PIM kinase isoform specific regulation of MIG6 expression and EGFR signaling in prostate cancer cells

Oncotarget. 2011 Dec;2(12):1134-44. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.386.

Abstract

The PIM family of oncogenic serine/threonine kinases regulates tumour cell proliferation. To identify proliferative signaling pathways that are regulated by PIM kinases we analyzed gene expression differences in DU-145 and PC3 prostate cancer derived cells induced by treatment with the recently developed highly selective PIM kinase inhibitor M-110. This identified 97 genes the expression of which is affected by M-110 in both cell lines. We then focused on the M-110 induced up regulation of the MIG6 gene that encodes a negative regulator of EGFR signaling. Here we show that M-110 and the structurally unrelated PIM kinase inhibitor SGI-1776 up regulate MIG6 in DU-145 and PC3 cells. Knockdown of PIM-1 but not of PIM-2 or PIM-3 also up regulates MIG6 expression, which identifies MIG6 as a PIM-1 regulated gene. In agreement with the role of MIG6 protein as a negative regulator of EGFR signaling we found that M-110 treatment inhibits EGF induced EGFR activation and the activation of the downstream ERK MAPkinase pathway. The biological significance of these findings are demonstrated by the fact that co-treatment of DU-145 or PC3 cells with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor Gefitinib and M-110 or SGI-1776 has synergistic inhibitory effects on cell proliferation. These experiments define a novel biological function of PIM-1 as a co-regulator of EGFR signaling and suggest that PIM inhibitors may be used in combination therapies to increase the efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Gefitinib
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / genetics
  • Male
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1 / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1 / metabolism*
  • Pyridazines / pharmacology
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • ERRFI1 protein, human
  • Imidazoles
  • PIM2 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Pyridazines
  • Quinazolines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • SGI 1776
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • ErbB Receptors
  • PIM3 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Gefitinib