Acylglycerol kinase augments JAK2/STAT3 signaling in esophageal squamous cells

JAK2 activity is tightly controlled through a self-inhibitory effect via its JAK homology domain 2 (JH2), which restricts the strength and duration of JAK2/STAT3 signaling under physiological conditions. Although multiple mutations within JAK2, which abrogate the function of JH2 and sustain JAK2 activation, are widely observed in hematological malignancies, comparable mutations have not been detected in solid tumors. How solid tumor cells override the autoinhibitory effect of the JH2 domain to maintain constitutive activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling remains puzzling. Herein, we demonstrate that AGK directly interacted with the JH2 domain to relieve inhibition of JAK2 and activate JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Overexpression of AGK sustained constitutive JAK2/STAT3 activation, consequently promoting the cancer stem cell population and augmenting the tumorigenicity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, AGK levels significantly correlated with increased STAT3 phosphorylation, poorer disease-free survival, and shorter overall survival in primary ESCC. More importantly, AGK expression was significantly correlated with JAK2/STAT3 hyperactivation in ESCC, as well as in lung and breast cancer. These findings uncover a mechanism for constitutive activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling in solid tumors and may represent a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.     

Combined inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor and JAK/STAT pathways results in greater growth inhibition in vitro than single agent therapy

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition with small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors results in antitumor activity in only a minority of patients whose tumors express EGFR. One hypothesis to explain this suboptimal clinical activity is that multiple growth regulatory pathways are abnormal in most EGFR-expressing cancers. Given the importance of Stat-3 signaling pathway in epidermoid tumors, we hypothesized that blocking complementary pathways in an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-driven model of proliferation in the A431 cell line would demonstrate improved antiproliferative activity. Exposure of A431 cells to the EGF results in a significant increase in EGFR and Stat-3 phosphorylation. However, inhibition of EGFR by AG1478 fails to decrease EGF-induced Stat-3 phosphorylation. This suggests that EGF continues to drive Stat-3 phosphorylation through other receptors. Our study suggests that residual ErbB2 activation by EGF, despite EGFR blockade, is responsible for persistent downstream activation of Stat-3. In this setting, combined exposure to an EGFR blocker and Stat-3 blocker (AG490) results in significantly greater tumor growth inhibition than either agent alone. We conclude that targeting multiple pathways (EGFR and JAK/STAT pathways) in EGF-driven tumors may result in greater antiproliferative activity than blocking EGFR alone.     

白藜芦醇调控白血病JAK1/STAT3信号转导通路的研究

本研究探讨白藜芦醇抗白血病作用的具体分子机制。采用细胞体外培养和免疫组织化学、免疫沉淀法检测白血病细胞L1210p-JAK1、p-STAT3蛋白的表达；建立了L1210白血病腹水瘤小鼠模型，用Western blot、免疫组织化学测定信号转导分子p-JAK1及p-STAT3的活性。结果表明：白藜芦醇能明显抑制JAK1／STAT3信号转导通路，以时间-剂量依赖的方式下调p-JAK1、p-STAT3表达，减弱JAK1和STAT3的酪氨酸磷酸化活性。结论：白藜芦醇体内外均具能明显调控白血病JAK1／STAT3信号转导通路。发挥抗白血病作用。     

Targeted therapy of orthotopic human lung cancer by combined vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor signaling blockade

The outcome for patients with lung cancer has not changed significantly for more than two decades. Several studies show that the overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular permeability factor and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and their receptors correlates with the clinical outcome for lung cancer patients. However, clinical trials of agents that target either of these pathways alone have been disappointing. We hypothesize that targeting both the tumor and its vasculature by simultaneously blocking the VEGFR and EGFR pathways will improve the treatment of locoregional lung cancer. Human lung cancer specimens were first examined for the activation of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and EGF receptor (EGFR) for tumor and tumor-associated endothelial cells, and both were found to be activated. The effects of ZD6474 (ZACTIMA), a small-molecule inhibitor of VEGFR2 and EGFR tyrosine kinases, were then studied in vitro using human lung cancer and microvascular endothelial cells. In vitro, ZD6474 inhibited EGFR, VEGFR2, mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt phosphorylation, EGF- and VEGF-induced proliferation, and endothelial cell tube formation and also induced apoptosis. ZD6474 was further studied in vivo using an orthotopic mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer using NCI-H441 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. The inhibition of both VEGFR2 and EGFR signaling pathways by ZD6474 resulted in profound antiangiogenic, antivascular, and antitumor effects. These results provide a basis for the development of clinical strategies for the combination of selective protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors that block both EGFR and VEGFR signaling as part of the management of locally advanced lung cancer.     

As2O3对K562细胞BCR/ABL蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的影响

目的　进一步阐明Ａｓ２Ｏ３ 诱导Ｋ５６２ 细胞凋亡和抑制其生长的可能机制,为Ａｓ２Ｏ３ 在临床上的应用提供理论依据。方法　采用免疫沉淀、Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ、生物化学及免疫荧光等方法研究了Ａｓ２Ｏ３对ＢＣＲ／ＡＢＬ蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化及其所介导的信号途径和某些凋亡相关蛋白表达的影响。结果　１μｍｏｌ／ＬＡｓ２Ｏ３ 使细胞内多种蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化减少,而且ＢＣＲ／ＡＢＬ蛋白自身酪氨酸磷酸化亦减少,但０ ．１ μｍｏｌ／ＬＡｓ２Ｏ３ 对蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的影响不明显;Ａｓ２Ｏ３ 对蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶（ＰＴＰ） 活性未见明显影响;Ａｓ２Ｏ３ 下调ＪＡＫ２ 蛋白的表达,但对ＳＴＡＴ１ 和ＳＴＡＴ２ 蛋白的表达以及ＳＴＡＴ１ 蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化无影响;Ａｓ２Ｏ３ 亦不影响凋亡相关蛋白Ｂｃｌ２、ＢｃｌｘＬ／Ｓ、Ｂａｘ、ＩＣＨ１Ｌ、ｐ５３、ＰＡＲＰ的表达,Ａｓ２Ｏ３ 亦使Ｋ５６２ 细胞的ＰＭＬ蛋白降解。结论　Ａｓ２Ｏ３ 可能通过减少细胞内某些蛋白,尤其是ＢＣＲ／ＡＢＬ蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化和（ 或）下调ＪＡＫ２ 蛋白的表达而干扰ＢＣＲ／ＡＢＬ致癌信号的传导,引起Ｋ５６２ 细胞凋亡和抑制其生长。     

Pentoxifylline inhibits melanoma tumor growth and angiogenesis by targeting STAT3 signaling pathway

Pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has been shown to have anti-metastatic or anti-angiogenic activity against many human cancers. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we report that, PTX at sub-toxic doses can inhibit melanoma tumor growth and angiogenesis by targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway. Despite minimal cytotoxicity against normal cells, PTX suppressed phosphorylation and DNA binding of STAT3 in a dose-dependent manner. Also, PTX inhibited phosphorylation of the upstream kinases JAK1 and JAK2 and increased the expression of pSHP2 phosphatase. Expression of various STAT3 regulated gene products, such as cylinD1, CDK6, cMyc, BclXL, and VEGF was downregulated following PTX treatment. Tumor microenvironment favours tumor growth and metastasis. PTX alters tumor microenvironment by limiting IL-6 secretion and also by disrupting VEGF–VEGFR2 autocrine/paracrine signaling. PTX treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis in intra-dermal xenograft mouse model in vivo without having any visible toxicity. These findings identified STAT3 signaling as a target of PTX and have thus, augmented its potential application in the treatment of melanoma and other cancers.     

JAK激酶抑制剂在类风湿性关节炎治疗中的研究进展

正类风湿性关节炎(Rheumatoid Arthritis,RA)是临床上常见的炎症性自身免疫性疾病,全球发病率高达0.5%~1%~[1],其主要病理表现为滑膜组织炎性细胞浸润、血管翳形成以及进行性关节软骨和骨破坏,最终关节畸形甚至功能丧失~[2]。当前,临床上仍缺少有效的治疗药物,其治疗则主要以减轻疼痛、缓解症状、控制病情发展为目的,常用的药物包括非甾体抗炎药(NSAIDs)、糖皮质激素类、抗风湿药物     

Therapeutic efficacy of CEP-33779, a novel selective JAK2 inhibitor, in a mouse model of colitis-induced colorectal cancer

Constitutively activated STAT3 and STAT5 are expressed in a wide variety of human malignancies including solid and hematopoietic cancers and often correlate with a poor prognosis and resistance to multiple therapies. Given the well established role of STAT3 in tumorigenesis, inhibition of Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2) activity might represent an attractive therapeutic approach. Using a mouse model of colitis-induced colorectal cancer, we show that a novel, orally active, selective JAK2 inhibitor, CEP-33779, induced regression of established colorectal tumors, reduced angiogenesis, and reduced proliferation of tumor cells. Histopathologic analysis confirmed reduced incidence of histologic-grade neoplasia by CEP-33779. Tumor regression correlated with inhibition of STAT3 and NF-κB (RelA/p65) activation in a CEP-33779 dose-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of proinflammatory, tumor-promoting cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β was strongly reduced upon JAK2 inhibition. The ability of CEP-33779 to suppress growth of colorectal tumors by inhibiting the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling suggests a potential therapeutic utility of JAK2 inhibitors in multiple tumors types, particularly those with a strong inflammatory component.     

Identification of 4-anilino-3-quinolinecarbonitrile inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 kinase

A high-throughput screen for Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling inhibitors identified two series (class 1 and 2) of substituted 4-anilino-3-quinolinecarbonitriles as potent (IC(50)s <10 nmol/L) mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (MEK1) kinase inhibitors. These compounds had cyanoquinoline cores, but differed in their respective aniline groups [1a, 1b: 4-phenoxyphenylaniline; 2a, 2b: 3-chloro-4-(1-methylimidazol-2-sulfanyl)aniline]. These compounds were competitive inhibitors of ATP binding by MEK1 kinase, and they had minimal or no effect on Raf, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Akt, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), or MK2 kinases at concentrations >100-fold higher than those that inhibited MEK1 kinase. Both class 1 and 2 compounds inhibited in vitro growth of human tumor cell lines. A class 2 compound (2b) was the most potent inhibitor of human tumor cell growth in vitro, and this effect was linked to distinct suppression of MAPK phosphorylation in cells. Compound 2b did not affect phosphorylation status of other kinases, such as EGFR, Akt, and stress-activated protein (SAP)/c-jun-NH kinase (Jnk); nor did it affect overall tyrosine phosphorylation level in cells. However, compound 2b did inhibit MEK1 phosphorylation in cells. Inhibition of MEK1 phosphorylation by 2b was not due to a major effect on Raf kinase activity, because enzyme assays showed minimal Raf kinase inhibition. We believe compound 2b inhibits kinase activity upstream of Raf, and thereby affects MEK1 phosphorylation in cells. Even with the dual effect of 2b on MEK and MAPK phosphorylation, this compound was well tolerated and significantly inhibited growth of the human colon tumor cell line LoVo (at 50 and 100 mg/kg BID, i.p.) in a nude mouse xenograft model.     

14-3-3 regulates the LNK/JAK2 pathway in mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) functions are governed by intricate signaling networks. The tyrosine kinase JAK2 plays an essential role in cytokine signaling during hematopoiesis. The adaptor protein LNK is a critical determinant of this process through its inhibitory interaction with JAK2, thereby limiting HSPC self-renewal. LNK deficiency promotes myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) development in mice, and LNK loss-of-function mutations are found in human MPNs, emphasizing its pivotal role in normal and malignant HSPCs. Here, we report the identification of 14-3-3 proteins as LNK binding partners. 14-3-3 interfered with the LNK-JAK2 interaction, thereby alleviating LNK inhibition of JAK2 signaling and cell proliferation. Binding of 14-3-3 required 2 previously unappreciated serine phosphorylation sites in LNK, and we found that their phosphorylation is mediated by glycogen synthase kinase 3 and PKA kinases. Mutations of these residues abrogated the interaction and augmented the growth inhibitory function of LNK. Conversely, forced 14-3-3 binding constrained LNK function. Furthermore, interaction with 14-3-3 sequestered LNK in the cytoplasm away from the plasma membrane-proximal JAK2. Importantly, bone marrow transplantation studies revealed an essential role for 14-3-3 in HSPC reconstitution that can be partially mitigated by LNK deficiency. We believe that, together, this work implicates 14-3-3 proteins as novel and positive HSPC regulators by impinging on the LNK/JAK2 pathway.