title: Molecular mechanism for growth suppression of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by acyclic retinoid.
abstract: We have reported previously that acyclic retinoid, a synthetic retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha)-ligand, suppresses the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic liver disease. On the other hand, HCCs become refractory to physiological concentrations of the natural RXRalpha-ligand, 9-cis retinoic acid (9cRA), due to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) 1/2-mediated phosphorylation and inactivation of RXRalpha. Here, we show that acyclic retinoid restores the function of RXRalpha in human HCC-derived HuH7 cells by inactivating the Ras-Erk 1/2 signaling system, thereby dephosphorylating RXRalpha. In contrast, 9cRA failed to suppress phosphoErk 1/2 levels and subsequent RXRalpha phosphorylation. Although 9cRA also suppressed Ras activity, it simultaneously down-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1, an enzyme that inactivates Erk, thereby leaving the phosphorylation status of Erk unchanged. A combination of 9cRA (a potent ligand) and acyclic retinoid (a weak ligand preventing phosphorylation) resulted in a marked cooperation in transactivation via the RXR-response element and in inhibiting the proliferation of HuH7 cells. These events provide a novel molecular basis for the antitumor activity of acyclic retinoid against HCC.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matsushima-Nishiwaki
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okuno
authors.forename: Yukihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Hisataka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D054638:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010768:Phosphoserine / Q000378:metabolism; D054645:Protein Phosphatase 1; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D010768:Phosphoserine; D014212:Tretinoin; C034534:3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2,4,6,10,14-hexadecapentaenoic acid; D008156:Luciferases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D054645:Protein Phosphatase 1; C517019:DUSP1 protein, human; D054638:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1; D017027:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases; D018631:ras Proteins