title: Sensitization of apoptotically-resistant breast carcinoma cells to TNF and TRAIL by inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling.
abstract: The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is a critical component in the regulation of cell survival and proliferation decisions. In breast carcinoma cells, activation of the p38-MAPK member of this family occurs in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines and cellular stress. The involvement of p38-MAPK in the activation of the transcription factor, NF-kappaB, suggests a potential role and mechanism for regulation of cell survival and drug resistance. Generation of the resistant MCF-7 variant (MCF-7TN-R) was achieved by prolonged exposure of MCF-7N cells to increasing concentrations of TNF. Differences in MAPK activation and function in the MCF-7 cell variants were determined. The role of the p38-MAPK pathway in regulation of resistance was determined using pharmacological (SB 203580) or molecular [Dominant Inhibitory (DI)-p38] inhibition. The effect of p38 inhibition on NF-kappaB transcriptional activation was analyzed. As compared to the sensitive MCF-7N parent cell line, the MCF-7TN-R cell line displayed significant resistance to TNF- and TRAIL-induced cell death. Analysis of the expression and phosphorylation of members of the MAPK family revealed an increased basal activation of p38 in the MCF-7TN-R variant. The p38-mediated phosphorylation and transcriptional activity were suppressed by pharmacologic inhibition with SB 230580. Treatment of MCF-7TN-R cells with SB partially restored sensitivity to TNF-induced cell death. In addition, use of a DI-p38 construct with or without the addition to TNF induced cell death, thus restoring TNF-sensitivity to these cells. The ability of p38 inhibition to restore apoptotic sensitivity was correlated with suppression of the TNF-induced cell survival pathway, NF-kappaB. The increased activation of p38-MAPK in MCF-7TN-R cells demonstrates that this signaling pathway through activation of NF-kappaB is an important route for control of resistance to cell death in breast carcinoma. Molecular and pharmacological inhibition of p38-MAPK signaling may represent a mechanism for sensitizing cancer cells to chemotherapeutic regimens and restoration of apoptotic signaling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Weldon
authors.forename: Amanda P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Patten
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dugan
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Coakley
authors.forename: Nancy N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: Jawed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.forename: Tyler J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Curiel
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Beckman
authors.forename: Bernard M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Jaffe
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Burow
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008156:Luciferases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases