Down-regulation of myeloid cell leukemia-1 through inhibiting Erk/Pin 1 pathway by sorafenib facilitates chemosensitization in breast cancer

• Published in: Cancer research (Chicago, Ill.) Ill.), 2008-08, Vol.68 (15), p.6109-6117
• Main Authors: Ding, Qingqing, Huo, Longfei, Yang, Jer-Yen, Xia, Weiya, Wei, Yongkun, Liao, Yong, Chang, Chun-Ju, Yang, Yan, Lai, Chien-Chen, Lee, Dung-Fang, Yen, Chia-Jui, Chen, Yun-Ju Rita, Hsu, Jung-Mao, Kuo, Hsu-Ping, Lin, Chun-Yi, Tsai, Fuu-Jen, Li, Long-Yuan, Tsai, Chang-Hai, Hung, Mien-Chie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Benzenesulfonates - pharmacology; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cell Line, Tumor; Down-Regulation; Humans; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; Niacinamide - analogs & derivatives; NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase; Peptidylprolyl Isomerase - metabolism; Phenylurea Compounds; Phosphorylation; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 - physiology; Pyridines - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0008-5472; 1538-7445
• DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-0579

Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), a Bcl-2-like antiapoptotic protein, plays a role in cell immortalization and chemoresistance in a number of human malignancies. A peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, Pin1 is involved in many cellular events, such as cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, and differentiation through isomerizing prophosphorylated substrates. It has been reported that down-regulation of Pin1 induces apoptosis, and that Erk phosphorylates and up-regulates Mcl-1; however, the underlying mechanisms for the two phenomena are not clear yet. Here, we showed that Pin 1 stabilizes Mcl-1, which is required for Mcl-1 posphorylation by Erk. First, we found expression of Mcl-1 and Pin1 were positively correlated and associated with poor survival in human breast cancer. We then showed that Erk could phosphorylate Mcl-1 at two consensus residues, Thr 92 and 163, which is required for the association of Mcl-1 and Pin1, resulting in stabilization of Mcl-1. Moreover, Pin1 is also required for the up-regulation of Mcl-1 by Erk activation. Based on this newly identified mechanism of Mcl-1 stabilization, two strategies were used to overcome Mcl-1-mediated chemoresistance: inhibiting Erk by Sorafenib, an approved clinical anticancer drug, or knocking down Pin1 by using a SiRNA technique. In conclusion, the current report not only unravels a novel mechanism to link Erk/Pin1 pathway and Mcl-1-mediated chemoresistance but also provides a plausible combination therapy, Taxol (Paclitaxel) plus Sorafenib, which was shown to be effective in killing breast cancer cells.