title: VEGF induces Mcl-1 up-regulation and protects multiple myeloma cells against apoptosis.
abstract: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) triggers multiple myeloma (MM) cell proliferation and protects against apoptosis by up-regulating myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces modest proliferation of MM cells and induces IL-6 secretion in a paracrine loop involving MM cells and bone marrow stromal cells. Using murine embryonic fibroblast cell lines as a model (Mcl-1(wt/wt) and Mcl-1(Delta/null) MEFs), we here demonstrate that deletion of Mcl-1 reduces fetal bovine serum (FBS)-, VEGF-, and IL-6-induced proliferation. We also show that VEGF up-regulates Mcl-1 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in 3 human MM cell lines and MM patient cells. Importantly, we demonstrate that the pan-VEGF inhibitor, GW654652, inhibits VEGF-induced up-regulation of Mcl-1 and, as with Mcl-1 siRNA, is associated with decreased proliferation and induction of apoptosis. Finally, we show that VEGF protects MM patient cells against FBS starvation-induced apoptosis. Our studies therefore demonstrate that VEGF-induced MM cell proliferation and survival are mediated via Mcl-1, providing the preclinical framework for novel therapeutics targeting Mcl-1 and/or VEGF to improve patient outcome in MM.
authors.affiliation: Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Gouill
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Podar
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amiot
authors.forename: Teru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hideshima
authors.forename: Dharminder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishitsuka
authors.forename: Shaji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Noopur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raje
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harousseau
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D015850:Interleukin-6; C579094:Mcl1 protein, mouse; D064549:Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine