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Inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) is a rate-limiting enzyme required for the de novo synthesis of guanine nucleotides from IMP. VX-944 (Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA) is a small-molecule, selective, noncompetitive inhibitor directed against human IMPDH. In this report, we show that VX-944 inhibits in vitro growth of human multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines via induction of apoptosis. Interleukin-6, insulin-like growth factor-1, or co-culture with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) do not protect against VX-944-induced MM cell growth inhibition. VX-944 induced apoptosis in MM cell lines with only modest activation of caspases 3, 8, and 9. Furthermore, the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk did not inhibit VX-944-induced apoptosis and cell death. During VX-944-induced apoptosis, expressions of Bax and Bak were enhanced, and both apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and endonuclease G (Endo G) were released from the mitochondria to cytosol, suggesting that VX-944 triggers apoptosis in MM cells primarily via a caspase-independent, Bax/AIF/Endo G pathway. Importantly, VX-944 augments the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and melphalan even in the presence of BMSCs. Taken together, our data demonstrate a primarily non-caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway triggered by VX-944, thereby providing a rationale to enhance MM cell cytotoxicity by combining this agent with conventional agents which trigger caspase activation.Oncogene (2005) 24, 5888–5896. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1208739; published online 6 June 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although PS-341 (bortezomib) is a promising agent to improve multiple myeloma (MM) patient outcome, 65%of patients with relapsed and refractory disease do not respond. We have previously shown that heat shock protein (Hsp)27 is upregulated after PS-341 treatment, that overexpression of Hsp27 confers PS-341 resistance, and that inhibition of Hsp27 overcomes PS-341 resistance. Since Hsp27 is a downstream target of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/MAPK-mitogen-activated protein kinase-2 (MAPKAPK2), we hypothesized that inhibition of p38 MAPK activity could augment PS-341 cytotoxicity by downregulating Hsp27. Although p38 MAPK inhibitor SCIO-469 (Scios Inc, CA, USA) alone did not induce significant growth inhibition, it blocked baseline and PS-341-triggered phosphorylation of p38 MAPK as well as upregulation of Hsp27, associated with enhanced cytotoxicity in MM.1S cells. Importantly, SCIO-469 enhanced phosphorylation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and augmented cleavage of caspase-8 and poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase. Moreover, SCIO-469 downregulated PS-341-induced increases in G2/M-phase cells, associated with downregulation of p21Cip1 expression. Importantly, SCIO-469 treatment augmented cytotoxicity of PS-341 even against PS-341-resistant cell lines and patient MM cells. These studies therefore provide the framework for clinical trials of SCIO-469 to enhance sensitivity and overcome resistance to PS-341, thereby improving patient outcome in MM.Oncogene (2004) 23, 8766-8776. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1208118 Published online 11 October 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) is activated by treatment with therapeutic agents, the biologic sequelae of inhibiting constitutive activation of JNK has not yet been clarified. In this study, we examine the biologic effect of JNK inhibition in multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines. JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125 induces growth inhibition via induction of G1 or G2/M arrest in U266 and MM.1S multiple myeloma cell lines, respectively. Neither exogenous IL-6 nor insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) overcome SP600125-induced growth inhibition, and IL-6 enhances SP600125-induced G2/M phase in MM.1S cells. Induction of growth arrest is mediated by upregulation of p27Kip1, without alteration of p53 and JNK protein expression. Importantly, SP600125 inhibits growth of MM cells adherent to bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). SP600125 induces NF-?B activation in a dose-dependent fashion, associated with phosphorylation of I?B kinase a (IKKa) and degradation of I?Ba. In contrast, SP600125 does not affect phosphorylation of STAT3, Akt, and/or ERK. IKK-specific inhibitor PS-1145 inhibits SP600125-induced NF-?B activation and blocks the protective effect of SP600125 against apoptosis. Our data therefore demonstrate for the first time that inhibiting JNK activity induces growth arrest and activates NF-?B in MM cells.Oncogene (2003) 22, 8797-8801. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1206919 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteasome inhibitor PS-341 is one of the most promising novel agents against multiple myeloma (MM). We have previously shown that PS-341 inhibits IL-6 triggered phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 (also known as p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases) in MM cells. In this study, we further examined whether clinically achievable concentrations of PS-341 could inhibit IL-6 triggered signaling cascades in MM. We found that PS-341 inhibited not only ERK, but also signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) 3 as well as Akt phosphorylation. Since gp130 (CD130) dimerizes and is phosphorylated after IL-6 binding to gp80 (IL-6 receptor), we hypothesized that gp130 could be involved in PS-341-induced blockade of signaling cascades mediating MM cell growth, survival, and drug resistance in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment. In this study, we first demonstrate that PS-341 induces downregulation of gp130 in a time- and dose-dependent manner in vitro, prior to MM cell death. Conversely, downregulation of gp130 is completely abrogated by the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, suggesting that downregulation of gp130 is mediated via caspase activation. Z-VAD-FMK also abrogates the inhibitory effect of PS-341 on IL-6-triggered signaling cascades. Importantly, we demonstrate that phosphorylation of ERK, STAT3, and Akt in MM.1S cells induced by either exogenous IL-6 or by binding of MM cells to BM stromal cells is abrogated by PS-341. These studies, therefore, define another novel mechanism whereby PS-341 can overcome the growth and survival advantage in MM cells conferred by the BM milieu. Importantly, this effect on cytokine-induced gp130 signaling cascades may account, at least in part, for the remarkable preclinical sensitivity and clinical responses achieved in MM with PS-341 treatment.Oncogene (2003) 22, 8386-8393. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1207170 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies demonstrate that interleukin-6 (IL-6) mediates growth and survival in human multiple myeloma (MM) cells via the MEK/MAPK and JAK/STAT signaling pathways, respectively. IL-6 also confers protection against Dexamethasone (Dex)-induced apoptosis via activation of protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHP2). In the current study, we characterized IL-6 triggered phophatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt kinase (PI3-K/Akt) signaling in MM cells. IL-6 induces Akt/PKB phosphorylation in a time and dose dependent manner in MM.1S MM cells. IL-6 also induced phosphorylation of downstream targets of Akt, including Bad, GSK-3β, and FKHR, confirming Akt activation. Inhibition of Akt activation by the PI3-K inhibitor LY294002 partially blocked IL-6 triggered MEK/MAPK activation and proliferation in MM.1S cells, suggesting cross-talk between PI3-K and MEK signaling. We demonstrate that Dex-induced apoptosis in MM.1S cells is mediated by downstream activation of caspase-9, with resultant caspase-3 cleavage; and conversely, that IL-6 triggers activation of PI3-K and its association with SHP2, inactivates caspase-9, and protects against Dex-induced apoptosis. LY294002 completely abrogates this signaling cascade, further confirming the importance of PI3-K/Akt signaling in conferring the protective effect of IL-6 against Dex-induced apoptosis. Finally, we show that IL-6 triggered PI3-K/Akt signaling in MM.1S cells inactivates forkhead transcriptional factor (FKHR), with related G1/S phase transition, whereas LY294002 blocks this signaling, resulting in upregulation of p27KIP1 and G1 growth arrest. Our data therefore suggest that PI3-K/Akt signaling mediates growth, survival, and cell cycle regulatory effects of IL-6 in MM. Oncogene (2001) 20, 5991–6000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Related Adhesion Focal Tyrosine Kinase (RAFTK; also known as Pyk2), is a member of the Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) subfamily and is activated by TNFα, UV light and increases in intracellular calcium levels. However, the function of RAFTK remains largely unknown. Our previous studies demonstrated that treatment with dexamethasone (Dex), ionizing radiation (IR), and anti-Fas mAb induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma (MM) cells. In the present study, we examined the potential role of RAFTK during induction of apoptosis in human MM cells triggered by these three stimuli. Dex-induced apoptosis, in contrast to apoptosis triggered by anti-Fas mAb or IR, is associated with activation of RAFTK. Transient overexpression of RAFTK wild type (RAFTK WT) induces apoptosis, whereas transient overexpression of Kinase inactive RAFTK (RAFTK K-M) blocks Dex-induced apoptosis. In contrast, transient overexpression of RAFTK K-M has no effect on apoptosis triggered by IR or Fas. In Dex-resistant cells, Dex does not trigger either RAFTK activation or apoptosis. Finally, interleukin-6 (IL-6), a known survival factor for MM cells, inhibits both activation of RAFTK and apoptosis of MM.1S cells triggered by Dex. Our studies therefore demonstrate Dex-induced RAFTK-dependent, and IR or Fas induced RAFTK-independent apoptotic signaling cascades in MM cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme CDC34 (UBC3) is linked to cell cycle progression in diverse cell types; however, its role in multiple myeloma (MM) pathogenesis is unclear. Here, we show that CDC34 is highly expressed in patient MM cells and MM cell lines versus normal cells. Blocking CDC34 using a dominant-negative strategy enhances the anti-MM activity of Bortezomib/ Proteasome inhibitor PS-341, dexamethasone (Dex) and 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME2). The expression of wild-type CDC34 reduces Dex-induced cytotoxicity in MM cells. Moreover, inhibition of CDC34 enzymatic activity abrogates interleukin-6-induced protection against Dex- induced apoptosis. Together, these findings provide evidence that (1) CDC34 expression is associated with growth and survival of MM cells and (2) blocking CDC34 activity not only enhances anti-MM activity of Bortezomib and 2ME2 but also overcomes IL-6-triggered Dex- resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B cell malignancies frequently colonize the bone marrow. The mechanisms responsible for this preferential homing are incompletely understood. Here we studied multiple myeloma (MM) as a model of a terminally differentiated B cell malignancy that selectively colonizes the bone marrow. We found that extracellular CyPA (eCyPA), secreted by bone marrow endothelial cells (BMECs), promoted the colonization and proliferation of MM cells in an in vivo scaffold system via binding to its receptor, CD147, on MM cells. The expression and secretion of eCyPA by BMECs was enhanced by BCL9, a Wnt-β-catenin transcriptional coactivator that is selectively expressed by these cells. eCyPA levels were higher in bone marrow serum than in peripheral blood in individuals with MM, and eCyPA-CD147 blockade suppressed MM colonization and tumor growth in the in vivo scaffold system. eCyPA also promoted the migration of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma cells, two other B cell malignancies that colonize the bone marrow and express CD147. These findings suggest that eCyPA-CD147 signaling promotes the bone marrow homing of B cell malignancies and offer a compelling rationale for exploring this axis as a therapeutic target for these malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superoxide (O2-) radicals have been linked to apoptosis. Here, we show that 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2)-induced apoptosis in multiple myeloma (MM) cells is associated with O2- generation, whereas dexamethasone (Dex)-induced apoptosis occurs without concurrent increase in O2-. In contrast, both these agents decrease mitochondrial transmembrane potential (??m). Treatment of MM cells with an antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine blocks 2ME2, but not Dex-induced apoptosis as well as release of mitochondrial proteins cytochrome c (cyto c) and Smac. Taken together, these results demonstrate that there are at least two distinct apoptotic pathways: one dependent on O2-, which is induced by 2ME2 and is associated with release of cyto c and Smac; and the other an independent of O2-, which is triggered by Dex and associated with Smac release.Oncogene (2003) 22, 6296-6300. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1206734 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that determined the gene expression profiles of dexamethasone-treated multiple myeloma cells using oligonucleotide arrays. Results; Discussion; Methodology.