KRAS(G12D)- and BRAF(V600E)-induced transformation of murine pancreatic epithelial cells requires MEK/ERK-stimulated IGF1R signaling.

Mutation of KRAS is a common initiating event in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Yet, the specific roles of KRAS-stimulated signaling pathways in the transformation of pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDEC), putative cells of origin for PDAC, remain unclear. Here, we show that KRAS(G12D) and BRAF(V600E) enhance PDEC proliferation and increase survival after exposure to apoptotic stimuli in a manner dependent on MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling. Interestingly, we find that activation of PI3K/AKT signaling occurs downstream of MAP-ERK kinase (MEK), and is dependent on the autocrine activation of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptor (IGF1R) by IGF2. Importantly, IGF1R inhibition impairs KRAS(G12D)- and BRAF(V600E)-induced survival, whereas ectopic IGF2 expression rescues KRAS(G12D)- and BRAF(V600E)-mediated survival downstream of MEK inhibition. Moreover, we show that KRAS(G12D)- and BRAF(V600E)-induced tumor formation in an orthotopic model requires IGF1R. Interestingly, we show that while individual inhibition of MEK or IGF1R does not sensitize PDAC cells to apoptosis, their concomitant inhibition reduces survival. Our findings identify a novel mechanism of PI3K/AKT activation downstream of activated KRAS, illustrate the importance of MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, and IGF1R signaling in pancreatic tumor initiation, and suggest potential therapeutic strategies for this malignancy.

Arsenic induces oxidative stress and activates stress gene expressions in cultured lung epithelial cells.

Chronic exposure to low levels of arsenic can cause lung cancer. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms for lung cell transformation in response to arsenic are not known. These studies investigated the hypothesis that low levels of arsenic increase intracellular oxidant levels, promote production of mitogenic transcription factors and antioxidant enzymes. Initially, arsenic decreased GSH cellular level and rapidly increased to 280% of GSH level in nonexposed lung cells in 24 h. Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) potentiated the arsenic toxicity of lung epithelial cells (LEC). Exposure of LEC to 5 microM arsenite cause time-dependent increase in gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) expression. Our data demonstrated that arsenic induced the heavy subunit of gamma-GCS (gamma-GCS-HS) mRNA levels as early as 4 h as compared to the control level. It significantly increased (sixfolds) gamma-GCS-HS mRNA expression after 8 h of treatment. The activation of AP-1 transcription factors may also play a regulatory role in this process. Significant elevations in c-fos and c-jun mRNA levels were observed within 30 min after exposure to arsenic and by enhancement of AP-1 DNA binding activity and transactivation activity. Responsiveness of LEC to oxidative stress caused by arsenic exposure was further evaluated with mobility shift assay involving redox-sensitive transcription factor NF-kappa B. The specificity of binding was verified by an antibody-supershift. The NF-kappa B DNA binding activities increased more than twofold 30 min after exposure to arsenic and returned to control levels after 4 h of treatment. It remains to be determined whether NF-kappa B plays a role in the As-induced apoptosis or alternatively in attempting to protect the cells from As-induced cell death by upregulating the expression of resistance factors.