Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase is stabilized in mitosis by phosphorylation and is partially degraded upon mitotic exit

MELK (maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase) is a cell cycle dependent protein kinase involved in diverse cell processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and mRNA processing. Noticeably, MELK expression is increased in cancerous tissues, upon cell transformation and in mitotically-blocked cells. The question of how MELK protein level is controlled is therefore important. Here, we show that MELK protein is restricted to proliferating cells derived from either cancer or normal tissues and that MELK protein level is severely decreased concomitantly with other cell cycle proteins in cells which exit the cell cycle. Moreover, we demonstrate in human HeLa cells and Xenopus embryos that approximately half of MELK protein is degraded upon mitotic exit whereas another half remains stable during interphase. We show that the stability of MELK protein in M-phase is dependent on its phosphorylation state.     

Arrestin-3 interaction with maternal embryonic leucine-zipper kinase

Maternal embryonic leucine-zipper kinase (MELK) overexpression impacts survival and proliferation of multiple cancer types, most notably glioblastomas and breast cancer. This makes MELK an attractive molecular target for cancer therapy. Yet the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of MELK in tumorigenic processes are unknown. MELK participates in numerous protein-protein interactions that affect cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, and embryonic development. Here we used both in vitro and in-cell assays to identify a direct interaction between MELK and arrestin-3. A part of this interaction involves the MELK kinase domain, and we further show that the interaction between the MELK kinase domain and arrestin-3 decreases the number of cells in S-phase, as compared to cells expressing the MELK kinase domain alone. Thus, we describe a new mechanism of regulation of MELK function, which may contribute to the control of cell fate.     

Up-regulation of MELK by E2F1 promotes the proliferation in cervical cancer cells

Cervical cancer is a common gynecologic cancer and a frequent cause of death. In this study, we investigated the role of MELK (maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase) in cervical cancer. We found that HPV 18 E6/E7 promoted MELK expression by activating E2F1. MELK knockdown blocked cancer cells growth. Furthermore, we used MELK-8A to inhibit the kinase activity of MELK and caused the G2/M phase arrest of cancer cells. Under the treatment of inhibitors, Hela cells formed multipolar spindles and eventually underwent apoptosis. We also found that MELK is involved in protein translation and folding during cell division through the MELK interactome and the temporal proteomic analysis under inhibition with MELK-8A. Altogether, these results suggest that MELK may play a vital role in cancer cell proliferation and indicate a potential therapeutic target for cervical cancer.     

Notch1 Is a 5-Fluorouracil Resistant and Poor Survival Marker in Human Esophagus Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Notch signaling involves the processes that govern cell proliferation, cell fate decision, cell differentiation and stem cell maintenance. Due to its fundamental role in stem cells, it has been speculated during the recent years that Notch family may have critical functions in cancer stem cells or cancer cells with a stem cell phenotype, therefore playing an important role in the process of oncogenesis. In this study, expression of Notch family in KYSE70, KYSE140 and KYSE450 squamous esophageal cancer cell lines and virus transformed squamous esophageal epithelial cell line Het-1A was examined by quantitative RT-PCR. Compared to the Het-1A cells, higher levels of Nocth1 and Notch3 expression in the cancer cell lines were identified. Due to the finding that NOTCH3 mainly mediates squamous cell differentiation, NOTCH1 expression was further studied in these cell lines. By Western blot analyses, the KYSE70 cell line which derived from a poorly differentiated tumor highly expressed Notch1, and the Notch1 expression in this cell line was hypoxia inducible, while the KYSE450 cell line which derived from a well differentiated tumor was always negative for Notch1, even in hypoxia. Additional studies demonstrated that the KYSE70 cell line was more 5-FU resistant than the KYSE450 cell line and such 5-FU resistance is correlated to Notch1 expression verified by Notch1 knockdown experiments. In clinical samples, Notch1 protein expression was detected in the basal cells of human esophagus epithelia, and its expression in squamous cell carcinomas was significantly associated with higher pathological grade and shorter overall survival. We conclude that Notch1 expression is associated with cell aggressiveness and 5-FU drug resistance in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell lines in vitro and is significantly associated with a poor survival in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.     

中药组方黄芩汤抑制胃癌细胞增殖的实验研究

目的探讨黄芩汤对胃癌细胞生长增殖及干细胞标志物表达的影响。 方法采用体外优化培养的胃癌细胞株SGC-7901模型,分别加入生理盐水、5-FU、黄岑汤和5-FU+黄芪汤干预,MTT法检测胃癌细胞增殖情况,Real-time PCR检测胃癌干细胞相关表面标志物CD44、EpCAM、CD90的表达情况;并进一步利用胃癌细胞裸鼠荷瘤模型,观察黄岑汤协同5-FU对体内肿瘤生长的抑制效果。细胞增殖曲线多组间数据比较采用重复测量数据方差分析,单时间点多组数据采用单因素方差分析,组间比较采用Tukey法。 结果优化培养的胃癌细胞SGC- 7901呈球形生长,细胞活性染色显示良好的活性状态;MTT结果显示,黄岑汤组（0.44±0.04）能够抑制胃癌细胞的增殖,从第4天起与对照组（0.59±0.02）相比,差异具有统计学意义（F = 39.550,P < 0.01）;黄岑汤联合5-FU组（0.36±0.04）加强5-FU对肿瘤细胞的抑制作用,从第3天起与对照组（0.50±0.01）相比,差异具有统计学意义（F = 10.670,P < 0.01）,与5-FU组（0.42±0.03）对比,差异具有统计学意义（F = 10.670,P < 0.05）;Real-time PCR结果显示黄岑汤联合5-FU可抑制胃癌细胞中肿瘤干细胞相关表面标志物CD44、EpCAM、CD90表达（P < 0.01）;移植瘤生长抑制实验发现黄芪汤组对荷瘤鼠移植瘤的生长具有抑制作用,与对照组相比移植瘤体积减小,差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.01）,黄岑汤联合5-FU组与5-FU组相比对移植瘤抑制效果更明显,差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.01）。 结论黄芪汤能抑制胃癌细胞的生长和增殖,并能协同5-FU产生抗肿瘤作用。     

Targeting miR-21 enhances the sensitivity of human colon cancer HT-29 cells to chemoradiotherapy in vitro

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a classic chemotherapeutic drug that has been widely used for colorectal cancer treatment, but colorectal cancer cells are often resistant to primary or acquired 5-FU therapy. Several studies have shown that miR-21 is significantly elevated in colorectal cancer. This suggests that this miRNA might play a role in this resistance. In this study, we investigated this possibility and the possible mechanism underlying this role. We showed that forced expression of miR-21 significantly inhibited apoptosis, enhanced cell proliferation, invasion, and colony formation ability, promoted G1/S cell cycle transition and increased the resistance of tumor cells to 5-FU and X radiation in HT-29 colon cancer cells. Furthermore, knockdown of miR-21 reversed these effects on HT-29 cells and increased the sensitivity of HT-29/5-FU to 5-FU chemotherapy. Finally, we showed that miR-21 targeted the human mutS homolog2 (hMSH2), and indirectly regulated the expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD). These results demonstrate that miR-21 may play an important role in the 5-FU resistance of colon cancer cells.     

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) regulates multipotent neural progenitor proliferation

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) was previously identified in a screen for genes enriched in neural progenitors. Here, we demonstrate expression of MELK by progenitors in developing and adult brain and that MELK serves as a marker for self-renewing multipotent neural progenitors (MNPs) in cultures derived from the developing forebrain and in transgenic mice. Overexpression of MELK enhances (whereas knockdown diminishes) the ability to generate neurospheres from MNPs, indicating a function in self-renewal. MELK down-regulation disrupts the production of neurogenic MNP from glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive progenitors in vitro. MELK expression in MNP is cell cycle regulated and inhibition of MELK expression down-regulates the expression of B-myb, which is shown to also mediate MNP proliferation. These findings indicate that MELK is necessary for proliferation of embryonic and postnatal MNP and suggest that it regulates the transition from GFAP-expressing progenitors to rapid amplifying progenitors in the postnatal brain.     

塞来西布及5- 氟尿嘧啶对人胆管癌QBC939 细胞生长抑制 及诱导凋亡的影响

目的:研究塞来西布(Celecoxib)和5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)对人胆管癌QBC939细胞生长抑制和凋亡的影响。方法:体外培养人胆管癌QBC939细胞,噻唑兰比色实验(MTT)观察Celecoxib和5-FU对胆管癌QBC939细胞生长抑制作用;流式细胞术检测细胞生长周期和凋亡率改变。结果:不同浓度的Celecoxib和5-FU可抑制胆管癌QBC939细胞的生长,细胞生长抑制率呈时间-浓度依赖性(P<0.01);实验组QBC939细胞凋亡率随药物浓度的升高逐渐增高(P<0.01),S期细胞逐渐减少(P<0.05),G1期细胞逐渐增加(P<0.05),G2期细胞无明显变化。结论:Celecoxib和5-FU可抑制人胆管癌QBC939细胞的增殖,诱导其凋亡;联合用药效果优于Celecoxib和5-FU单药效果。     

Fluoxetine counteracts the cognitive and cellular effects of 5-fluorouracil in the rat hippocampus by a mechanism of prevention rather than recovery

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a cytostatic drug associated with chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments that many cancer patients experience after treatment. Previous work in rodents has shown that 5-FU reduces hippocampal cell proliferation, a possible mechanism for the observed cognitive impairment, and that both effects can be reversed by co-administration of the antidepressant, fluoxetine. In the present study we investigate the optimum time for administration of fluoxetine to reverse or prevent the cognitive and cellular effects of 5-FU. Male Lister-hooded rats received 5 injections of 5-FU (25 mg/kg, i.p.) over 2 weeks. Some rats were co-administered with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/day, in drinking water) for 3 weeks before and during (preventative) or after (recovery) 5-FU treatment or both time periods (throughout). Spatial memory was tested using the novel location recognition (NLR) test and proliferation and survival of hippocampal cells was quantified using immunohistochemistry. 5-FU-treated rats showed cognitive impairment in the NLR task and a reduction in cell proliferation and survival in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus, compared to saline treated controls. These impairments were still seen for rats administered fluoxetine after 5-FU treatment, but were not present when fluoxetine was administered both before and during 5-FU treatment. The results demonstrate that fluoxetine is able to prevent but not reverse the cognitive and cellular effects of 5-FU. This provides information on the mechanism by which fluoxetine acts to protect against 5-FU and indicates when it would be beneficial to administer the antidepressant to cancer patients.     

Chk1 is Essential for Tumor Cell Viability Following Activation of the Replication Checkpoint

Type I interferons (IFNs) are a family of cytokines that exhibit various biological activities. Besides their roles in immune response, IFNs have been known to modulate cell proliferation and to induce apoptosis. Thus, IFNs are used as an anti-tumor agent against certain types of cancer, but it is unclear why many other cancers are not influenced by IFNs. Here, we found that IFN-a2b, a subfamily of IFN-a, enhanced proliferation of HeLa cells, a cell line derived from human cervical cancer. IFN-a2b was rather inhibitory on the growth of other types of cervical cancer cells including those positive for HPV. Among the proliferation- and the apoptosis-related genes, p21^cip1/waf1 (p21) was upregulated by IFN-a2b, whereas p53, p27 or BCL-2 associated X protein (BAX) was not affected. IFN-a2b did not alter promoter activities of p21 but did prolong the decay of p21 mRNA. In contrast, the level of p21 protein was lowered by IFN-a2b, and half-life analysis of p21 protein revealed that IFN-a2b enhances p21 protein instability in HeLa cells. Pretreatment of the cells with MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, abolished the IFN-a2b-mediated p21 degradation, suggesting that IFN-a2b accelerated the ubiquitin-proteasome dependent degradation of p21. Consistent with these results, IFN-a2b increased S-phase cell cycle distribution in HeLa cells. In addition, IFN-a2b liberated the cells from G1-phase arrest by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and from G2-phase arrest by paclitaxel. These results provide a novel role of Type I IFNs in cell cycle regulation and may define an importance of individualized IFN-based therapy against specific types of cancer.     

MELK-T1, a small-molecule inhibitor of protein kinase MELK,decreases DNA-damage tolerance in proliferating cancer cells

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), a serine/threonine protein kinase, has oncogenic properties and is overexpressed in many cancer cells. The oncogenic function of MELK is attributed to its capacity to disable critical cell-cycle checkpoints and reduce replication stress. Most functional studies have relied on the use of siRNA/shRNA-mediated gene silencing. In the present study, we have explored the biological function of MELK using MELK-T1, a novel and selective small-molecule inhibitor. Strikingly, MELK-T1 triggered a rapid and proteasome-dependent degradation of the MELK protein. Treatment of MCF-7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) breast adenocarcinoma cells with MELK-T1 induced the accumulation of stalled replication forks and double-strand breaks that culminated in a replicative senescence phenotype. This phenotype correlated with a rapid and long-lasting ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) activation and phosphorylation of checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2). Furthermore, MELK-T1 induced a strong phosphorylation of p53 (cellular tumour antigen p53), a prolonged up-regulation of p21 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1) and a down-regulation of FOXM1 (Forkhead Box M1) target genes. Our data indicate that MELK is a key stimulator of proliferation by its ability to increase the threshold for DNA-damage tolerance (DDT). Thus, targeting MELK by the inhibition of both its catalytic activity and its protein stability might sensitize tumours to DNA-damaging agents or radiation therapy by lowering the DNA-damage threshold.     

解毒消癞饮逆转氟尿嘧啶诱导的肝癌干细胞耐药的机制研究

目的探讨解毒消瘾饮乙酸乙酯提取物（EE—JXY）能否降低肝癌细胞株Huh7对小剂量氟尿嘧啶（5-FU）化疗耐药的影响,并从肿瘤干细胞的角度探讨可能的机制。方法EE-JXY联合小剂量5-FU体外干预人肝癌细胞株Huh7。MTT法检测细胞存活率;流式细胞仪分析Huh7肝癌细胞株中侧群（sidepopulation,SP）细胞的比例;PCR检测肝癌干细胞相关基因ATP结合盒转运蛋白G2（ABCG2）和八聚体结合转录因子4（Oct4）mRNA的表达。采用单因素方差分析对数据进行统计。结果d,N量5-FU对Huh7细胞的增殖有抑制作用[24h存活率（84．54±2．88）％,96h存活率（58．36±3．52）％],但SP细胞的比例也从24h的4．72％升高至96h的12．07％,同时诱导了ABCG2和Oct4mRNA表达的上调。EE．JXY能够增强小剂量5-FU对Huh7细胞增殖的抑制能力[24h存活率从（84．54±2．88）％下降到（31．23±2．42）％,96h存活率从（58．36±3．52）％下降到（25．37±0．99）％],SP含量从24h的4．72％下降至1．69％,96h的12．07％下降至9．97％,同时也抑制了ABCG2和Oct4 mRNA的表达。结论肝癌Huh7细胞对小剂量5．FU存在化疗抵抗。EE—JXY能通过降低肝癌干细胞相关基因ABCG2 mRNA和Oct4 mRNA水平及SP的比例,增强Huh7细胞对小剂量5-FU的化疗敏感性,这可能是解毒消瘤饮降低肿瘤复发和转移的机制之一。     

The Recovery Process of Mice Tracheal Epithelium Injured by 5-FU and Its Microarray Analysis

Although the research on the localization of trachea stem cells has made a rapid progress, the mechanism of proliferation and differentiation of trachea stem cells remains unclear. The objective of this study is to observe and analyze the recovery process of mice tracheal epithelium injured by 5-FU, and to investigate the mechanism involved in the regulation of tracheal stem cells proliferation and differentiation through morphological, immunofluorescence, and microarray analysis. After treatment with 5-FU, the mature cells were dead and desquamated. Only a few G₀ phase cells remained on the basement membrane. When supplied with normal culture media, the cells eventually became flat, cubic, and restored as pseudostratified epithelium. These G₀ phase cells were ABCG2 positive. It suggested that these cells could differentiate into cilia cells or Clara cells, and had the multi-differentiation ability of stem cells. We examinated the expression profile of genes involved in the stem cell differentiation in normal tracheal epithelial cells and the regenerated epithelial cells at 24 and 48 h after injured by 5-FU using gene microarray. After 24 h treatment, 8 genes were up-regulated and 31 genes were down-regulated. After 48 h treatment, 5 genes were up-regulated and 42 genes were down-regulated. The differential gene expressions in gene microarray analysis focused on cell cycle regulation, intercellular junction, fibroblast growth factors, bone morphogenetic protein, Notch and Wnt-signaling pathways, which suggested that the differential gene expressions might be closely associated with the proliferation and differentiation of tracheal stem cells.     

Statins,stem cells,and cancer

The statins (3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) were proven to be effective antilipid agents against cardiovascular disease. Recent reports demonstrate an anticancer effect induced by the statins through inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, or inhibition of angiogenesis. These effects are due to suppression of the mevalonate pathway leading to depletion of various downstream products that play an essential role in cell cycle progression, cell signaling, and membrane integrity. Recent evidence suggests a shared genomic fingerprint between embryonic stem cells, cancer cells, and cancer stem cells. Activation targets of NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, and c‐MYC are more frequently overexpressed in certain tumors. In the absence of bona fide cancer stem cell lines, human embryonic stem cells, which have similar properties to cancer and cancer stem cells, have been an excellent model throwing light on the anticancer affects of various putative anticancer agents. It was shown that key cellular functions in karyotypically abnormal colorectal and ovarian cancer cells and human embryonic stem cells are inhibited by the statins and this is mediated via a suppression of this stemness pathway. The strategy for treatment of cancers may thus be the targeting of a putative cancer stem cell within the tumor with specific agents such as the statins with or without chemotherapy. The statins may thus play a dual prophylactic role as a lipid‐lowering drug for the prevention of heart disease and as an anticancer agent to prevent certain cancers. This review examines the relationship between the statins, stem cells, and certain cancers. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 975–983, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Amelioration of Cancer Stem Cells in Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor-Expressing U87MG-Human Glioblastoma upon 5-Fluorouracil Therapy

Macrophage colony stimulating factor (MCSF) regulates growth, proliferation and differentiation of haematopoietic cell lineages. Many cancers are known to secrete high level of MCSF, which recruit macrophages into the tumour micro-environment, supporting tumour growth. Herein, we report the cloning of MCSF and subsequent generation of U87MG expressing MCSF stable cell line (U87-MCSF). Cytotoxicity of anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was evaluated on both U87MG and U87-MCSF cells. Interestingly, the proliferation of U87-MCSF cells was less (p<0.001) than that of U87MG cells alone, after treatment with 5-FU. Significant decrease in expression levels of cyclin E and A2 quantified by real time PCR analysis corroborated the reduced proliferation of 5-FU treated U87-MCSF cells. However, JC-1 staining did not reveal any apoptosis upon 5-FU treatment. Notch-1 upregulation induced a possible epithelial-mesenchymal transition in U87-MCSF cells, which accounted for an increase in the proportion of CD24^high/CD44^less cancer stem cells in U87-MCSF cells after 5-FU treatment. The elevated resistance of U87-MCSF cells towards 5-FU was due to the increase in the expressions (10.2 and 6 fold) of ABCB1 and mdm2, respectively. Furthermore, increase in expressions of ABCG1, mdm2 and CD24 was also observed in U87MG cells after prolonged incubation with 5-FU. Our studies provided mechanistic insights into drug resistance of U87MG cells and also described the pivotal role played by MCSF in augmenting the resistance of U87MG cells to 5-FU.     

OTSSP167 Abrogates Mitotic Checkpoint through Inhibiting Multiple Mitotic Kinases

OTSSP167 was recently characterized as a potent inhibitor for maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) and is currently tested in Phase I clinical trials for solid tumors that have not responded to other treatment. Here we report that OTSSP167 abrogates the mitotic checkpoint at concentrations used to inhibit MELK. The abrogation is not recapitulated by RNAi mediated silencing of MELK in cells. Although OTSSP167 indeed inhibits MELK, it exhibits off-target activity against Aurora B kinase in vitro and in cells. Furthermore, OTSSP167 inhibits BUB1 and Haspin kinases, reducing phosphorylation at histones H2A^T120 and H3^T3 and causing mislocalization of Aurora B and associated chromosomal passenger complex from the centromere/kinetochore. The results suggest that OTSSP167 may have additional mechanisms of action for cancer cell killing and caution the use of OTSSP167 as a MELK specific kinase inhibitor in biochemical and cellular assays.     

The crystal structure of MPK38 in complex with OTSSP167, an orally administrative MELK selective inhibitor

Murine protein serine/threonine kinase 38 (MPK38), also known as maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), has been associated with various human cancers and plays an important role in the formation of cancer stem cells. OTSSP167, a MELK selective inhibitor, exhibits a strong in vitro activity, conferring an IC₅₀ of 0.41 nM and in vivo effect on various human cancer xenograft models. Here, we report the crystal structure of MPK38 (T167E), an active mutant, in complex with OTSSP167 and describe its detailed protein-inhibitor interactions. Comparison with the previous determined structure of MELK bound to the nanomolar inhibitors shows that OTSSP167 effectively fits into the active site, thus offering an opportunity for structure-based development and optimization of MELK inhibitors.     

Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase (MELK) Reduces Replication Stress in Glioblastoma Cells

Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) belongs to the subfamily of AMP-activated Ser/Thr protein kinases. The expression of MELK is very high in glioblastoma-type brain tumors, but it is not clear how this contributes to tumor growth. Here we show that the siRNA-mediated loss of MELK in U87 MG glioblastoma cells causes a G₁/S phase cell cycle arrest accompanied by cell death or a senescence-like phenotype that can be rescued by the expression of siRNA-resistant MELK. This cell cycle arrest is mediated by an increased expression of p21^WAF1/CIP1, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, and is associated with the hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein and the down-regulation of E2F target genes. The increased expression of p21 can be explained by the consecutive activation of ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated), Chk2, and p53. Intriguingly, the activation of p53 in MELK-deficient cells is not due to an increased stability of p53 but stems from the loss of MDMX (mouse double minute-X), an inhibitor of p53 transactivation. The activation of the ATM-Chk2 pathway in MELK-deficient cells is associated with the accumulation of DNA double-strand breaks during replication, as demonstrated by the appearance of γH2AX foci. Replication stress in these cells is also illustrated by an increased number of stalled replication forks and a reduced fork progression speed. Our data indicate that glioblastoma cells have elevated MELK protein levels to better cope with replication stress during unperturbed S phase. Hence, MELK inhibitors hold great potential for the treatment of glioblastomas as such or in combination with DNA-damaging therapies.