沉默PRR14基因抑制结肠癌HCT116细胞增殖

已有报道显示,富脯氨酸蛋白 14（proline-rich protein 14,PRR14）促进肿瘤的发生发展,但具体作用机制仍不清楚。本文以结肠癌细胞为模型,探索其对细胞增殖和细胞周期进程的影响。qPCR和Western 印迹检测发现,PRR14在4个结肠癌细胞系中呈现高水平表达。合成特异靶向PRR14基因的siRNA,转染结肠癌HCT116细胞。检测发现,PRR14基因表达下调约70%。CCK8结果显示,沉默PRR14后各时间点细胞增殖能力均显著降低,克隆形成实验细胞克隆数减少约40%;流式细胞仪结果显示,沉默PRR14后,G1期细胞比例升高约10%,S期细胞比例降低约14%;BrdU标记免疫荧光检测结果显示,BrdU阳性细胞比例减少约50%,表明细胞DNA合成速率显著降低。机制分析表明：促G1/S期转换基因周期蛋白依赖性激酶2（cyclin dependent kinase 2, CDK2）mRNA水平降低约85%,对应的蛋白质水平也明显降低,G1/S期转换抑制因子周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子1A（cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A,CDKN1A/P21）和周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子1B（cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1B,CDKN1B/P27）mRNA水平分别升高约1.8倍和5倍,对应的蛋白质水平也明显升高。沉默PRR14表达,G1/S期相关基因表达紊乱,导致细胞G1期阻滞并抑制细胞增殖。结肠癌细胞中PRR14高表达可促进癌细胞恶性增殖。     

猪miR-331-3p过表达载体的构建及其对细胞增殖的影响

本研究旨在阐明猪miR-331-3p对细胞增殖的影响,探讨其对细胞增殖的作用机制首先构建了miR-331-3p的过表达载体pcDNA 3.1 (+)-miR-331-3p,并将将PK15细胞分为4组,分别为实验组、实验组对照组、抑制剂组和抑制剂对照组。实验组和对照组分别转染pcDNA 3.1(+)-miR-331-3p和pcDNA 3.1(+)。抑制剂组和抑制剂对照组分别转染miR-331-3p Inhibitor和miR-331-3p阴性对照(miR-331-3p NC)。通过在各组添加CCK-8试剂绘制细胞增殖曲线,并使用PI染色检测细胞所处周期比例。同时,利用实时荧光定量PCR(Quantitative real-time PCR,qPCR)检测生长抑制蛋白家族成员5 (Inhibitor of growth family member 5,ING5)、细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶2 (Cyclin dependent kinase 2,CDK2)、细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶3 (Cyclin dependent kinase 3,CDK3)、细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶4 (Cyclin dependent kinase 4,CDK4)、细胞周期蛋白B (Cyclin B)和细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制剂1A(Cyclindependentkinaseinhibitor1A,CDKN1A)的表达变化。结果表明,实验组miR-331-3p表达量显著升高,细胞增殖曲线表明48 h和72 h时细胞数目均呈现出实验组实验对照组和抑制剂对照组抑制剂组的趋势(P0.05)。与实验对照组相比,实验组处于G0/G1期的细胞比例下调,S期和G2/M细胞的比例上调,抑制剂对照组趋势与之相反;同时,实验组中与促进增殖的基因CDK2、CDK3、CDK4和CyclinB的mRNA表达水平均显著升高,而抑制增殖的基因ING5和CDKN1A均表现出显著下降的趋势。本研究成功构建了miR-331-3p过表达载体,且发现miR-331-3p具有促进猪肾上皮细胞增殖的能力,研究结果为深入研究miR-331-3p在猪生长发育中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

RBM6通过GSK-3β/β-catenin调节途径对膀胱尿路上皮癌细胞发挥抗增殖和促进凋亡作用

RNA结合模体蛋白(RBM)家族几乎在所有细胞中均有表达,而且在进化上高度保守。以前的研究表明,RBM5在膀胱尿路上皮癌(bladder urothelial carcinoma,BUC)组织中表达下调,由此引起的细胞凋亡减少,进而促进肿瘤的进展。然而,RBM5氨基酸序列与其同源的RBM6在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的作用及相关机制尚不清楚。本研究检测RBM6在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的表达,探索其在膀胱癌细胞系中过表达对细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。利用qRT-PCR和Western印迹等技术,研究发现,RBM6在人膀胱尿路上皮癌组织和所检测的2个膀胱癌细胞系中表达均显著下调,并且其下调程度与患者的预后不良呈正相关。MTS检测细胞增殖的结果显示,RBM6过表达导致细胞增殖活性下降。细胞克隆形成实验结果也表明,RBM6过表达抑制细胞克隆形成能力(P0.01)。原位末端转移酶标记技术(terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay, TUNEL染色)检测细胞凋亡表明,在RBM6过表达的细胞中,TUNEL阳性细胞数由对照组的17.17±3.27增加到44.00±8.04(P0.05)。RBM6抗增殖及促凋亡的作用机制研究发现,在T24细胞中过表达RBM6后,β-联蛋白(β-catenin)和G_1/S-特异性细胞周期蛋白-D1(G_1/S-specific cyclin-D1,cyclin D1)mRNA表达水平分别降低65%和79%,对应的蛋白质水平分别降低60%和73%;反之,细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子1A(cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A,CDKN1A/p21)mRNA表达水平升高约1.9倍,对应蛋白质水平升高约1.8倍。重要的是,糖原合酶激酶3 beta(glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta,GSK-3β)磷酸化水平升高约2.4倍。细胞过表达β-联蛋白促进细胞增殖(P0.05),而利用小分子化合物LY294002促进GSK-3β磷酸化后,抑制细胞增殖(P0.05)。综上所述,RBM6通过GSK-3β/β-catenin调节途径对膀胱尿路上皮癌细胞发挥抗增殖和促进凋亡作用。干预该调节途径可能是治疗膀胱尿路上皮癌的潜在靶点。     

茅苍术提取物在肺癌A549细胞中的抗增殖作用机制

目的:研究茅苍术提取物对肺癌A549细胞的肿瘤增殖抑制效果及机制。方法:MTT比色法检测茅苍术提取物对A549细胞增殖的抑制效果;流式细胞术分析茅苍术提取物对肺癌A549细胞周期的影响;Western Blot检测茅苍术刺激前后细胞周期蛋白D1(cyclin D1)蛋白表达量变化。结果:茅苍术提取物能有效抑制肺癌A549细胞增殖,且抑制效果与茅苍术提取物浓度呈现依赖性,茅苍术提取物刺激48h后,抑制效果最佳,IC50约为77.12μg/ml;细胞周期分析显示:茅苍术提取物可将细胞周期阻滞在G0/G1期,50μg/ml茅苍术提取物刺激48h后,G1期上升至53.41%;cyclin D1蛋白含量因茅苍术作用而下调。结论:茅苍术提取物能通过有效抑制cyclin D1的表达,进而将细胞周期阻滞于G1期,最终实现其抗增殖作用机制。     

CyclinE-CDK2相关蛋白与细胞周期调控

细胞周期蛋白(cyclin)E和周期蛋白依赖性激酶(CDK)2的复合物CyclinE-CDK2为细胞从G1期进入S期的关键激酶复合物,在细胞从G1期进入S期过程中起着至关重要的作用.它通过磷酸化其下游一系列底物如Rb、CDC6、NPAT和P107等而使细胞启动DNA合成,从而使细胞不可逆转地进入S期.CyclinE-CDK2除了受到其下游RB/E2F通路的正调控外,同时也受细胞中其他一些因子的调控,如CIP/KIP家族蛋白的负调控作用,以及Skp2-SCF介导的泛素化降解作用等.     

Genistein对腺样囊性癌cyclinB1蛋白表达和细胞增殖周期的影响

目的研究酪氨酸蛋白激酶抑制剂genistein抑制人涎腺腺样囊性癌(SACC-83)细胞生长与cyclin B1蛋白表达和细胞增殖周期的关系.方法 MTT法测定genistein对SACC-83细胞体外生长的作用;流式细胞仪测定细胞增殖周期;Western Blot技术检测cyclin B1和Cdk1蛋白,并利用电泳凝胶成像分析软件对其结果进行量化分析;采用SPSS11.5统计软件对结果进行统计学分析.结果 Genistein对SACC-83细胞生长有抑制作用,且当其作用到一定时间达到一定的浓度后,该作用与剂量及时间呈依赖关系;Genistein作用的细胞与对照细胞比较,G0/G1期细胞数减少, G2/M期细胞数增多,cyclin B1和Cdk1蛋白水平降低.结论 Genistein对SACC-83细胞生长的抑制作用与其调节cyclin B1和Cdk1蛋白表达和细胞增殖周期有关.     

人细胞周期蛋白G2基因真核表达载体构建及其功能研究

构建人cyclin G2基因真核表达载体,进一步研究cyclin G2对体外培养细胞增殖的调节作用及可能的调节机制。以人口腔癌前上皮细胞系POE4总RNA的反转录产物为模板,应用RT-PCR方法克隆cyclin G2基因cDNA,成功构建真核表达载体pIRES -G2;应用脂质体介导的基因转染技术,以体外培养的肿瘤细胞系HeLa细胞和正常细胞系CV-1细胞作为受体细胞,进行转基因表达研究,发现cyclin G2高表达对体外培养细胞的增殖起明显抑制作用;应用p16INK4a、p21WAF1、p27KIP1三种周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制因子的单克隆抗体对转基因的HeLa细胞进行免疫细胞化学研究,发现转染pIRES-G2的实验组细胞中,p21 WAF1蛋白染色阳性细胞数明显多于转染空载体的对照组,平均光密度值高于对照组,两组间均有显著性差异（p<0.01）,提示cyclin G2抑制细胞增殖作用可能是通过诱导p21WAF1的表达而实现。     

基于CADD探究新疆胀果甘草查尔酮A对宫颈癌细胞增殖、凋亡作用及其分子机制CSCD

以新疆胀果甘草查尔酮A(licochalcone A,LicoA)为物质基础,研究其对宫颈癌细胞的增殖抑制活性、促凋亡作用及对周期的影响,并对其分子机制进行初探。从新疆胀果甘草中提取LicoA单体成分,通过1H NMR、13 C NMR及HR-EI-MS进行结构表征;通过MTT法检测在不同浓度下LicoA对人宫颈癌细胞(SiHa和HeLa)的抑制率并计算IC 50值,选取SiHa细胞为研究对象,采用流式细胞术,以AnnexinV-FITC/PI双染法检测细胞凋亡率,并测定对细胞周期的影响。通过CADD法预测LicoA作用靶点,荧光定量RT-PCR法检测宫颈癌肿瘤干细胞标记物(Bcl-2、ALDH1A1、OCT-4、UHRF1、BIRC7、BIRC5)基因及细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶4(cyclin-dependent kinase 4,CDK4)基因的mRNA表达量。结果显示,LicoA能显著抑制2种宫颈癌细胞增殖,且呈现显著的时间和浓度依赖性;随着LicoA浓度的增加,细胞增殖速度减慢,细胞呈皱缩形态;LicoA诱导细胞凋亡作用显著,在30μg/mL时,SiHa细胞凋亡率达52.0%;LicoA可能将SiHa细胞的增殖周期阻滞在S期和G 2/M期;分子对接结果显示对CDK4蛋白有较好结合能力,预测可能具有较强的抑制作用;LicoA显著下调宫颈癌肿瘤干细胞标记物(Bcl-2、ALDH1A1、OCT-4、UHRF1、BIRC7、BIRC5)的表达量,同时抑制周期相关基因CDK4的mRNA表达。LicoA抑制宫颈癌细胞增殖的机制可能是通过将SiHa细胞的增殖周期阻滞在S期和G 2/M期,诱导细胞凋亡及抑制细胞分化。     

siRNA-cyclin D1对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞增殖的抑制作用

研究小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA,siRNA)对乳腺癌MCF-7细胞株cyclin D1表达的抑制及对细胞增殖的影响。化学合成针对cyclin D1基因的siRNA,转染MCF-7细胞株;分别应用荧光定量PCR和免疫印迹测定cyclin D1 mRNA和蛋白的表达,CCK-8测定细胞的增殖活性,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期,软琼脂培养检测细胞克隆形成能力。在实验中,10、50、100 nmol/L siRNA-cyclin D1分别使MCF-7细胞cyclin D1 mRNA表达降低了57．85%、63．22%和68．02%,蛋白表达降低了51．13%、62．09%、77．68%。转染siRNA-cyclin D1后,细胞增殖受到抑制,细胞周期阻滞于G1期,软琼脂克隆形成率降低。结果提示siRNA可以有效抑制MCF-7细胞株中cyclin D1的表达,使细胞周期阻滞于G1期,从而抑制细胞增殖。     

桦木酸对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖的影响*

目的:利用不同浓度的桦木酸对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞增殖的影响。方法:桦木酸设4个不同浓度(0、10、20、30 μg/ml),并采用常规化疗药物5-Fu处理作为阳性对照,以探究其对细胞增殖的影响。采用台盼蓝拒染法和吉姆萨染色法分别检测桦木酸对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞生长抑制率及克隆形成率;EdU法检测SGC-7901的细胞增殖;利用流式细胞术检测细胞周期, 应用qRT-PCR和Western blot分别检测细胞周期蛋白cyclin D1,cyclin B1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平。结果:不同浓度的桦木酸处理人胃癌SGC-7901细胞48 h后,其细胞生长抑制率显著升高(P＜0.05),克隆形成率和细胞增殖率均明显降低(P＜0.01),且呈剂量和时间依赖性;人胃癌SGC-7901细胞被阻滞在G1/G0期,细胞周期蛋白cyclin D1和cyclin B1的mRNA和蛋白表达量也随桦木酸浓度升高而显著降低(P＜0.01)。且与5-Fu对照组相比,桦木酸浓度为20 μg/ml和30 μg/ml时,细胞增殖能力明显降低,细胞周期被抑制,细胞周期蛋白表达量均明显降低(P ＜0.05)。结论:桦木酸通过下调cyclin B1和cyclin D1基因表达,将人胃癌SGC-7901细胞阻滞在G1/G0期,从而抑制细胞增殖。     

LncRNA RP1调控周期蛋白质促进结肠癌细胞增殖

长链非编码RNAs（long non-coding RNAs, lncRNAs）是一类无蛋白质编码功能,长度大于 200 nt的RNAs。qRT-PCR实验证实,lncRNA RP1-506.5（命名为RP1）在人结肠癌细胞株中的表达量明显高于人正常结肠上皮细胞（P<0.01）。RP1在结肠癌组织中的表达量为癌旁组织中表达量的8.5倍。在HCT116中,上调RP1的表达,同时在HCT8中沉默RP1的表达,探讨RP1对结肠癌细胞生物学特性的影响。MTS实验、活细胞工作站增殖实验,结合平板克隆实验发现,过表达RP1能明显促进结肠癌细胞HCT116的增殖能力。而在HCT8细胞中沉默RP1表达后,该细胞的增殖能力明显减弱。流式细胞周期实验结果表明,RP1能促进细胞周期快速通过G1/S检测点,并能加速S期进程。荧光定量PCR、Western印迹实验发现,在HCT116中细胞中,上调RP1的表达后,P21的表达水平下调,细胞周期蛋白D1（cyclinD1）、依赖细胞周期蛋白激酶6(CDK6)表达水平上调;当沉默LncRNA RP1的表达后,能上调P21的表达水平,下调cyclinD1、CDK6的表达水平。这些结果表明,LncRNA RP1可通过调控周期相关蛋白质的表达促进结肠癌细胞增殖。     

Hydrogen sulfide induces human colon cancer cell proliferation: Role of Akt,ERK and p21

H₂S (hydrogen sulfide), regarded as the third gaseous transmitter, is implicated in ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancers. The present study investigates the effects of H₂S on cell proliferation in human colon cancer HCT 116 cells and SW480 cells. We identified the two key enzymes, CBS and CSE, for H₂S synthesis in HCT 116 cells. An exogenously administered H₂S donor NaHS induced cell proliferation in a concentration‐dependent manner, with optimal proliferative concentration at 200 μmol/l. NaHS administration increased Akt and ERK phosphorylation. Blockade of Akt and ERK activation attenuated NaHS‐induced cell proliferation. Cell‐cycle analysis showed that NaHS treatment for 6 h decreased the proportion of cells in G₀–G₁ phase and increased the proportion of cells in S phase. Protein expressions of Cyclin D1 and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) were not altered, but the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p21^Waf1/Cip1 was inhibited significantly by NaHS treatment. NaHS significantly reduced NO metabolite levels. In conclusion, NaHS induced human colon cancer cell proliferation. This effect might be mediated by the increase of Akt and ERK phosphorylation and the decrease of p21^Waf1/Cip1 expression and NO production. The results suggested a role for H₂S in human colonic cancer development.     

Fucoxanthin induces cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in human colon carcinoma cells through up-regulation of p21WAF1/Cip1

Fucoxanthin, a natural carotenoid, has been reported to have antitumorigenic activity in mouse colon, skin and duodenum models. The present study was designed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of fucoxanthin against colon cancer using the human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines. Fucoxanthin reduced the viability of WiDr cells in a dose-dependent manner accompanied by the induction of cell cycle arrest during the G0/G1 phase at 25 microM and apoptosis at 50 microM. Fucoxanthin at 25 microM inhibited the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) at Ser780 and Ser807/811 24 h after treatment without changes in the protein levels of the D-types of cyclin and cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 4, whose complexes are responsible for the phosphorylation of pRb at these sites. A cdk inhibitory protein, p21WAF1/Cip1 increased 24 h after the treatment with 25 microM of fucoxanthin, but not p27Kip1. In addition, the mRNA of p21WAF1/Cip1 also increased in a dose-dependent manner. According to the experiments using the isogenic human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines, fucoxanthin failed to induce G0/G1 arrest in the p21-deficient HCT116 cells, but not in HCT116 wild-type cells. All of these findings showed that fucoxanthin inhibited proliferation of colon cancer cells. The inhibitory mechanism is due to the cell cycle arrest during the G0/G1 phase mediated through the up-regulation of p21WAF1/Cip1, which may be related to the antitumorigenic activity.     

Requirement of Krüppel-like factor 4 in preventing entry into mitosis following DNA damage

Previous studies indicate that Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4 or GKLF) controls the G1/S cell cycle checkpoint upon DNA damage. We present evidence for an equally important role of KLF4 in maintaining the integrity of the G2/M checkpoint following DNA damage. HCT116, a colon cancer cell line with wild type p53 alleles, underwent sustained G2 arrest up to 4 days after gamma-irradiation. In contrast, HCT116 cells null for p53 were able to enter mitosis following irradiation. Western blot analyses of irradiated HCT116 cells showed increased levels of p53, KLF4, and p21WAF1/CIP1 and decreased levels of cyclin B1 when compared with unirradiated controls. In contrast, the levels of cyclin B1 increased in irradiated HCT116 p53-/- cells, in which KLF4 failed to increase due to the absence of p53. When KLF4 was inhibited by small interfering RNA, irradiated HCT116 cells exhibited increased mitotic indices and a rise in cyclin B1 levels. Conversely, irradiated HCT116 p53-/- cells that were infected with KLF4-expressing adenoviruses demonstrated a concurrent reduction in mitotic indices and cyclin B1 levels. In each case, Cdc2 kinase measurements showed an inverse correlation between Cdc2 kinase activities and KLF4 levels. Co-transfection experiments showed that KLF4 repressed the cyclin B1 promoter through a specific GC-rich element. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that both KLF4 and HDAC were associated with the cyclin B1 promoter in irradiated HCT116 cells. We conclude that KLF4 is essential in preventing mitotic entry following gamma-irradiation and does so by inhibiting cyclin B1 expression.     

NGX6基因对人结肠癌细胞HT-29细胞周期的影响

NGX6基因是新克隆的候选抑瘤基因,研究表明NGX6重表达可抑制结肠癌细胞的增殖.为进一步研究NGX6对细胞周期的影响,采用流式细胞仪检测NGX6重表达对结肠癌细胞HT-29细胞周期的影响,发现NGX6重表达可增加HT-29细胞在G0/G1期的分布比例,减少了S,G2,M期细胞数.利用蛋白质印迹和流式细胞术分析NGX6转染前后HT-29细胞周期素(cyclins)和细胞周期素依赖性蛋白激酶抑制物(cyclin-dependentkinaseinhibitor,CKI)的表达变化,发现NGX6可下调HT-29细胞中cyclinE、cyclinD1的表达及上调p27的表达,对cyclinA和cyclinB的表达无明显影响,p16在三组结肠癌细胞中均无表达.研究结果表明,NGX6在HT-29细胞中通过下调cyclinE、cyclinD1和上调p27的表达,阻滞细胞周期于G0/G1期,从而发挥其在结肠癌中的抑瘤作用.     

MAPK14/p38α confers irinotecan resistance to TP53-defective cells by inducing survival autophagy

Recently we have shown that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) MAPK14/p38α is involved in resistance of colon cancer cells to camptothecin-related drugs. Here we further investigated the cellular mechanisms involved in such drug resistance and showed that, in HCT116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in which TP53 was genetically ablated (HCT116-TP53KO), overexpression of constitutively active MAPK14/p38α decreases cell sensitivity to SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan), inhibits cell proliferation and induces survival-autophagy. Since autophagy is known to facilitate cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, we then investigated the relationship between MAPK14/p38α, autophagy and resistance to irinotecan. We demonstrated that induction of autophagy by SN38 is dependent on MAPK14/p38α activation. Finally, we showed that inhibition of MAPK14/p38α or autophagy both sensitizes HCT116-TP53KO cells to drug therapy. Our data proved that the two effects are interrelated, since the role of autophagy in drug resistance required the MAPK14/p38α. Our results highlight the existence of a new mechanism of resistance to camptothecin-related drugs: upon SN38 induction, MAPK14/p38α is activated and triggers survival-promoting autophagy to protect tumor cells against the cytotoxic effects of the drug. Colon cancer cells could thus be sensitized to drug therapy by inhibiting either MAPK14/p38 or autophagy.     

Lentivirus-mediated knockdown of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit D inhibits proliferation of HCT116 colon cancer cells

Dysregulation of protein synthesis is emerging as a major contributory factor in cancer development. eIF3D (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit D) is one member of the eIF3 (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3) family, which is essential for initiation of protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells. Acquaintance with eIF3D is little since it has been identified as a dispensable subunit of eIF3 complex. Recently, eIF3D was found to embed somatic mutations in human colorectal cancers, indicating its importance for tumour progression. To further probe into its action in colon cancer, we utilized lentivirus-mediated RNA interference to knock down eIF3D expression in one colon cancer cell line HCT116. Knockdown of eIF3D in HCT116 cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that depletion of eIF3D led to cell-cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and induced an excess accumulation of HCT116 cells in the sub-G1 phase representing apoptotic cells. Signalling pathways responsible for cell growth and apoptosis have also been found altered after eIF3D silencing, such as AMPKα (AMP-activated protein kinase alpha), Bad, PRAS40 [proline-rich Akt (PKB) substrate of 40 kDa], SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase)/JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), GSK3β and PARP [poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase]. Taken together, these findings suggest that eIF3D might play an important role in colon cancer progression.     

MAPK14/p38α confers irinotecan resistance to TP53-defective cells by inducing survival autophagy

Recently we have shown that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) MAPK14/p38α is involved in resistance of colon cancer cells to camptothecin-related drugs. Here we further investigated the cellular mechanisms involved in such drug resistance and showed that, in HCT116 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in which TP53 was genetically ablated (HCT116-TP53KO), overexpression of constitutively active MAPK14/p38α decreases cell sensitivity to SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan), inhibits cell proliferation and induces survival-autophagy. Since autophagy is known to facilitate cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, we then investigated the relationship between MAPK14/p38α, autophagy and resistance to irinotecan. We demonstrated that induction of autophagy by SN38 is dependent on MAPK14/p38α activation. Finally, we showed that inhibition of MAPK14/p38α or autophagy both sensitizes HCT116-TP53KO cells to drug therapy. Our data proved that the two effects are interrelated, since the role of autophagy in drug resistance required the MAPK14/p38α. Our results highlight the existence of a new mechanism of resistance to camptothecin-related drugs: upon SN38 induction, MAPK14/p38α is activated and triggers survival-promoting autophagy to protect tumor cells against the cytotoxic effects of the drug. Colon cancer cells could thus be sensitized to drug therapy by inhibiting either MAPK14/p38 or autophagy.