BCR-ABL regulates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-p110gamma transcription and activation and is required for proliferation and drug resistance

J Biol Chem. 2006 Feb 3;281(5):2441-50. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M511173200. Epub 2005 Nov 16.

Abstract

The BCR-ABL oncogene is the hallmark of chronic myeloid leukemia, a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder. BCR-ABL displays constitutive tyrosine kinase activity, required for its transformation ability. Although the molecular mechanisms behind this malignancy are not fully understood, a role for phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase has been repeatedly described. Here we report the specific up-regulation of the class I(B) catalytic subunit of PI 3-kinase (p110gamma) in response to BCR-ABL expression. We demonstrate that this upregulation is due to increased transcription and is dependent on both PI 3-kinase and MEK activity. We performed in vitro kinase activity assays and show that BCR-ABL also leads to increased p110gamma activity and that this activation requires both G protein-coupled receptor and Ras signaling. In addition, by transfection of cells with dominant negative p110gamma, we determined that this specific PI 3-kinase isoform is involved in both proliferation and the apoptosis resistance associated with chronic myeloid leukemia. The data presented here define for the first time the ability of BCR-ABL to alter the expression levels of PI 3-kinase isoforms and also demonstrate a previously unreported link between BCR-ABL and p110gamma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Drug Resistance
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / pathology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Up-Regulation
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • PIK3CB protein, human
  • Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
  • ras Proteins