Caloric restriction modulates Mcl-1 expression and sensitizes lymphomas to BH3 mimetic in mice

Blood. 2013 Oct 3;122(14):2402-11. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-01-478651. Epub 2013 Aug 21.

Abstract

Caloric restriction (CR) is proposed to decrease tumorigenesis through a variety of mechanisms including effects on glycolysis. However, the understanding of how CR affects the response to cancer therapy is still rudimentary. Here, using the Eµ-Myc transgenic mouse model of B-cell lymphoma, we report that by reducing protein translation, CR can reduce expression of the prosurvival Bcl-2 family member Mcl-1 and sensitize lymphomas to ABT-737-induced death in vivo. By using Eµ-Myc lymphoma cells lacking p53, we showed that CR mimetics such as 2-deoxyglucose led to a decrease in Mcl-1 expression and sensitized lymphoma cells to ABT-737-induced death independently of p53. In keeping with this, Eµ-Myc lymphoma cells lacking the BH3-only proapoptotic members Noxa, Puma, or Bim were also sensitized by CR mimetics to ABT-737-induced death. Remarkably, neither the loss of both Puma and Noxa, the loss of both Puma and Bim, nor the loss of all three BH3-only proteins prevented sensitization to ABT-737 induced by CR mimetics. Thus, CR can influence Mcl-1 expression and sensitize cells to BH3 mimetic-induced apoptosis, independently of the main BH3-only proteins and of p53. Exploiting this may improve the efficiency of, or prevent resistance to, cancer therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein / metabolism
  • Biphenyl Compounds / pharmacology
  • Caloric Restriction*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / physiology*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Nitrophenols / pharmacology
  • Piperazines / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis*
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology

Substances

  • ABT-737
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein
  • Bid protein, mouse
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Mcl1 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein
  • Nitrophenols
  • Piperazines
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Sulfonamides