title: Differential regulation of survivin expression and apoptosis by vitamin D3 compounds in two isogenic MCF-7 breast cancer cell sublines.
abstract: Although both the antiapoptotic function of survivin and vitamin D3 (VD3)-mediated cell growth inhibition and apoptosis have been extensively studied, it is not known whether survivin plays a role in VD3 compound-mediated cell growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. Using an isogenic model of MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells (MCF-7E and MCF-7L sublines that are sensitive and resistant to VD3 compounds), we found that VD3 compounds effectively downregulated survivin in VD3-sensitive MCF-7E cells, which was associated with VD3-induced apoptosis. In contrast, VD3 compounds failed to downregulate survivin in VD3-resistant MCF-7L cells, which showed resistant to VD3-induced apoptosis. However, inhibition of survivin expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) induced cell death per se and further sensitized VD3-induced apoptosis in MCF-7L cells, indicating that the inability of these cells to respond to VD3 is due to the failure to downregulate survivin. Forced expression of survivin not only blocked VD3-mediated G1 cell accumulation but also increased S and G2/M cell populations. VD3 treatment rapidly triggered the activation of p38 MAPK signaling in MCF-7E cells but not in MCF-7L cells. Moreover, inhibition of p38 activation diminished VD3-mediated survivin inhibition and partially rescued VD3-induced cell death. We further showed that VD3 increased the expression of TGF(beta)1 and TGF(beta) receptor 2, and that blocking the function of TGF(beta) receptor 2 diminished VD3 compound-mediated survivin downregulation. Thus, we propose that the VD3 compound-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis induction are at least partially dependent on survivin downregulation via VD3-induced TGFbeta signaling and the activation of p38 MAPK pathway. Targeting survivin through these pathways may lead to novel applications for cancer therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Grace Cancer Drug Center, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA. fengzhi.li@roswellpark.org
authors.forename: Fengzhi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Huayi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brattain
authors.forename: Pasha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apontes
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Binderup
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Brattain
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010766:Phosphorylation; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D000077022:Survivin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000077022:Survivin; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D002762:Cholecalciferol; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases