α-Tocopheryl succinate and derivatives mediate the transcriptional repression of androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells by targeting the PP2A-JNK-Sp1-signaling axis

• Published in: Carcinogenesis (New York) 2009-07, Vol.30 (7), p.1125-1131
• Main Authors: Huang, Po-Hsien, Wang, Dasheng, Chuang, Hsiao-Ching, Wei, Shuo, Kulp, Samuel K., Chen, Ching-Shih
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: alpha-Tocopherol - analogs & derivatives; alpha-Tocopherol - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer Biology; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Cell Line, Tumor; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Protein Phosphatase 2 - metabolism; Receptors, Androgen - physiology; Signal Transduction - physiology; Sp1 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic; Tumors; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland
• ISSN: 0143-3334; 1460-2180
• DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgp112

As part of our effort to understand the mechanism underlying α-tocopheryl succinate [vitamin E succinate (VES)]-mediated antitumor effects, we investigated the signaling pathway by which VES suppresses androgen receptor (AR) expression in prostate cancer cells. VES and, to a greater extent, its truncated derivative TS-1 mediated transcriptional repression of AR in prostate cancer cells but not in normal prostate epithelial cells; a finding that underscores the differential susceptibility of normal versus malignant cells to the antiproliferative effect of these agents. This AR repression was attributable to the ability of VES and TS-1 to facilitate the proteasomal degradation of the transcription factor Sp1. This mechanistic link was corroborated by the finding that proteasome inhibitors or ectopic expression of Sp1 protected cells against drug-induced AR ablation. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the destabilization of Sp1 by VES and TS-1 resulted from the inactivation of Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) as a consequence of increased phosphatase activity of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Stable transfection of LNCaP cells with the dominant-negative JNK1 plasmid mimicked drug-induced Sp1 repression, whereas constitutive activation of JNK kinase activity or inhibition of PP2A activity by okadaic acid protected Sp1 from VES- and TS-1-induced degradation. From a mechanistic perspective, the ability of VES and TS-1 to activate PP2A activity underscores their broad spectrum of effects on multiple signaling mechanisms, including those mediated by Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinases, nuclear factor kappaB, Sp1 and AR. This pleiotropic effect in conjunction with low toxicity suggests the translational potential for developing TS-1 into potent PP2A-activating agents for cancer therapy.