title: Inhibition of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway by the novel antimetastatic agent NAMI-A down regulates c-myc gene expression and endothelial cell proliferation.
abstract: Imidazolium trans-imidazoledimethyl sulfoxide-tetrachlororuthenate (NAMI-A) is a novel ruthenium-containing experimental antimetastatic agent. Compelling evidence ascribes a pivotal role to endothelial cells in the orchestration of tumor angiogenesis and metastatic growth, suggesting antiangiogenic therapy as an attractive approach for anticancer treatment. In this context, activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway has been found fundamental in transducing extracellular stimuli that modulate a number of cellular process including cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Here we show that exposure of the transformed endothelial cell line ECV304 to NAMI-A significantly inhibited DNA synthesis, as well as the expression of the proliferating cell nuclear antigene (PCNA). These responses were associated with a marked down-regulation of ERK phosphorylation in serum-cultured cells. In addition, NAMI-A markedly reduced serum stimulated- and completely suppressed phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-triggered MAPK/ERK kinase activity. NAMI-A was also able to inhibit the phosphorylation of MEK, the upstream activator of ERK, and, similar to both the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor GF109203X and the MAPK/ERK (MEK) inhibitor PD98059, it completely counteracted PMA-induced ERK phosphorylation. Finally, NAMI-A and PD98059 down regulated c-myc gene expression to the same extent in serum-cultured cells and dose-dependently counteracted, and ultimately abolished, the increase in c-myc gene expression elicited by PMA in serum-free cells. These results suggest that inhibition of MEK/ERK signaling by NAMI-A may have an important role in modulating c-myc gene expression and ECV304 proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Biochemistry, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, University of Sassari, Italy. gpintus@uniss.it
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pintus
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tadolini
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Posadino
authors.forename: Bastiano
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debidda
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bennardini
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sava
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ventura
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D004261:DNA Replication; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; C113661:imidazolium-bis(imidazole)dimethylsulfoxideimidazotetrachlororuthenate(III); D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide