title: DNA damage-induced modulation of GLUT3 expression is mediated through p53-independent extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling in HeLa cells.
abstract: Many cancer cells exhibit increased rates of uptake and metabolism of glucose compared with normal cells. Glucose uptake in mammalian cells is mediated by the glucose transporter (GLUT) family. Here, we report that DNA-damaging anticancer agents such as Adriamycin and etoposide suppressed the expression of GLUT3, but not GLUT1, in HeLa cells and a tumorigenic HeLa cell hybrid. Suppression of GLUT3 expression determined by the real-time PCR was also evident with another DNA-damaging agent, camptothecin, which reduced the promoter's activity as determined with a luciferase-linked assay. The suppression by these agents seemed to be induced independently of p53, and it was evident when wild-type p53 was overproduced in these cells. In contrast, the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor U0126 (but not the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002) prevented the drug-induced suppression as determined by reverse transcription-PCR and promoter assays. Furthermore, overexpression of GLUT3 in HeLa cell hybrids increased resistance to these drugs, whereas depletion of the gene by small interfering RNA rendered the cells more sensitive to the drugs, decreasing glucose consumption. The results suggest that DNA-damaging agents reduce GLUT3 expression in cancer cells through activation of the MEK-ERK pathway independently of p53, leading to cell death or apoptosis. The findings may contribute to the development of new chemotherapeutic drugs based on the GLUT3-dependent metabolism of glucose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Pathology, Iwate Medical University, School of Pharmacy, 2-1-1 Nishitokuta, Yahaba, Shiwa, Iwate 028-3694, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Naraba
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakyo
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016923:Cell Death / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051274:Glucose Transporter Type 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002070:Butadienes; D051274:Glucose Transporter Type 3; D009570:Nitriles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495687:SLC2A3 protein, human; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C113580:U 0126; D004317:Doxorubicin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D002945:Cisplatin; D002166:Camptothecin