Regulation of calpain activity by c-Myc through calpastatin and promotion of transformation in c-Myc-negative cells by calpastatin suppression.
The c-Myc transcription factor is commonly dysregulated in cancer. c-Myc also sensitizes cells to apoptosis induced by a variety of toxic events. c-Myc turnover is rapid and mediated by the proteasome and intracellular calpains. Therefore, c-Myc accumulation could contribute to cell death associated with protease inhibitors. We investigated the response of c-Myc-positive and c-Myc-negative rat fibroblast cells to proteasome and calpain inhibitors. Apoptosis induced by the proteasome inhibitor, epoxomycin, was c-Myc-independent, whereas apoptosis induced by the calpain inhibitor, PD150606, or by knockdown of calpain small subunit 1 (CPNS1) was strongly dependent on c-Myc. HL60 cells knocked down for c-Myc expression exhibited reduced calpain activity and decreased sensitivity to PD150606 but not epoxomycin. Calpain inhibitor- or CPNS1 knockdown-induced apoptosis in c-Myc-positive fibroblasts was associated with cell detachment and could be prevented by plating cells on fibronectin, suggesting an anoikis phenomenon. c-Myc stimulated calpain activity by suppressing calpastatin expression, the endogenous calpain inhibitor. Knockdown of calpastatin in c-Myc-negative cells led to a restoration of calpain activity, enhanced cell growth, cell cycle redistribution, anchorage independence, and tumorigenicity in immunodeficient mice. Taken together, these results indicate that c-Myc regulates calpain activity through calpastatin; apoptosis induced by calpain inhibition is dependent on c-Myc, and calpastatin knockdown promotes transformation in c-Myc-negative cells.
Niapour
Maryam
M
Arthritis and Immune Disorder Research Centre, University Health Network and the Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Yu
Yongmao
Y
Berger
Stuart A
SA
D000179:Acrylates / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002154:Calpain / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats
D000179:Acrylates; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005353:Fibronectins; C100442:PD 150606; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C033668:calpastatin; D002154:Calpain