Inhibitors of histone deacetylases target the Rb-E2F1 pathway for apoptosis induction through activation of proapoptotic protein Bim.
Inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACIs) are a new generation of anticancer agents that selectively kill tumor cells. However, the molecular basis for their tumor selectivity is not well understood. We investigated the effects of HDACIs on the oncogenic Rb-E2F1 pathway, which is frequently deregulated in human cancers. Here, we report that cancer cells with elevated E2F1 activity, caused either by enforced E2F1 expression, or by E1A oncogene expression, are highly susceptible to HDACI-induced cell death. This E2F1-mediated apoptosis is neither p53- nor p73-dependent but proceeds through selective induction of proapoptotic BH3-only protein Bim. We show that Bim is a direct target of E2F1 and that HDAC inhibition promotes the recruitment of E2F1 to the Bim promoter. Moreover, silencing of Bim by specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) effectively abolishes the E2F1-mediated cell death sensitization to HDACIs. These findings suggest that the oncogenic E2F1 pathway participates in HDACIs-induced apoptosis in cancer cells and underscore the importance of Bim as a key mediator of oncogene-induced apoptosis. Our study provides an important insight into the molecular mechanism of tumor selectivity of HDACIs and predicts that, clinically, HDACIs will be more effective in tumors with high E2F1 activity.
Zhao
Yan
Y
Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Genome Building, No. 02-01, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672.
Tan
Jing
J
Zhuang
Li
L
Jiang
Xia
X
Liu
Edison T
ET
Yu
Qiang
Q
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D002460:Cell Line; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000606775:BCL2L11 protein, human; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493753:E2F1 protein, human; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein