title: Inhibition of PI3K, mTOR and MEK signaling pathways promotes rapid apoptosis in B-lineage ALL in the presence of stromal cell support.
abstract: Bone marrow stromal cells are essential for the differentiation, survival and proliferation of normal and leukemic human B-lineage cells. Leukemic cells require stromal cell support for optimal proliferation and apoptotic resistance. Stromal cell contact can promote resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. In this study, we have made use of small molecular weight inhibitors and an established stromal cell-dependent pre-B-ALL cell line, BLIN-2, to investigate the role of the MAP kinase, PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT and mTOR pathways in the promotion of leukemic cell growth in the presence of stromal cell support. Treatment with PI3K+JAK, PI3K+MEK, or MEK+JAK inhibitor combinations resulted in an inhibition of proliferation as measured by DNA synthesis. However, only inhibition of both PI3K and MEK or both mTOR and MEK resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of annexinV(+)/PI(+) apoptotic events within a 24 h period. Our data suggest that stromal cell-mediated apoptotic protection in B-lineage ALL is mediated by PI3K/mTOR and MEK via a synergistic mechanism(s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, NC 27858, USA. bertrandf@mail.ecu.edu
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Spengemen
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCubrey
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020930:MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D011494:Protein Kinases; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; C546842:MTOR protein, human