title: Retinoblastoma cells are inhibited by aminoimidazole carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) partially through activation of AMP-dependent kinase.
abstract: 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-4-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an analog of AMP, is widely used as an activator of AMP-kinase (AMPK), a protein that regulates the responses of the cell to energy change. We studied the effects of AICAR on the growth of retinoblastoma cell lines (Y79, WERI, and RB143). AICAR inhibited Rb cell growth, induced apoptosis and S-phase cell cycle arrest, and led to activation of AMPK. These effects were abolished by treatment with dypiridamole, an inhibitor that blocks entrance of AICAR into cells. Treatment with the adenosine kinase inhibitor 5-iodotubericidin to inhibit the conversion of AICAR to ZMP (the direct activator of AMPK) reversed most of the growth-inhibiting effects of AICAR, indicating that some of the antiproliferative effects of AICAR are mediated through AMPK activation. In addition, AICAR treatment was associated with inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, decreased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein-S6 and 4E-BP1, down-regulation of cyclins A and E, and decreased expression of p21. Our results indicate that AICAR-induced activation of AMPK inhibits retinoblastoma cell growth. This is one of the first descriptions of a nonchemotherapeutic drug with low toxicity that may be effective in treating Rb patients.
authors.affiliation: Retina Service, Angiogenesis Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulou
authors.forename: Paraskevi E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Kolovou
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morizane
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kayama
authors.forename: Fotini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicolaou
authors.forename: Joan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gragoudas
authors.forename: Bruce R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Ksander
authors.forename: Demetrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Vavvas
mesh_terms: D000263:Adenylate Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012265:Ribonucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D012265:Ribonucleotides; D000620:Aminoimidazole Carboxamide; D000263:Adenylate Kinase; C031143:AICA ribonucleotide