title: alpha-Tocopheryl succinate inhibits proliferation of mesothelioma cells by selective down-regulation of fibroblast growth factor receptors.
abstract: alpha-Tocopheryl succinate (alpha-TOS), a redox-silent analogue of vitamin E, inhibits malignant mesotheliomas (MM) in a pre-clinical model. Here we investigated the underlying mechanism. Exposure of MM cells to alpha-TOS triggered apoptosis at higher and inhibited proliferation at lower concentrations, while this effect was not observed in non-malignant mesothelial cells. Sub-apoptotic doses of alpha-TOS caused down-regulation of fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) selectively in MM cells, while the effect on FGFR2 was only marginal. FGF1 and FGF2 enhanced MM cell proliferation that was suppressed by alpha-TOS. Over-expression of E2F1, a transcriptional factor of FGFR1, but not its dominant-negative counterpart, partially blocked the inhibitory activity of alpha-TOS on MM cell proliferation. Our data suggest a novel mechanism by which a clinically intriguing agent selectively suppresses proliferation of cancer cells, as shown here for the untreatable mesotheliomas.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Science, Griffith University, Southport, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stapelberg
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomasetti
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alleva
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gellert
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Procopio
authors.forename: Jiri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neuzil
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024505:Tocopherols; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050684:E2F Transcription Factors; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493753:E2F1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014810:Vitamin E; C496348:FGFR1 protein, human; C496353:FGFR2 protein, human; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051496:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; D024505:Tocopherols