The novel protective role of P27 in MLN4924-treated gastric cancer cells

Cell Death Dis. 2015 Aug 27;6(8):e1867. doi: 10.1038/cddis.2015.215.

Abstract

The tumor-suppressor gene cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (P27) is downregulated in gastric cancer cells mainly through proteolytic degradation mediated by the SKP-Cullin1-F-Box (SCF) complex. But the correlation between its downregulation and gastric cancer prognosis still remains indefinite. MLN4924, an anti-tumor agent, which suppresses the SCF complex by inhibiting Cullin1 neddylation, emerges as a promising tool to elucidate its functions in gastric cancer cells. In this study, MLN4924 induced significant growth inhibition of gastric cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, along with the simultaneous accumulation of P27 and cell cycle abnormalities such as G2/M arrest. Importantly, we found that P27 silencing in MLN4924-treated cells resulted in an enhancement of growth inhibition both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanism analysis revealed the antagonism effects of antioxidants to this excess apoptosis, suggesting reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction especially in the mitochondria was the principal cause of the augmentation. Moreover, the robust ROS attacked the mitochondria to initiate collapse of the mitochondrial membrane permeability and the exportation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), IAP-binding mitochondrial protein (SMAC/DIABLO) and cytochrome c. Finally, we also found that P27 knockdown affected the expression profile of several critical BH3 family members to amplify the mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. In summary, our findings unveiled a protective role of P27 by maintaining mitochondrial membrane permeability in MLN4924-treated gastric cancer cells, and therefore highlighted the potential combination of MLN4924 with P27 inhibition to improve its therapeutic efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor / genetics
  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor / metabolism
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cullin Proteins / genetics
  • Cullin Proteins / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / genetics*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 / metabolism
  • Cyclopentanes / pharmacology*
  • Cytochromes c / genetics
  • Cytochromes c / metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • F-Box Proteins / genetics
  • F-Box Proteins / metabolism
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / agonists
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / genetics
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • AIFM1 protein, human
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Apoptosis Inducing Factor
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Cullin 1
  • Cullin Proteins
  • Cyclopentanes
  • DIABLO protein, human
  • F-Box Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Pyrimidines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
  • Cytochromes c
  • pevonedistat