Gene expression analysis of gallium-resistant and gallium-sensitive lymphoma cells reveals a role for metal-responsive transcription factor-1, metallothionein-2A, and zinc transporter-1 in modulating the antineoplastic activity of gallium nitrate.
Several clinical trials have shown gallium nitrate to be an active agent in the treatment of lymphoma. Whereas gallium is known to target cellular iron homeostasis, the basis for lymphoma cell resistance to gallium is not known. Understanding mechanisms of resistance may suggest strategies to enhance the clinical efficacy of gallium. In the present study, we used a focused DNA microarray to compare the expression of genes related to metal metabolism in gallium-resistant and gallium-sensitive lymphoma cell lines developed by us. Gallium-resistant cells were found to display a marked increase in gene expression for metallothionein-2A and the zinc transporter ZnT-1. Cells exposed to gallium nitrate displayed an increase in the binding of metal-responsive transcription factor-1 to metal response element sequences involved in the transcriptional regulation of metallothionein and ZnT-1 genes. Gallium nitrate induced metallothionein-2A and ZnT-1 expression in cells. A role for metallothionein in modulating the antineoplastic activity of gallium was confirmed by showing that the induction of metallothionein expression by zinc provided partial protection against the cytotoxicity of gallium and by showing that the level of endogenous metallothionein in lymphoma cell lines correlated with their sensitivity to gallium nitrate. Immunohistochemical staining of lymphomatous tissues revealed metallothionein protein to be variably expressed in different lymphomas. Our studies show for the first time that gallium acts on pathways related to zinc metabolism and that metal-responsive transcription factor-1 activity and metallothionein expression contribute to the development of gallium drug resistance. Furthermore, the endogenous level of metallothionein in lymphoma may be an important determinant of clinical response to gallium nitrate.
Yang
Meiying
M
Division of Neoplastic Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
Kroft
Steven H
SH
Chitambar
Christopher R
CR
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D005708:Gallium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D000097809:Transcription Factor MTF-1
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005708:Gallium; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008668:Metallothionein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097809:Transcription Factor MTF-1; C498299:SLC30A1 protein, human; C027235:gallium nitrate