The MUC1 oncoprotein activates the anti-apoptotic phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and Bcl-xL pathways in rat 3Y1 fibroblasts

The MUC1 transmembrane glycoprotein is overexpressed by most human carcinomas. Overexpression of MUC1 confers transformation; however, the signaling pathways activated by this oncoprotein are largely unknown. The present studies demonstrated that MUC1-induced transformation of 3Y1 fibroblasts is associated with increased levels of phospho-Akt and phospho-Bad. The finding that LY294002 blocks MUC1-mediated increases in phospho-Akt and phospho-Bad supports the involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) as an upstream effector of this response. We also show that MUC1 increases the expression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-x(L) protein (but not Bcl-2) by a PI3K-independent mechanism. In concert with these results, MUC1 attenuated (i) the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, (ii) mitochondrial cytochrome c release, (iii) activation of caspase-9, and (iv) induction of apoptosis by the antimetabolite, 1-beta-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine. Similar results were obtained with the anti-cancer agent, gemcitabine. These findings indicate that expression of MUC1 in 3Y1 cells activates the anti-apoptotic PI3K/Akt and Bcl-x(L) pathways.