title: NPM-ALK oncogenic kinase promotes cell-cycle progression through activation of JNK/cJun signaling in anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.
abstract: Anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) frequently carries the t(2;5)(p23;q35), resulting in aberrant expression of nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK). We show that in 293T and Jurkat cells, forced expression of active NPM-ALK, but not kinase-dead mutant NPM-ALK (210K>R), induced JNK and cJun phosphorylation, and this was linked to a dramatic increase in AP-1 transcriptional activity. Conversely, inhibition of ALK activity in NPM-ALK(+) ALCL cells resulted in a concentration-dependent dephosphorylation of JNK and cJun and decreased AP-1 DNA-binding. In addition, JNK physically binds NPM-ALK and is highly activated in cultured and primary NPM-ALK(+) ALCL cells. cJun phosphorylation in NPM-ALK(+) ALCL cells is mediated by JNKs, as shown by selective knocking down of JNK1 and JNK2 genes using siRNA. Inhibition of JNK activity using SP600125 decreased cJun phosphorylation and AP-1 transcriptional activity and this was associated with decreased cell proliferation and G2/M cell-cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner. Silencing of the cJun gene by siRNA led to a decreased S-phase cell-cycle fraction associated with upregulation of p21 and downregulation of cyclin D3 and cyclin A. Taken together, these findings reveal a novel function of NPM-ALK, phosphorylation and activation of JNK and cJun, which may contribute to uncontrolled cell-cycle progression and oncogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leventaki
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drakos
authors.forename: L Jeffrey
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Megan S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Kojo S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Elenitoba-Johnson
authors.forename: Francois X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Claret
authors.forename: George Z
authors.initials: GZ
authors.lastname: Rassidakis
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002889:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002895:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D056743:Cyclin D3; D016213:Cyclins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; C534696:CCND3 protein, human; D019925:Cyclin A; D056743:Cyclin D3; D016213:Cyclins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; C432165:pyrazolanthrone; C107023:p80(NPM-ALK) protein; D048056:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 9; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8