title: Simvastatin inhibits malignant transformation following expression of the Ha-ras oncogene in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts.
abstract: In previous studies we have shown that the expression of the transforming Ha-ras oncogene in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts stimulates cellular calcium entry, which triggers oscillatory calcium induced calcium release from internal stores. The intracellular calcium oscillations lead to cytoskeletal remodeling by actin stress fiber depolymerization and activation of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger thus mediating cell swelling and intracellular alkalosis, both important mitogenic signals. This is evidenced by abrogation of Ha-ras induced growth factor independent cell proliferation by interference with any of these events, i.e. by inhibition of cellular calcium entry or inhibition of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger. As shown in this study, simvastatin, an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the key enzyme for cholesterol biosynthesis, is able to prevent these events following the expression of the transforming Ha-ras oncogene. We show, that simvastatin inhibits farnesylation dependent membrane translocation of a CAAX motive bearing yellow fluorescent protein and suppresses Ha-ras stimulated cellular calcium influx, which can be identified as capacitative calcium entry. In addition simvastatin is able to block regulatory volume decrease channels and to suppress the cytoskeletal remodeling, intracellular alkalinization, increase in cell volume and growth factor independent cell proliferation induced by the oncogene. Thus simvastatin is able to prevent crucial cellular events following expression of the transforming Ha-ras oncogene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl-Strasse 3, A-6010 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fürst
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chwatal
authors.forename: Ewald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wöll
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Dartsch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gschwentner
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dienstl
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zwierzina
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paulmichl
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ritter
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000187:drug effects; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017368:Protein Prenylation / Q000502:physiology; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007473:Ion Channels; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C054562:yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria; D019821:Simvastatin; D002118:Calcium