Gene Expressions Using In Vitro Approach

In vitro anti-proliferative activity of Pinus palustris extract and its purified abietic acid was assessed against different human cancer cell lines (HepG-2, MCF-7 and HCT-116) compared to normal WI-38 cell line. Abietic acid showed more promising IC50 values against MCF-7 cells than pine extract (0.06 µg/mL and 0.11 µM, respectively), with insignificant cytotoxicity toward normal fibroblast WI-38 cells. Abietic acid triggered both G2/M cell arrest and subG0-G1 subpopulation in MCF-7, compared to SubG0-G1 subpopulation arrest only for the extract. It also induced overexpression of key apoptotic genes (Fas, FasL, Casp3, Casp8, Cyt-C and Bax) and downregulation of both proliferation (VEGF, IGFR1, TGF-β) and oncogenic (C-myc and NF-κB) genes. Additionally, abietic acid induced overexpression of cytochrome-C protein. Furthermore, it increased levels of total antioxidants to diminish carcinogenesis and chemotherapy resistance. P. palustris is a valuable source of active abietic acid, an antiproliferative agent to MCF-7 cells through induction of apoptosis with promising future anticancer agency in breast cancer therapy.

PKC-mediated phosphorylation and activation of the MEK/ERK pathway as a mechanism of acquired trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer

Protein expression, activation and stability are regulated through inter-connected signal transduction pathways resulting in specific cellular states. This study sought to differentiate between the complex mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired trastuzumab resistance, by quantifying changes in expression and activity of proteins (phospho-protein profile) in key signal transduction pathways, in breast cancer cellular models of trastuzumab resistance. To this effect, we utilized a multiplex, bead-based protein assay, DigiWest^®, to measure around 100 proteins and protein modifications using specific antibodies. The main advantage of this methodology is the quantification of multiple analytes in one sample, utilising input volumes of a normal western blot. The intrinsically trastuzumab-resistant cell line JIMT-1 showed the largest number of concurrent resistance mechanisms, including PI3K/Akt and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK activation, β catenin stabilization by inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β, cell cycle progression by Rb suppression, and CREB-mediated cell survival. MAPK (ERK) pathway activation was common to both intrinsic and acquired resistance cellular models. The overexpression of upstream RAS/RAF, however, was confined to JIMT 1; meanwhile, in a cellular model of acquired trastuzumab resistance generated in this study (T15), entry into the ERK pathway seemed to be mostly mediated by PKCα activation. This is a novel observation and merits further investigation that can lead to new therapeutic combinations in HER2-positive breast cancer with acquired therapeutic resistance.

Prominent Prognostic Factors in Aggressive Breast Cancer: A Review

Context: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Hereditary susceptibility created by mutations in autosomal dominant genes is responsible for 5 to 10% of all BC cases in women. Recent studies have identified genes associated with increased risk for aggressive BC, providing the basis for better risk management. Evidence Acquisition: The latest information in National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus were the main databases for finding articles. A combination of keywords of ‘metastasis’, ‘invasion’, ‘aggressive breast cancer’, ‘prognostic factor’, ‘mutation’, and ‘cancer treatment’ was searched in the databases to identify related articles. Titles and abstracts of the articles were studied to choose the right articles. Results: Mutations in breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) and breast cancer type 2 susceptibility protein (BRCA2) genes are two central players related to the high risk of BC. Mutation in tumor protein p53 (TP53) is another important mutation that leads to triple-negative BC. Although the majority of BC types are not associated with high-throughput mutant genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and TP53, they are associated with low-throughput genes, including DNA repair protein Rad50 (RAD50), Nijmegen breakage syndrome gene (NBS1), checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2), BRCA1-interacting protein 1 (BRIP1), E-cadherin gene (CDH1) and PALB2, UCHL1, aldehydedehydrogenase1A3 (ALDH1A3), androgen receptor (AR), 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PIK3CA), phosphatidylinositol-4, and luminal gene expression that are generally mutated in the global population. High tumor mutational burden (TMB) was associated with improved progression-free survival. Conclusions: The lymph node status, early tumor size, ER, PR, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), and Ki-67 are conventional prognostic factors for BC. However, these factors cannot exactly predict the aggressive behavior of BC. Hence, in this review, we discussed new prognostic factors of aggressive BCs that are useful for the treatment of patients with BC.

The complexities of PKCα signaling in cancer

Protein kinase C α (PKCα) is a ubiquitously expressed member of the PKC family of serine/threonine kinases with diverse functions in normal and neoplastic cells. Early studies identified anti-proliferative and differentiation-inducing functions for PKCα in some normal tissues (e.g., regenerating epithelia) and pro-proliferative effects in others (e.g., cells of the hematopoietic system, smooth muscle cells). Additional well documented roles of PKCα signaling in normal cells include regulation of the cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and cell migration, and PKCα can function as a survival factor in many contexts. While a majority of tumors lose expression of PKCα, others display aberrant overexpression of the enzyme. Cancer-related mutations in PKCα are uncommon, but rare examples of driver mutations have been detected in certain cancer types (e. g., choroid gliomas). Here we review the role of PKCα in various cancers, describe mechanisms by which PKCα affects cancer-related cell functions, and discuss how the diverse functions of PKCα contribute to tumor suppressive and tumor promoting activities of the enzyme. We end the discussion by addressing mutations and expression of PKCα in tumors and the clinical relevance of these findings.

Therapeutic resistance in breast cancer cells can result from deregulated EGFR signaling

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) interacts with various downstream molecules including phospholipase C (PLC)/protein kinase C (PKC), Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/PTEN/Akt/GSK-3, Jak/STAT and others. Often these pathways are deregulated in human malignancies such as breast cancer. Various therapeutic approaches to inhibit the activity of EGFR family members including small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) have been developed. A common problem with cancer treatments is the development of drug-resistance. We examined the effects of a conditionally-activated EGFR (v-Erb-B:ER) on the resistance of breast cancer cells to commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin, daunorubicin, paclitaxel, cisplatin and 5-flurouracil as well as ionizing radiation (IR). v-Erb-B is similar to the EGFR-variant EGFRvIII, which is expressed in various cancers including breast, brain, prostate. Both v-Erb-B and EGFRvIII encode the EGFR kinase domain but lack key components present in the extracellular domain of EGFR which normally regulate its activity and ligand-dependence. The v-Erb-B oncogene was ligated to the hormone binding domain of the estrogen receptor (ER) which results in regulation of the activity of the v-Erb-ER construct by addition of either estrogen (E2) or 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4HT) to the culture media. Introduction of the v-Erb-B:ER construct into the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line increased the resistance to the cells to various chemotherapeutic drugs, hormonal-based therapeutics and IR. These results point to the important effects that aberrant expression of EGFR kinase domain can have on therapeutic resistance.

Interplay between miRNAs and Genes Associated with Cell Proliferation in Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer develops as a result of abnormal cell growth associated with uncontrolled cell proliferation, excessive activation of signaling pathways and miRNA activity. The aim of this study was to determine the expression profile of genes associated with cell proliferation and to assess which miRNAs can participate in the regulation of their expression. The study enrolled 40 patients with endometrial cancer and 10 patients without neoplastic changes. The expression profile of genes associated with cell proliferation and the expression profile of miRNAs were assessed using microarrays. RT-qPCR was performed to validate mRNA microarray results. The mirTAR tool was used to identify miRNAs that regulate the activity of genes associated with cell proliferation. Decreased expression of IGF1 and MYLK, as well as SOD2 overexpression, were observed in endometrial cancer using both mRNA microarrays and RT-qPCR. Microarray analysis showed low levels of NES and PRKCA, but this was only partially validated using RT-qPCR. Reduced activity of MYLK may be caused by increased miR-200c, miR-155 and miR-200b expression. Cell proliferation is disturbed in endometrial cancer, which may be associated with an overexpression of miR-200a, miR-200c, and miR-155, making it a potential diagnostic marker.

PKCα Modulates Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Invasiveness of Breast Cancer Cells Through ZEB1

ZEB1 is a master regulator of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) program. While extensive evidence confirmed the importance of ZEB1 as an EMT transcription factor that promotes tumor invasiveness and metastasis, little is known about its regulation. In this work, we screened for potential regulatory links between ZEB1 and multiple cellular kinases. Exploratory in silico analysis aided by phospho-substrate antibodies and ZEB1 deletion mutants led us to identify several potential phospho-sites for the family of PKC kinases in the N-terminus of ZEB1. The analysis of breast cancer cell lines panels with different degrees of aggressiveness, together with the evaluation of a battery of kinase inhibitors, allowed us to expose a robust correlation between ZEB1 and PKCα both at mRNA and protein levels. Subsequent validation experiments using siRNAs against PKCα revealed that its knockdown leads to a concomitant decrease in ZEB1 levels, while ZEB1 knockdown had no impact on PKCα levels. Remarkably, PKCα-mediated downregulation of ZEB1 recapitulates the inhibition of mesenchymal phenotypes, including inhibition in cell migration and invasiveness. These findings were extended to an in vivo model, by demonstrating that the stable knockdown of PKCα using lentiviral shRNAs markedly impaired the metastatic potential of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Taken together, our findings unveil an unforeseen regulatory pathway comprising PKCα and ZEB1 that promotes the activation of the EMT in breast cancer cells.

Flavored e-liquids increase cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels in airway epithelia

E-cigarettes are noncombustible, electronic nicotine-delivery devices that aerosolize an e-liquid, i.e., nicotine, in a propylene glycol-vegetable glycerin vehicle that also contains flavors. While the effects of nicotine are relatively well understood, more information regarding the potential biological effects of the other e-liquid constituents is needed. This is a serious concern, because e-liquids are available in >7,000 distinct flavors. We previously demonstrated that many e-liquids affect cell growth/viability through an unknown mechanism. Since Ca²⁺ is a ubiquitous second messenger that regulates cell growth, we characterized the effects of e-liquids on cellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis. To better understand the extent of this effect, we screened e-liquids for their ability to alter cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels and found that 42 of 100 flavored e-liquids elicited a cellular Ca²⁺ response. Banana Pudding (BP) e-liquid, a representative e-liquid from this group, caused phospholipase C activation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca²⁺ release, store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE), and protein kinase C (PKCα) phosphorylation. However, longer exposures to BP e-liquid depleted ER Ca²⁺ stores and inhibited SOCE, suggesting that this e-liquid may alter Ca²⁺ homeostasis by short- and long-term mechanisms. Since dysregulation of Ca²⁺ signaling can cause chronic inflammation, ER stress, and abnormal cell growth, flavored e-cigarette products that can elicit cell Ca²⁺ responses should be further screened for potential toxicity.

4,5-Diaryl 3(2H)Furanones: Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Influence on Cancer Growth

Apart from their anti-inflammatory action, COX inhibitors have gathered the interest of many scientists due to their potential use for the treatment and prevention of cancer. It has been shown that cyclooxygenase inhibitors restrict cancer cell growth and are able to interact with known antitumor drugs, enhancing their in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity. The permutation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic aryl groups in COX inhibitors leads to cardinal changes in the biological activity of the compounds. In the present study, thirteen heterocyclic coxib-like 4,5-diarylfuran-3(2H)-ones and their annelated derivatives—phenanthro[9,10-b]furan-3-ones—were synthesized and studied for anti-inflammatory and COX-1/2 inhibitory action and for their cytotoxic activity on the breast cancer (MCF-7) and squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-3) cell lines. The F-derivative of the –SOMe substituted furan-3(2H)-ones exhibited the best activity (COX-1 IC₅₀ = 2.8 μM, anti-inflammatory activity (by carrageenan paw edema model) of 54% (dose 0.01 mmol/kg), and MCF-7 and HSC-3 cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ values of 10 μM and 7.5 μM, respectively). A cytotoxic effect related to the COX-1 inhibitory action was observed and a synergistic effect with the anti-neoplastic drugs gefitinib and 5-fluorouracil was found. A phenanthrene derivative exhibited the best synergistic effect with gefitinib.

Protein kinase Cα-mediated phosphorylation of Twist1 at Ser-144 prevents Twist1 ubiquitination and stabilizes it

Twist1 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that plays a key role in embryonic development, and its expression is down-regulated in adult cells. However, Twist1 is highly expressed during cancer development, conferring a proliferative, migratory, and invasive phenotype to malignant cells. Twist1 expression can be regulated post-translationally by phosphorylation or ubiquitination events. We report in this study a previously unknown and relevant Twist1 phosphorylation site that controls its stability. To identify candidate phosphorylation sites in Twist1, we first conducted an in silico analysis of the Twist1 protein, which yielded several potential sites. Because most of these sites were predicted to be phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC), we overexpressed PKCα in several cell lines and found that it phosphorylates Twist1 on Ser-144. Using a combination of immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, protein overexpression, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated PKCα knockout experiments, we observed that PKCα-mediated Twist1 phosphorylation at Ser-144 inhibits Twist1 ubiquitination and consequently stabilizes it. These results provide evidence for a direct association between PKCα and Twist1 and yield critical insights into the PKCα/Twist1 signaling axis that governs cancer aggressiveness.

Claudin 1 Is Highly Upregulated by PKC in MCF7 Human Breast Cancer Cells and Correlates Positively with PKCε in Patient Biopsies

Recent studies provide compelling evidence to suggest that the tight junction protein claudin 1, aberrantly expressed in several cancer types, plays an important role in cancer progression. Dysregulation of claudin 1 has been shown to induce epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, activation of the ERK signaling pathway by protein kinase C (PKC) was shown to be necessary for EMT induction. Whether PKC is involved in regulating breast cancer progression has not been addressed. The PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) was used to investigate the effect of PKC activity on claudin 1 transcription and protein levels, subcellular distribution, and alterations in EMT markers in human breast cancer (HBC) cell lines. As well, tissue microarray analysis (TMA) of a large cohort of invasive HBC biopsies was conducted to investigate correlations between claudin 1 and PKC isomers. TPA upregulated claudin 1 levels in all HBC cell lines analyzed. In particular, a high induction of claudin 1 protein was observed in the MCF7 cell line. TPA treatment also led to an accumulation of claudin 1 in the cytoplasm. Additionally, we demonstrated that the upregulation of claudin 1 was through the ERK signaling pathway. In patient biopsies, we identified a significant positive correlation between claudin 1, PKCα, and PKCε in ER+ tumors. A similar correlation between claudin 1 and PKCε was identified in ER- tumors, and high PKCε was associated with shorter disease-free survival. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that claudin 1 and the ERK signaling pathway are important players in HBC progression.

Overexpression of sigma-1 receptor in MCF-7 cells enhances proliferation via the classic protein kinase C subtype signaling pathway

Sigma-1 receptor (sigma-1R), a 25-kDa integral membrane protein, is expressed at a high density in various tumor cell lines and its ligands mediate tumor cell proliferation. However, the effect of this receptor on proliferation and the associated intracellular molecules in tumors remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of sigma-1R overexpression on MCF-7 cell proliferation and the associated intracellular molecules that serve a key role in this process. The sigma-1R proliferative function was examined by comparing the proliferation rates of a sigma-1R-overexpressing line, MCF-41 with a sigma-1R-defective line, MCF-7, in culture media with various serum concentrations. The results demonstrated that MCF-41 cells grew significantly faster compared with MCF-7 cells, indicating a proliferation-enhancing receptor function. This proliferation-enhancing effect was completely eliminated by adding a PKC inhibitor to the culture media for MCF-41 cells. To identify which PKC subtype affects the proliferative function of sigma-1R, five inhibitors of PKC subtypes or enzymes involved in the PKC signaling cascade were introduced to MCF-7 and MCF-41 cell culture media and their effects on cell proliferation were compared. It was revealed that only the classic PKC subtype inhibitor, GF109203×, significantly inhibited MCF-41 cell proliferation compared with the MCF-7 line. In conclusion, among PKC iso-enzymes only classic PKC subtype enzymes serve an important role in sigma-1R overexpression enhancing MCF-7 cell proliferation.

Chronic hyperglycemia mediated physiological alteration and metabolic distortion leads to organ dysfunction, infection, cancer progression and other pathophysiological consequences: An update on glucose toxicity

Chronic exposure of glucose rich environment creates several physiological and pathophysiological changes. There are several pathways by which hyperglycemia exacerbate its toxic effect on cells, tissues and organ systems. Hyperglycemia can induce oxidative stress, upsurge polyol pathway, activate protein kinase C (PKC), enhance hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP), promote the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and finally alters gene expressions. Prolonged hyperglycemic condition leads to severe diabetic condition by damaging the pancreatic β-cell and inducing insulin resistance. Numerous complications have been associated with diabetes, thus it has become a major health issue in the 21st century and has received serious attention. Dysregulation in the cardiovascular and reproductive systems along with nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, diabetic foot ulcer may arise in the advanced stages of diabetes. High glucose level also encourages proliferation of cancer cells, development of osteoarthritis and potentiates a suitable environment for infections. This review culminates how elevated glucose level carries out its toxicity in cells, metabolic distortion along with organ dysfunction and elucidates the complications associated with chronic hyperglycemia.

Protein kinase C-α and the regulation of diverse cell responses

Protein kinase C (PKC) comprises a family of lipid-sensitive enzymes that have been involved in a broad range of cellular functions. PKC-α is a member of classical PKC with ubiquitous expression and different cellular localization. This unique PKC isoform is activated by various signals which evoke lipid hydrolysis, after activation it interacts with various adapter proteins and is localized to specific cellular compartments where it is devised to work. The universal expression and activation by various stimuli make it a perfect player in uncountable cellular functions including differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, cellular transformation, motility, adhesion and so on. However, these functions are not intrinsic properties of PKC-α, but depend on cell types and conditions. The activities of PKC-α are managed by the various pharmacological activators/inhibitors and antisense oligonucleotides. The aim of this review is to elaborate the structural feature, and provide an insight into the mechanism of PKC-α activation and regulation of its key biological functions in different cellular compartments to develop an effective pharmacological approach to regulate the PKC-α signal array.

Integrating virtual screening and biochemical experimental approach to identify potential anti-cancer agents from drug databank

Chemical libraries constitute a reservoir of pharmacophoric molecules to identify potent anti-cancer agents. Virtual screening of heterocyclic compound library in conjugation with the agonist-competition assay, toxicity-carcinogenicity analysis, and string-based structural searches enabled us to identify several drugs as potential anti-cancer agents targeting protein kinase C (PKC) as a target. Molecular modeling study indicates that Cinnarizine fits well within the PKC C2 domain and exhibits extensive interaction with the protein residues. Molecular dynamics simulation of PKC-Cinnarizine complex at different temperatures (300, 325, 350, 375, and 400[Formula: see text]K) confirms that Cinnarizine fits nicely into the C2 domain and forms a stable complex. The drug Cinnarizine was found to bind PKC with a dissociation constant Kd of [Formula: see text]M. The breast cancer cells stimulated with Cinnarizine causes translocation of PKC-[Formula: see text] to the plasma membrane as revealed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence studies. Cinnarizine also dose dependently reduced the viability of MDAMB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells with an IC[Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]g/mL, respectively. It is due to the disturbance of cell cycle of breast cancer cells with reduction of S-phase and accumulation of cells in G1-phase. It disturbs mitochondrial membrane potentials to release cytochrome C into the cytosol and activates caspase-3 to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. The cell death was due to induction of apoptosis involving mitochondrial pathway. Hence, the current study has assigned an additional role to Cinnarizine as an activator of PKC and potentials of the approach to identify new molecules for anti-cancer therapy. Thus, in silico screening along with biochemical experimentation is a robust approach to assign additional roles to the drugs present in the databank for anti-cancer therapy.

A-kinase anchoring protein BIG3 coordinates oestrogen signalling in breast cancer cells

Approximately 70% of breast cancer cells express oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα). Previous studies have shown that the Brefeldin A-inhibited guanine nucleotide-exchange protein 3–prohibitin 2 (BIG3-PHB2) complex has a crucial role in these cells. However, it remains unclear how BIG3 regulates the suppressive activity of PHB2. Here we demonstrate that BIG3 functions as an A-kinase anchoring protein that binds protein kinase A (PKA) and the α isoform of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1Cα), thereby dephosphorylating and inactivating PHB2. E2-induced PKA-mediated phosphorylation of BIG3-S305 and -S1208 serves to enhance PP1Cα activity, resulting in E2/ERα signalling activation via PHB2 inactivation due to PHB2-S39 dephosphorylation. Furthermore, an analysis of independent cohorts of ERα-positive breast cancers patients reveal that both BIG3 overexpression and PHB2-S39 dephosphorylation are strongly associated with poor prognosis. This is the first demonstration of the mechanism of E2/ERα signalling activation via the BIG3–PKA–PP1Cα tri-complex in breast cancer cells.

BIG3 is highly expressed in breast cancers and its interaction with PHB2 results in constitutive activation of E2/ERa signalling. Here the authors unveil the mechanistic details of this regulation showing that BIG3 binds PKA and regulates PP1Ca activity in an oestrogen-dependent manner.

Annexin A6-A multifunctional scaffold in cell motility

Annexin A6 (AnxA6) belongs to a highly conserved protein family characterized by their calcium (Ca²⁺)-dependent binding to phospholipids. Over the years, immunohistochemistry, subcellular fractionations, and live cell microscopy established that AnxA6 is predominantly found at the plasma membrane and endosomal compartments. In these locations, AnxA6 acts as a multifunctional scaffold protein, recruiting signaling proteins, modulating cholesterol and membrane transport and influencing actin dynamics. These activities enable AnxA6 to contribute to the formation of multifactorial protein complexes and membrane domains relevant in signal transduction, cholesterol homeostasis and endo-/exocytic membrane transport. Hence, AnxA6 has been implicated in many biological processes, including cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, inflammation, but also membrane repair and viral infection. More recently, we and others identified roles for AnxA6 in cancer cell migration and invasion. This review will discuss how the multiple scaffold functions may enable AnxA6 to modulate migratory cell behavior in health and disease.

Resistin, a fat-derived secretory factor, promotes metastasis of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells through ERM activation

Resistin, an adipocyte-secreted factor, is known to be elevated in breast cancer patients. However, the molecular mechanism by which resistin acts is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether resistin could stimulate invasion and migration of breast cancer cells. Here, we report that resistin stimulated invasion and migration of breast cancer cells as well as phosphorylation of c-Src. Inhibition of c-Src blocked resistin-induced breast cancer cell invasion. Resistin increased intracellular calcium concentration, and chelation of intracellular calcium blocked resistin-mediated activation of Src. Resistin also induced phosphorylation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Inhibition of c-Src blocked resistin-mediated PP2A phosphorylation. In addition, resistin increased phosphorylation of PKCα. Inhibition of PP2A enhanced resistin-induced PKCα phosphorylation, demonstrating that PP2A activity is critical for PKCα phosphorylation. Resistin also increased phosphorylation of ezrin, radixin, and moesin (ERM). Additionally, ezrin interacted with PKCα, and resistin promoted co-localization of ezrin and PKCα. Either inhibition of c-Src and PKCα or knock-down of ezrin blocked resistin-induced breast cancer cells invasion. Moreover, resistin increased expression of vimentin, a key molecule for cancer cell invasion. Knock-down of ezrin abrogated resistin-induced vimentin expression. These results suggest that resistin play as a critical regulator of breast cancer metastasis.

Targeting Protein Kinase C Downstream of Growth Factor and Adhesion Signalling

The signaling outputs of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases, G-protein coupled receptors and integrins converge to mediate key cell process such as cell adhesion, cell migration, cell invasion and cell proliferation. Once activated by their ligands, these cell surface proteins recruit and direct a diverse range of proteins to disseminate the appropriate response downstream of the specific environmental cues. One of the key groups of proteins required to regulate these activities is the family of serine/threonine intracellular kinases called Protein Kinase Cs. The activity and subcellular location of PKCs are mediated by a series of tightly regulated events and is dependent on several posttranslational modifications and the availability of second messengers. Protein Kinase Cs exhibit both pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects making them an interesting target for anti-cancer treatment.

Anticancer and antiangiogenic activity of surfactant-free nanoparticles based on self-assembled polymeric derivatives of vitamin E: structure-activity relationship

α-Tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS) is a well-known mitochondrially targeted anticancer compound, however, it is highly hydrophobic and toxic. In order to improve its activity and reduce its toxicity, new surfactant-free biologically active nanoparticles (NP) were synthesized. A methacrylic derivative of α-TOS (MTOS) was prepared and incorporated in amphiphilic pseudoblock copolymers when copolymerized with N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP) by free radical polymerization (poly(VP-co-MTOS)). The selected poly(VP-co-MTOS) copolymers formed surfactant-free NP by nanoprecipitation with sizes between 96 and 220 nm and narrow size distribution, and the in vitro biological activity was tested. In order to understand the structure-activity relationship three other methacrylic monomers were synthesized and characterized: MVE did not have the succinate group, SPHY did not have the chromanol ring, and MPHY did not have both the succinate group and the chromanol ring. The corresponding families of copolymers (poly(VP-co-MVE), poly(VP-co-SPHY), and poly(VP-co-MPHY)) were synthesized and characterized, and their biological activity was compared to poly(VP-co-MTOS). Both poly(VP-co-MTOS) and poly(VP-co-MVE) presented triple action: reduced cell viability of cancer cells with little or no harm to normal cells (anticancer), reduced viability of proliferating endothelial cells with little or no harm to quiescent endothelial cells (antiangiogenic), and efficiently encapsulated hydrophobic molecules (nanocarrier). The anticancer and antiangiogenic activity of the synthesized copolymers is demonstrated as the active compound (vitamin E or α-tocopheryl succinate) do not need to be cleaved to trigger the biological action targeting ubiquinone binding sites of complex II. Poly(VP-co-SPHY) and poly(VP-co-MPHY) also formed surfactant-free NP that were also endocyted by the assayed cells; however, these NP did not selectively reduce cell viability of cancer cells. Therefore, the chromanol ring of the vitamin E analogues has an important role in the biological activity of the copolymers. Moreover, when succinate moiety is substituted and vitamin E is directly linked to the macromolecular chain through an ester bond, the biological activity is maintained.

HER2 and uPAR cooperativity contribute to metastatic phenotype of HER2-positive breast cancer

Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-positive breast carcinoma is highly aggressive and mostly metastatic in nature though curable/manageable in part by molecular targeted therapy. Recent evidence suggests a subtype of cells within HER2-positive breast tumors that concomitantly expresses the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) with inherent stem cell/mesenchymal-like properties promoting tumor cell motility and a metastatic phenotype. This HER-positive/uPAR-positive subtype may be partially responsible for the failure of HER2-targeted treatment strategies. Herein we discuss and substantiate the cumulative preclinical and clinical evidence on HER2-uPAR cooperativity in terms of gene co-amplification and/or mRNA/protein co-overexpression. We then propose a regulatory signaling model that we hypothesize to maintain upregulation and cooperativity between HER2 and uPAR in aggressive breast cancer. An improved understanding of the HER2/uPAR interaction in breast cancer will provide critical biomolecular information that may help better predict disease course and response to therapy.

Protein kinase Cα mediates erlotinib resistance in lung cancer cells

Overexpression and mutational activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are given as a primary therapy for advanced patients with EGFR-activating mutations; however, the majority of these tumors relapse and patients eventually develop resistance to TKIs. To address a potential role of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in the resistance to TKIs, we used the isogenic NSCLC H1650 cell line and its erlotinib-resistant derivative H1650-M3, a cell line that displays a mesenchymal-like morphology driven by transforming growth factor-β signaling. We found that H1650-M3 cells display remarkable PKCα upregulation and PKCδ downregulation. Notably, silencing PKCα from H1650-M3 cells using RNA interference caused a significant reduction in the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers vimentin, Zeb2, Snail, and Twist. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition or PKCα RNA interference depletion and PKCδ restoring sensitized H1650-M3 cells to erlotinib. Whereas ectopic overexpression of PKCα in parental H1650 cells was not sufficient to alter the expression of EMT genes or to confer resistance to erlotinib, it caused downregulation of PKCδ expression, suggesting a unidirectional crosstalk. Finally, mechanistic studies revealed that PKCα upregulation in H1650-M3 cells is driven by transforming growth factor-β. Our results identified important roles for specific PKC isozymes in erlotinib resistance and EMT in lung cancer cells, and highlight PKCα as a potential target for lung cancer treatment.

Protein kinase C and cancer: what we know and what we do not

Since their discovery in the late 1970s, protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes represent one of the most extensively studied signaling kinases. PKCs signal through multiple pathways and control the expression of genes relevant for cell cycle progression, tumorigenesis and metastatic dissemination. Despite the vast amount of information concerning the mechanisms that control PKC activation and function in cellular models, the relevance of individual PKC isozymes in the progression of human cancer is still a matter of controversy. Although the expression of PKC isozymes is altered in multiple cancer types, the causal relationship between such changes and the initiation and progression of the disease remains poorly defined. Animal models developed in the last years helped to better understand the involvement of individual PKCs in various cancer types and in the context of specific oncogenic alterations. Unraveling the enormous complexity in the mechanisms by which PKC isozymes have an impact on tumorigenesis and metastasis is key for reassessing their potential as pharmacological targets for cancer treatment.

Hyperglycemia as a risk factor for cancer progression

As the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is substantially increasing worldwide, associated diseases such as renal failure, cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver, and cancers have also increased. A number of cancers such as pancreatic, liver, breast, and female reproductive cancers have shown an increased prevalence and a higher mortality rate in diabetic patients compared to healthy subjects. Thus, this suggests an association between diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes and cancer incidence and progression. Recent studies have suggested that hyperinsulinemia, chronic inflammation and hyperglycemia, all frequently seen in diabetics, may lead to increased tumor growth; the underlying molecular mechanisms of this association are not fully understood. In particular, chronic hyperglycemic episodes could serve as a direct or indirect mediator of the increase in tumor cell growth. Here, we will discuss our current understanding how hyperglycemia and cancer risk may be linked, and what the implications are for the treatment of diabetic cancer patients.

Expression of miR-34c induces G2/M cell cycle arrest in breast cancer cells

Background

MicroRNA-34 is a family of three miRNAs that have been reported to function as tumor suppressor miRNAs and show decreased expression in various cancers. Here, we examine functions of miR-34c in basal-like breast cancer cells.

Methods

Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used for evaluation of expression in primary breast cancers. Cellular processes affected by miR-34c were investigated by thymidine incorporation, Annexin V-assays and cell cycle analysis using breast cancer cell lines. Effects on potential targets were analyzed with qPCR and Western blot.

Results

TCGA data revealed that miR-34c was expressed at lower levels in basal-like breast cancer tumors and low expression was associated with poor prognosis. Ectopic expression of miR-34c in basal-like breast cancer cell lines resulted in suppressed proliferation and increased cell death. Additionally, miR-34c influenced the cell cycle mainly by inducing an arrest in the G2/M phase. We found that expression levels of the known cell cycle-regulating miR-34 targets CCND1, CDK4 and CDK6, were downregulated upon miR-34c expression in breast cancer cell lines. In addition, the levels of CDC23, an important mediator in mitotic progression, were suppressed following miR-34c expression, and siRNAs targeting CDC23 mimicked the effect of miR-34c on G2/M arrest. However, protein levels of PRKCA, a predicted miR-34c target and a known regulator of breast cancer cell proliferation were not influenced by miR-34c.

Conclusions

Together, our results support the role of miR-34c as a tumor suppressor miRNA also in breast cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2407-14-538) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Protein kinase C Beta in the tumor microenvironment promotes mammary tumorigenesis

Protein kinase C beta (PKCβ) expression in breast cancer is associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype, yet the mechanism for how PKCβ is pro-tumorigenic in this disease is still unclear. Interestingly, while it is known that PKCβ mediates angiogenesis, immunity, fibroblast function and adipogenesis, all components of the mammary tumor microenvironment (TME), no study to date has investigated whether stromal PKCβ is functionally relevant in breast cancer. Herein, we evaluate mouse mammary tumor virus–polyoma middle T-antigen (MMTV–PyMT) induced mammary tumorigenesis in the presence and absence of PKCβ. We utilize two model systems: one where PKCβ is deleted in both the epithelial and stromal compartments to test the global requirement for PKCβ on tumor formation, and second, where PKCβ is deleted only in the stromal compartment to test its role in the TME. MMTV–PyMT mice globally lacking PKCβ live longer and develop smaller tumors with decreased proliferation and decreased macrophage infiltration. Similarly, when PKCβ is null exclusively in the stroma, PyMT-driven B6 cells form smaller tumors with diminished collagen deposition. These experiments reveal for the first time a tumor promoting role for stromal PKCβ in MMTV–PyMT tumorigenesis. In corroboration with these results, PKCβ mRNA (Prkcb) is increased in fibroblasts isolated from MMTV–PyMT tumors. These data were confirmed in a breast cancer patient cohort. Combined these data suggest the continued investigation of PKCβ in the mammary TME is necessary to elucidate how to effectively target this signaling pathway in breast cancer.

Overexpressed PKCδ downregulates the expression of PKCα in B16F10 melanoma: induction of apoptosis by PKCδ via ceramide generation

In the present study, we observed a marked variation in the expression of PKCα and PKCδ isotypes in B16F10 melanoma tumor cells compared to the normal melanocytes. Interestingly, the tumor instructed expression or genetically manipulated overexpression of PKCα isotype resulted in enhanced G1 to S transition. This in turn promoted cellular proliferation by activating PLD1 expression and subsequent AKT phosphorylation, which eventually resulted in suppressed ceramide generation and apoptosis. On the other hand, B16F10 melanoma tumors preferentially blocked the expression of PKCδ isotype, which otherwise could exhibit antagonistic effects on PKCα-PLD1-AKT signaling and rendered B16F10 cells more sensitive to apoptosis via generating ceramide and subsequently triggering caspase pathway. Hence our data suggested a reciprocal PKC signaling operational in B16F10 melanoma cells, which regulates ceramide generation and provide important clues to target melanoma cancer by manipulating the PKCδ-ceramide axis.

Building bridges toward invasion: tumor promoter treatment induces a novel protein kinase C-dependent phenotype in MCF10A mammary cell acini

The potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) alters many cellular processes through activation of its receptor protein kinase C (PKC), including gene expression, cell cycle, and the regulation of cell morphology, raising an important question for developing targeted methods to prevent cancer: which effects of TPA are crucial for carcinogenesis? To address this question, we studied TPA action in the 3-dimensional (3D) MCF10A human breast epithelial cell system, which models important features of in vivo epithelial tissue including growth constraints, structural organization of cells, and establishment of a basement membrane. MCF10A cells, which are immortalized but nontumorigenic, form hollow, spheroid structures in 3D culture referred to as acini. The development of normal acini requires the tight spatiotemporal regulation of cellular proliferation, polarization, apoptosis, and growth arrest. Treatment of MCF10A acini with TPA caused the appearance of multi-acinar structures. Surprisingly, this phenotype did not involve an increase in cell number or major changes in cell death, and polarization. Instead, live cell and confocal microscopy revealed that TPA stimulates MCF10A acini to aggregate. TPA induces the PKC-dependent production of actin-based protrusions, which leads to the formation of cellular bridges between acini, the clustering of acini, and allows cells to move into adjacent acini. During this process, the integrity of the laminin V basement membrane is disrupted, while E-cadherin-based cell-cell contacts remain intact. Altogether, our results show that under the biochemical and structural constraints of epithelial tissue, as modeled by the 3D MCF10A system, TPA induces a novel PKC-dependent phenotype that resembles local invasion. Of the many effects caused by TPA, these studies highlight the aggressive production of actin-based cellular protrusions as a potentially important event along the pathway to carcinogenesis.

Protein kinase Cα and ε small-molecule targeted therapeutics: a new roadmap to two Holy Grails in drug discovery?

Protein kinase (PK)Calpha and epsilon are rational targets for cancer therapy. However, targeted experimental therapeutics that inhibit PKCalpha or epsilon are unavailable. The authors established recently that covalent modification of an active-site cysteine in human PKCepsilon, Cys452, by small molecules, for example 2-mercaptoethanolamine, is necessary and sufficient to render PKCepsilon kinase-dead. Cys452 is conserved in only eleven human protein kinase genes, including PKCalpha. Therefore, the design of small molecules that bind PKC active sites with an electrophile substituent positioned proximal to the Cys452 side chain may lead to targeted therapeutics that selectively inhibit PKCepsilon, PKCalpha or other PKC isozymes.

Protein kinase C-α downregulates estrogen receptor-α by suppressing c-Jun phosphorylation in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) activity is elevated in malignant compared with that in normal human breast tissue. In the present study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism and the co-relationship between PKC-α and estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) in ER-α-positive and tamoxifen-resistant (TAMR) breast cancer cells. Our results showed that the level of ER-α expression was significantly decreased in TAMR when compared with that in tamoxifen-sensitive (TAMS) breast cancer cells. However, PKC-α phosphorylation was increased in TAMR breast cancer cells when compared to that in TAMS breast cancer cells. Additionally, ER-α expression was significantly decreased due to the overexpression of constitutively active PKC-α (CA-PKC-α). Next, we investigated the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a reversible activator of PKC, on ER-α expression in ER-α-positive breast cancer cells. TPA decreased the levels of ER-α expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In contrast, the TPA-induced downregulation of ER-α was prevented by Go6983, a specific PKC inhibitor. Notably, we found that CA-PKC-α suppressed c-JUN phosphorylation, which is a major activating protein-1 factor, and TPA-induced downregulation of ER-α was prevented by SR11302, a specific activator protein-1 inhibitor. Taken together, we demonstrated that PKC-α activity suppressed the level of ER-α expression by inhibiting c-JUN phosphorylation in ER-α-positive breast cancer cells. Therefore, we suggest that PKC-α may be a potential therapeutic target for treating ER-positive and TAMR breast cancer.

Suppression of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells invasion/migration by α-tomatine through activating PKCα/ERK/NF-κB-dependent MMP-2/MMP-9 expressions

α-Tomatine, isolated from Lycopersicon esculentum Linn., is a naturally occurring glycoalkaloids in immature green tomatoes. Some reports demonstrated that α-tomatine had various anti-carcinogenic properties. First, the result demonstrated α-tomatine could inhibit TPA-induced the abilities of the adhesion, morphology/actin cytoskeleton arrangement, invasion, and migration by cell-matrix adhesion assay, immunofluorescence stain assay, Boyden chamber invasion assay, and wound-healing assay. Data also showed α-tomatine could inhibit the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase C-α (PKCα) involved in the downregulation of the enzyme activities and messenger RNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP-2/MMP-9) induced by TPA. Next, α-tomatine also strongly inhibited TPA-induced the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and phospho-inhibitor of kappa Bα (phospho-IκBα). In addition, TPA-induced translocation of PKC-α from cytosol to membranes, and suppression of TPA elicited the expression of PKC-α by adding the PKC-α inhibitors, GF-109203X and Gö-6983. The treatment of specific inhibitor for ERK (U0126) to MCF-7 cells could inhibit TPA-induced MMP-2/MMP-9 and phospho-ERK along with an inhibition on cell invasion and migration. Application of α-tomatine to prevent the invasion/migration of MCF-7 cells through blocking PKCα/ERK/NF-κB activation is first demonstrated herein.

Sustained activation of protein kinase C induces delayed phosphorylation and regulates the fate of epidermal growth factor receptor

It is well established that acute activation of members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family induced by activation of cellular receptors can transduce extracellular stimuli to intracellular signaling. However, the functions of sustained activation of PKC are not well studied. We have previously shown that sustained activation of classical PKC isoforms over 15-60 min induced the formation of the pericentrion, a subset of recycling endosomes that are sequestered perinuclearly in a PKC- and phospholipase D (PLD)-dependent manner. In this study, we investigated the role of this process in the phosphorylation of EGFR on threonine 654 (Thr-654) and in the regulation of intracellular trafficking and fate of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Sustained stimulation of the angiotensin II receptor induced translocation of the EGFR to the pericentrion, which in turn prevents full access of EGF to the EGFR. These effects required PKC and PLD activities, and direct stimulation of PKC with phorbol esters was sufficient to reproduce these effects. Furthermore, activation of PKC induced delayed phosphorylation of EGFR on Thr-654 that coincided with the formation of the pericentrion and which was dependent on PLD and endocytosis of EGFR. Thus, Thr-654 phosphorylation required the formation of the pericentrion. On the other hand, using a T654A mutant of EGFR, we find that the phosphorylation on Thr-654 was not required for translocation of EGFR to the pericentrion but was required for protection of EGFR from degradation in response to EGF. Taken together, these results demonstrate a novel role for the pericentrion in the regulation of EGFR phosphorylation, which in turn is important for the fates of EGFR.

17Beta-estradiol promotes aggressive laryngeal cancer through membrane-associated estrogen receptor-alpha 36

17β-estradiol (E2) plays a key role in tumorigenesis by enhancing cell survivability and metastasis through its cytoplasmic receptors. Recently, a variant of estrogen receptor alpha, ERα36 has been implicated as a substantial mediator of E2's proliferative and antiapoptotic effects through rapid membrane-associated signaling, and cancers previously regarded as hormone-independent due to the absence of traditional receptors, may in fact be susceptible to E2. Despite rising from a secondary sex organ and having a clear gender disposition, laryngeal cancer is not uniformly accepted as hormone dependent, even in the face of compelling evidence of E2 responsiveness. The aim of this study was to further elucidate the role of E2 in the tumorigenesis of laryngeal cancer, both in vitro and in vivo. ERα36 presence was evaluated in membranes of the laryngeal carcinoma cell line, Hep2, as well as in laryngeal tumor samples. In vitro ERα36 was found to mediate rapid activation of protein kinase C and phospholipase D by E2, leading to increased proliferation and protection against chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, in response to E2 activation of ERα36, an upregulation of angiogenic and metastatic factors was observed. Clinical analysis of laryngeal tumors revealed a similar association between the amount of ERα36 and VEGF and indicated a role in lymph node metastasis. These findings present compelling evidence of ERα36-dependent E2 signaling in laryngeal cancer. Thus, targeting ERα36 may reduce the deleterious effects of E2 in laryngeal cancer, ultimately suggesting the importance of antiestrogen therapy or the production of novel drugs that specifically target ERα36.

miR-203 inhibits cell proliferation and migration of lung cancer cells by targeting PKCα

PKCα (protein kinase C alpha, PRKCA) is an important protein involved in several steps of signaling pathways in lung cancer, and microRNAs (miRNAs) have also been shown to participate in lung carcinogenesis. However, it is not clear how PKCα and miRNAs are correlated in the disease. In this report, we aimed to identify novel miRNAs that target PKCα and to study their biological function. Using bioinformatics analysis, we predicted one novel candidate, miR-203, and found differential expression patterns of miR-203 and PKCα in human lung cancer tissues. Moreover, we experimentally validated miR-203 as a direct regulator of PKCα. Finally, we demonstrated that the targeting of PKCα by miR-203 played a critical role in regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration in lung cancer cells. In summary, this study identifies a novel miRNA that targets PKCα and illustrates that the downregulation of PKCα by miR-203 modulates biological processes in lung cancer cells.

Preferential star strand biogenesis of pre-miR-24-2 targets PKC-alpha and suppresses cell survival in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

microRNAs (miRNA) are regulators of cellular pathways and alterations of normal miRNA expression levels have been shown to increase tumorigenesis. miR-24 has been demonstrated as having both tumor suppressive and oncogenic properties depending on cell context. Here, we demonstrate a possible role for pre-miR-24-2 as a tumor suppressor in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line through the preferential processing of mature miR-24-2* over miR-24. Specifically, we show that the ectopic expression of miR-24-2* in MCF-7 breast cancer cells results in a suppression of cellular survival both in vivo and in vitro. Notably, the overexpression of miR-24-2* results in a dampening of cell survival through the targeted suppression of PKCα. In addition, a similar biological change is observed in vivo where MCF-7 cells overexpressing pre-miR-24-2 have decreased tumorigenicity and tumor incidence. Taken together our data demonstrate that when overexpressed biogenesis of the pre-miR-24-2 favors miR-24-2* in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and suggests a tumor suppressive role for miR-24-2* observed through the inhibition of PKCα-mediated cellular survival.

Quantification of PKC family genes in sporadic breast cancer by qRT-PCR: evidence that PKCι/λ overexpression is an independent prognostic factor

Drugs targeting protein kinase C (PKC) show promising therapeutic activity. However, little is known about the expression patterns of the 11 PKC genes in human tumors, and the clinical significance of most PKC genes is unknown. We used qRT-PCR assays to quantify mRNA levels of the 11 PKC genes in 458 breast tumors from patients with known clinical/pathological status and long-term outcome. The proportion of tumors in which the expression of the different genes was altered varied widely, from 9.6% for PKN2 to 40.2% for PKCι/λ. In breast tumors, overexpression was the main alteration observed for PKCι/λ (33.4%), PKCδ (29.5%) and PKCζ (9.6%), whereas underexpression was the main alteration observed for PKCα (27.3%), PKCε (11.6%), PKCη (8.7%) and PKN2 (8.1%). Both overexpression and underexpression were observed for PKCβ (underexpression 15.5%, overexpression 13.8%), PKCθ (underexpression 14.8%, overexpression 10.0%) and PKN1 (underexpression 6.6%, overexpression 7.4%). Several links were found between different PKC genes; and also between the expression patterns of PKC genes and several classical pathological and clinical parameters. PKCι/λ alone was found to have prognostic significance (p = 0.043), whereas PKCα showed a trend towards an influence on relapse-free survival (p = 0.052). PKCι/λ retained its prognostic significance in Cox multivariate regression analysis (p = 0.031). These results reveal very complex expression patterns of PKC genes in breast tumors, and suggest that their expression should be considered together when evaluating anti-tumoral drugs. PKCι/λ seems to be the most promising therapeutic target in breast cancer.

Membrane estrogen signaling enhances tumorigenesis and metastatic potential of breast cancer cells via estrogen receptor-α36 (ERα36)

Protein kinase C (PKC) signaling can be activated rapidly by 17β-estradiol (E(2)) via nontraditional signaling in ERα-positive MCF7 and ERα-negative HCC38 breast cancer cells and is associated with tumorigenicity. Additionally, E(2) has been shown to elicit anti-apoptotic effects in cancer cells counteracting pro-apoptotic effects of chemotherapeutics. Supporting evidence suggests the existence of a membrane-associated ER that differs from the traditional receptors, ERα and ERβ. Our aim was to identify the ER responsible for rapid PKC activation and to evaluate downstream effects, such as proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence were used to determine the presence of ER splice variants in multiple cell lines. E(2) effects on PKC activity were measured with and without ER-blocking antibodies. Cell proliferation was determined by [(3)H]thymidine incorporation, and cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, (MTT) whereas apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation and TUNEL. Quantitative RT-PCR and sandwich ELISA were used to determine the effects on metastatic factors. The role of membrane-dependent signaling in cancer cell invasiveness was examined using an in vitro assay. The results indicate the presence of an ERα splice variant, ERα36, in ERα-positive MCF7 and ERα-negative HCC38 breast cancer cells, which localized to plasma membranes and rapidly activated PKC in response to E(2), leading to deleterious effects such as enhancement of proliferation, protection against apoptosis, and enhancement of metastatic factors. These findings propose ERα36 as a novel target for the development of therapies that can prevent progression of breast cancer in the primary tumor as well as during metastasis.

Protein kinase Cε regulates proliferation and cell sensitivity to TGF-1β of CD4+ T lymphocytes: implications for Hashimoto thyroiditis

We have studied the functional role of protein kinase Cε (PKCε) in the control of human CD4(+) T cell proliferation and in their response to TGF-1β. We demonstrate that PKCε sustains CD4(+) T cell proliferation triggered in vitro by CD3 stimulation. Transient knockdown of PKCε expression decreases IL-2R chain transcription, and consequently cell surface expression levels of CD25. PKCε silencing in CD4 T cells potentiates the inhibitory effects of TGF-1β, whereas in contrast, the forced expression of PKCε virtually abrogates the inhibitory effects of TGF-1β. Being that PKCε is therefore implicated in the response of CD4 T cells to both CD3-mediated proliferative stimuli and TGF-1β antiproliferative signals, we studied it in Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT), a pathology characterized by abnormal lymphocyte proliferation and activation. When we analyzed CD4 T cells from HT patients, we found a significant increase of PKCε expression, accounting for their enhanced survival, proliferation, and decreased sensitivity to TGF-1β. The increased expression of PKCε in CD4(+) T cells of HT patients, which is described for the first time, to our knowledge, in this article, viewed in the perspective of the physiological role of PKCε in normal Th lymphocytes, adds knowledge to the molecular pathophysiology of HT and creates potentially new pharmacological targets for the therapy of this disease.

Protein kinase Cα suppresses the expression of STC1 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

Several protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms have been shown to influence different cellular processes that may contribute to the malignancy of breast cancer cells. To obtain insight into mechanisms mediating the PKC effects, global gene expression was analyzed in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in which PKCα, PKCδ or PKCε had been down-regulated with siRNA. Gene set enrichment analyses revealed that hypoxia-induced genes were enriched among genes that increased in PKCα-down-regulated cells. The STC1 mRNA, encoding stanniocalcin 1, was particularly up-regulated following depletion of PKCα and was also induced by hypoxia. Both hypoxia and PKCα down-regulation also led to increased STC1 protein levels. The results demonstrate that PKCα suppresses the expression of STC1 in breast cancer cells.

Sustained inhibition of PKCα reduces intravasation and lung seeding during mammary tumor metastasis in an in vivo mouse model

Metastasis is the major reason for breast cancer-related deaths. Although there is a host of indirect evidence for a role of PKCα in primary breast cancer growth, its role in the molecular pathways leading to metastasis have not been comprehensively studied. By treating mice with αV5-3, a novel peptide inhibitor selective for PKCα, we were able to determine how PKCα regulates metastasis of mammary cancer cells using a syngeneic and orthotopic model. The primary tumor growth was not affected by αV5-3 treatment. However, the mortality rate was reduced and metastasis in the lung decreased by more than 90% in the αV5-3-treated mice relative to the control-treated mice. αV5-3 treatment reduced intravasation by reducing MMP-9 activities. αV5-3 treatment also reduced lung seeding of tumor cells and decreased cell migration, effects that were accompanied by a reduction in NFκB-activity and cell surface levels of the CXCL12 receptor, CXCR4. αV5-3 treatment caused no apparent toxicity in non-tumor bearing naïve mice. Rather, inhibiting PKCα protected against liver damage and increased the number of immune cells in tumor-bearing mice. Importantly, αV5-3 showed superior efficacy relative to anti-CXCR4 antibody in reducing metastasis, in vivo. Together, these data show that pharmacological inhibition of PKCα effectively reduces mammary cancer metastasis by targeting intravasation and lung seeding steps in the metastatic process and suggest that PKCα-specific inhibitors, such as αV5-3, can be used to study the mechanistic roles of PKCα specifically and may provide a safe and effective treatment for the prevention of lung metastasis of breast cancer patients.

PKCalpha expression is a marker for breast cancer aggressiveness

Background

Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are potential targets for breast cancer therapy. This study was designed to evaluate which PKC isoforms might be optimal targets for different breast cancer subtypes.

Results

In two cohorts of primary breast cancers, PKCα levels correlated to estrogen and progesterone receptor negativity, tumor grade, and proliferative activity, whereas PKCδ and PKCε did not correlate to clinicopathological parameters. Patients with PKCα-positive tumors showed poorer survival than patients with PKCα-negative tumors independently of other factors. Cell line studies demonstrated that PKCα levels are high in MDA-MB-231 and absent in T47D cells which proliferated slower than other cell lines. Furthermore, PKCα silencing reduced proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells. PKCα inhibition or downregulation also reduced cell migration in vitro.

Conclusions

PKCα is a marker for poor prognosis of breast cancer and correlates to and is important for cell functions associated with breast cancer progression.