title: Effects of statins and farnesyl transferase inhibitors on ERK phosphorylation, apoptosis and cell viability in non-small lung cancer cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) can affect post-translational processes, thus being responsible for decreased farnesylation and geranylgeranylation of intracellular small G proteins such as Ras, Rho and Rac, essential for cell survival and proliferation. In this regard, recent in vitro and in vivo studies suggest a possible role for both statins and farnesyl transferase inhibitors in the treatment of malignancies. Within such a context, the aim of our study was to investigate effects of either simvastatin (at concentrations of 1, 15, and 30 μm) or the farnesyl transferase inhibitor R115777 (at concentrations of 0.1, 1, and 10 μm), on two cultures of human non-small lung cancer cells, adenocarcinoma (GLC-82) and squamous (CALU-1) cell lines. In particular, we evaluated actions of these two drugs on phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 group of mitogen-activated protein kinases and on apoptosis, plus on cell numbers and morphology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Western blotting was used to detect ERK phosphorylation, and to assess apoptosis by evaluating caspase-3 activation; apoptosis was also further assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay. Cell counting was performed after trypan blue staining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In both GLC-82 and CALU-1 cell lines, simvastatin and R115777 significantly reduced ERK phosphorylation; this effect, which reached the greatest intensity after 36 h treatment, was paralleled by a concomitant induction of apoptosis, documented by significant increase in both caspase-3 activation and TUNEL-positive cells, associated with a reduction in cell numbers. Our results thus suggest that simvastatin and R115777 may exert, in susceptible lung cancer cell phenotypes, a pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activity, which appears to be mediated by inhibition of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signalling cascade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. pelaia@unicz.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelaia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallelli
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Renda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fratto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caraglia
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Busceti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Terracciano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatrella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Savino
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D015363:Quinolones; D019821:Simvastatin; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D053148:Caspase 3; C402769:tipifarnib