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Ann M Bode

Publications and source records attributed to Ann M Bode.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Arsenite-induced phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 is mediated by Akt1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2, and p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 but not mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1.

Arsenite is known to be an environmental human carcinogen. However, the mechanism of action of this compound in skin carcinogenesis is not completely clear. Here, we provide evidence that arsenite can induce phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 in a time- and dose-dependent manner in JB6 Cl 41 cells. Arsenite induces phosphorylation of Akt1 at serine 473 and increases Akt1 activity. A dominant-negative mutant of Akt1 inhibits the arsenite-induced phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10. Additionally, active Akt1 kinase strongly phosphorylates histone H3 at serine 10 in vitro. The arsenite-induced phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 was almost completely blocked by a dominant-negative mutant of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor PD98059. N- or C-terminal mutant mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 or its inhibitor H89 had no effect on arsenite-induced phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 in JB6 Cl 41 cells. However, cells deficient in p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 (Rsk2(-/-)) totally block this phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggested that arsenite-induced phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine 10 is mediated by Akt1, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 and p90 ribosomal S6 kinase 2 but not mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1.

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Pifithrin-alpha promotes p53-mediated apoptosis in JB6 cells.

Recently, blockage of p53-dependent transcriptional activation and apoptosis by pifithrin-alpha (PFTalpha) has been reported to be useful for reducing the side effects of cancer therapy and the compound is thus thought to be a specific inhibitor of p53 [Komarov et al., Science 1999;285:1733-1737]. Here, we found that PFTalpha did not inhibit UVB- or doxorubicin (Dox)-stimulated p53-mediated transcriptional activation and apoptosis in JB6 cells. Instead, p53-dependent activation and apoptosis were not only induced by PFTalpha itself but were also enhanced by a combination of PFTalpha with UVB or Dox. Furthermore, PFTalpha-induced apoptosis was mediated through p53-dependent and -independent signaling pathways. Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and p38 kinase, but not c-jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), were activated, and these activations were required for phosphorylation and accumulation of p53 in the cellular apoptotic response to PFTalpha. Thus, we conclude that PFTalpha is not a specific p53 inhibitor in JB6 cells but is a potential activator of p53-mediated signaling and apoptosis.

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NS-398 and piroxicam suppress UVB-induced activator protein 1 activity by mechanisms independent of cyclooxygenase-2.

Cyclooxygenases (COX) are rate-limiting enzymes that catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, which are involved in many physiological and pathophysiological responses. COX-2, one of two isoforms of COX, was recently found to play an important role in carcinogenesis in many cell and tissue types. COX-2 inhibitors, which belong to the family of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are believed to be effective in many biological activities such as tumor chemoprevention because of their inhibition of COX-2. However, in the present study we found that both piroxicam, a general COX inhibitor, and NS-398, a COX-2 selective inhibitor, effectively suppressed the activation of transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1) induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in mouse epidermal JB6 cells. These COX-2 inhibitors could also inhibit 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced cell transformation. UVB significantly increased AP-1 activity in Cox-2(-/-) fibroblasts transfected with an AP-1 luciferase reporter gene, and this increase was blocked by NS-389 or piroxicam. In JB6, Cox-2(-/-), or wild-type Cox-2(+/+) cells, both NS-398 and piroxicam inhibited UVB-induced phosphorylation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinases, the kinases that activate the AP-1/c-Jun complex. Based on our results, we propose that the inhibition of AP-1 activity by COX-2 inhibitors NS-398 or piroxicam may occur by a mechanism that is independent of COX-2.

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Differential gene expression profiles of Jnk1- and Jnk2-deficient murine fibroblast cells.

c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) 1 and JNK2 have been assumed to complement each other and mediate the same or similar biological functions. However, our recent reports indicated that 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced tumor development is suppressed in Jnk2 knockout mice but enhanced in Jnk1 knockout mice. In the present work, primary embryo cells were isolated from wild-type, Jnk1(-/-) and Jnk2(-/-) mice and used for cDNA microarray analysis. The patterns of gene expression in Jnk1(-/-), Jnk2(-/-), and wild-type cells are different. After 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate treatment, the changes in the gene expression profiles in three different kinds of cells appear to agree with the differences in susceptibility to tumorigenesis of each respective animal model. These results suggest that JNK1 and JNK2 proteins have different roles in modulating cell function.

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Deficiency of c-Jun-NH(2)-terminal kinase-1 in mice enhances skin tumor development by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

The c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) has been implicated in regulating cell survival, apoptosis, and transformation. However, the distinct role of JNK isoforms in regulating tumor development is not yet clear. We have found previously that skin tumor formation induced by the tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), is suppressed in JNK2-deficient (Jnk2(-/-)) mice. Here, we show that JNK1-deficient (Jnk1(-/-)) mice are more susceptible to TPA-induced skin tumor development than wild-type mice. The rate of tumor development in Jnk1(-/-) mice was significantly more rapid than that observed in wild-type mice (P < 0.0001). At the end of 33 weeks of TPA promotion, the number of skin tumors and tumors >1.5 mm in diameter per mouse in Jnk1(-/-) mice was significantly increased by 71% (P < 0.03) and 82% (P < 0.03), respectively, relative to the wild-type mice. Furthermore, the carcinoma incidence and the number of carcinomas per mouse were also higher in Jnk1(-/-) mice. Strikingly, Jnk1(-/-) mouse skin was more sensitive to TPA-induced AP-1 DNA binding activity and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and Akt, which are two important survival signaling components. These results suggest that JNK1 is a crucial suppressor of skin tumor development.

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Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 is mediated by the p38/MSK1 pathway in response to UVB irradiation.

In resting cells, eIF4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) binds to the eukaryotic initiation factor-4E (eIF-4E), preventing formation of a functional eIF-4F complex essential for cap-dependent initiation of translation. Phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 dissociates it from eIF-4E, relieving the translation block. Studies suggested that insulin- or growth factor-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation is mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) and its downstream protein kinase, Akt. In the present study we demonstrated that UVB induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation at multiple sites, Thr-36, Thr-45, Ser-64, and Thr-69, leading to dissociation of 4E-BP1 from eIF-4E. UVB-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 was blocked by p38 kinase inhibitors, PD169316 and SB202190, and MSK1 inhibitor, H89, but not by mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors, PD98059 or U0126. The PI3-kinase inhibitor, wortmannin, did not block UVB-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, but blocked both UVB- and insulin-induced activation of PI3-kinase and phosphorylation of Akt. 4E-BP1 phosphorylation was blocked in JB6 Cl 41 cells expressing a dominant negative p38 kinase or dominant negative MSK1, but not in cells expressing dominant negative ERK2, JNK1, or PI3-kinase p85 subunit. Our results suggest that UVB induces phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, leading to the functional dissociation of 4E-BP1 from eIF-4E. The p38/MSK1 pathway, but not PI3-kinase or Akt, is required for mediating the UVB-induced 4E-BP1 phosphorylation.

Androstadienes↗

The paradox of arsenic: molecular mechanisms of cell transformation and chemotherapeutic effects.

Arsenic is a well-documented carcinogen that also appears to be a valuable therapeutic tool in cancer treatment. This creates a paradox for which no unified hypothesis has been reached regarding the molecular mechanisms that determine whether arsenic will act as a carcinogen or as an effectual chemotherapeutic agent. Much of our knowledge with respect to the actions of arsenic has been drawn from epidemiological or clinical studies. The actions of arsenic are likely to be related to cell type, arsenic species, and length and dose of exposure. Arsenic unquestionably induces apoptosis and may specifically target certain tumor cells. Research data strongly suggest that arsenic influences distinct signaling pathways involved in mediating proliferation or apoptosis, including mitogen-activated protein kinases, p53, activator protein-1 or nuclear factor kappa B. The primary purpose of this review is to examine recent findings, from this laboratory and others, that focus on the molecular mechanisms of arsenic's actions in cell transformation and as a therapeutic agent.

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Requirement of ATM in UVA-induced signaling and apoptosis.

Solar UVA, but not UVC, reaches the earth's surface and therefore is an important etiological factor for the induction of human skin cancer. ATM kinase is an important regulator of cell survival and cell cycle checkpoints. Here, we observe that UVA, unlike UVC, triggers ATM kinase activity, and the activation may occur through reactive oxygen species produced after irradiation of cells with UVA. We also show that ATM activation is involved in the apoptotic response to UVA but not UVC. Furthermore, we provide evidence that ATM-dependent p53 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways are linked to UVA-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, UVC-induced apoptosis occurs through ATR-dependent p53 phosphorylation as well as the JNK pathway. Therefore, these results suggest that ATM, like p53, is involved in the UVA-induced apoptosis to suppress carcinogenesis.

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