Superior cancer preventive efficacy of low versus high dose of mTOR inhibitor in a mouse model of prostate cancer.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a PI3K-related kinase that regulates cell growth, proliferation and survival in response to the availability of energy sources and growth factors. Cancer development and progression is often associated with constitutive activation of the mTOR pathway, thus justifying mTOR inhibition as a promising approach to cancer treatment and prevention. However, development of previous rapamycin analogues has been complicated by their induction of adverse side effects and variable efficacy. Since mTOR pathway regulation involves multiple feedback mechanisms that may be differentially activated depending on the degree of mTOR inhibition, we investigated whether rapamycin dosing could be adjusted to achieve chemopreventive efficacy without side effects. Thus, we tested the efficacy of two doses of a novel, highly bioavailable nanoformulation of rapamycin, Rapatar, in a mouse prostate cancer model (male mice with prostate epithelium-specific Pten-knockout). We found that the highest efficacy was achieved by the lowest dose of Rapatar used in the study. While both doses tested were equally effective in suppressing proliferation of prostate epithelial cells, higher dose resulted in activation of feedback circuits that reduced the drug's tumor preventive efficacy. These results demonstrate that low doses of highly bioavailable mTOR inhibitor, Rapatar, may provide safe and effective cancer prevention.

Physiological frailty index (PFI): quantitative in-life estimate of individual biological age in mice.

The development of healthspan-extending pharmaceuticals requires quantitative estimation of age-related progressive physiological decline. In humans, individual health status can be quantitatively assessed by means of a frailty index (FI), a parameter which reflects the scale of accumulation of age-related deficits. However, adaptation of this methodology to animal models is a challenging task since it includes multiple subjective parameters. Here we report a development of a quantitative non-invasive procedure to estimate biological age of an individual animal by creating physiological frailty index (PFI). We demonstrated the dynamics of PFI increase during chronological aging of male and female NIH Swiss mice. We also demonstrated acceleration of growth of PFI in animals placed on a high fat diet, reflecting aging acceleration by obesity and provide a tool for its quantitative assessment. Additionally, we showed that PFI could reveal anti-aging effect of mTOR inhibitor rapatar (bioavailable formulation of rapamycin) prior to registration of its effects on longevity. PFI revealed substantial sex-related differences in normal chronological aging and in the efficacy of detrimental (high fat diet) or beneficial (rapatar) aging modulatory factors. Together, these data introduce PFI as a reliable, non-invasive, quantitative tool suitable for testing potential anti-aging pharmaceuticals in pre-clinical studies.

Daily rhythms are retained both in spontaneously developed sarcomas and in xenografts grown in immunocompromised SCID mice.

The circadian clock generates and regulates many daily physiological, metabolic and behavioral rhythms as well as acute responses to various types of stresses including those induced by anticancer treatment. It has been proposed that modulatory function of the clock may be used for improving the therapeutic efficacy of established anti-cancer treatments. In order to rationally exploit this mechanism, more information is needed to fully characterize the functional status of the molecular clock in tumors of different cellular origin; however, the data describing tumor clocks are still inconsistent. Here we tested the status of clock in two models of tumors derived from connective tissue: sarcomas spontaneously developed in p53-deficient mice and human fibrosarcoma cells grown as xenografts in immunocompromised severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. We show that both types of tumors retain a functional clock, which is synchronized in phase with normal tissues. We also show that spontaneously developed tumors are not only oscillating in the context of an organism where they receive hormonal and metabolic signals but continue oscillating ex vivo in tissue explants demonstrating that tumors have functional clocks capable of timing all their functions. We also provide evidence that similar to liver, tumors can be synchronized by food availability independent of the central pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). These data provide the basis for the design of anticancer therapies that take into account the circadian metabolic and physiological patterns of both the tumor and normal tissues.

Tissue-specific changes in molecular clocks during the transition from pregnancy to lactation in mice.

Circadian clocks regulate homeostasis and mediate responses to stressors. Lactation is one of the most energetically demanding periods of an adult female's life. Peripartum changes occur in almost every organ so the dam can support neonatal growth through milk production while homeostasis is maintained. How circadian clocks are involved in adaptation to lactation is currently unknown. The abundance and temporal pattern of core clock genes' expression were measured in suprachiasmatic nucleus, liver, and mammary from late pregnant and early lactation mice. Tissue-specific changes in molecular clocks occurred between physiological states. Amplitude and robustness of rhythms increased in suprachiasmatic nucleus and liver. Mammary rhythms of core molecular clock genes were suppressed. Attenuated rhythms appeared to be a physiological adaptation of mammary to lactation, because manipulation of timing of suckling resulting in significant differences in plasma prolactin and corticosterone had no effect on amplitude. Analysis of core clock proteins revealed that the stoichiometric relationship between positive (CLOCK) and negative (PER2) components remained 1:1 in liver but was increased to 4:1 in mammary during physiological transition. Induction of differentiation of mammary epithelial cell line HC11 with dexamethasone, insulin, and prolactin resulted in similar stoichiometric changes among positive and negative clock regulators, and prolactin induced phase shifts in HC11 Arntl expression rhythm. Data support that distinct mechanisms drive periparturient changes in mammary clock. Stoichiometric change in clock regulators occurs with gland differentiation. Suppression of mammary clock gene expression rhythms represents a physiological adaptation to suckling cues. Adaptations in mammary clock are likely needed in part to support suckling demands of neonates.

Deficiency in PER proteins has no effect on the rate of spontaneous and radiation-induced carcinogenesis.

There is a growing body of evidence that components of the circadian clock are involved in modulation of numerous signaling pathways, and that clock deregulation due to environmental or genetic factors contributes to the development of various pathologies, including cancer. Previous work performed in tissue culture and in in vivo mouse models defined mammalian PERIOD proteins as tumor suppressors, although some experimental inconsistencies (the use of mice on mixed genetic background, lack of sexual discrimination) did not allow a definitive conclusion. To address this issue in a systematic way, we performed a detailed analysis comparing the incidence of tumor development after low-dose ionizing radiation in male and female wild-type, Per1(-/-), and Per2(-/-) mice. We showed that in contrast to previous reports deficiency in either Per1 or Per2 genes by itself does not make mice more tumor-prone; moreover, some of the long-term effects of ionizing radiation in Per2-deficient mice are reminiscent more of accelerated aging rather than tumor-prone phenotype. Our histopathological analysis also revealed significant sexual dimorphism both in the rate of radiation-induced tumorigenesis and in the spectrum of tumors developed, which underscores the importance of using sex-matched experimental groups for in vivo studies. Based on our results, we suggest that the role of PER proteins as bona fide tumor suppressors needs to be reevaluated.

New nanoformulation of rapamycin Rapatar extends lifespan in homozygous p53-/- mice by delaying carcinogenesis.

The nutrient-sensing mTOR (mammalian Target of Rapamycin) pathway regulates cellular metabolism, growth functions, and proliferation and is involved in age-related diseases including cancer, type 2 diabetes, neurodegeneration and cardiovascular disease. The inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin, or calorie restriction, has been shown to extend lifespan and delays tumorigenesis in several experimental models suggesting that rapamycin may be used for cancer prevention. This requires continuous long-term treatment making oral formulations the preferred choice of administration route. However, rapamycin by itself has very poor water solubility and low absorption rate. Here we describe pharmacokinetic and biological properties of novel nanoformulated micelles of rapamycin, Rapatar. Micelles of Rapatar were rationally designed to increase water solubility of rapamycin to facilitate oral administration and to enhance its absorption. As a result, bioavailability of Rapatar was significantly increased (up to 12%) compared to unformulated rapamycin, which concentration in the blood following oral administration remained below level of detection. We also demonstrated that the new formulation does not induce toxicity during lifetime administration. Most importantly, Rapatar extended the mean lifespan by 30% and delayed tumor development in highly tumor-prone p53-/- mice. Our data demonstrate that water soluble Rapatar micelles represent safe, convenient and efficient form of rapamycin suitable for a long-term treatment and that Rapatar may be considered for tumor prevention.

Core circadian protein CLOCK is a positive regulator of NF-κB-mediated transcription.

The circadian clock controls many physiological parameters including immune response to infectious agents, which is mediated by activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. It is widely accepted that circadian regulation is based on periodic changes in gene expression that are triggered by transcriptional activity of the CLOCK/BMAL1 complex. Through the use of a mouse model system we show that daily variations in the intensity of the NF-κB response to a variety of immunomodulators are mediated by core circadian protein CLOCK, which can up-regulate NF-κB-mediated transcription in the absence of BMAL1; moreover, BMAL1 counteracts the CLOCK-dependent increase in the activation of NF-κB-responsive genes. Consistent with its regulatory function, CLOCK is found in protein complexes with the p65 subunit of NF-κB, and its overexpression correlates with an increase in specific phosphorylated and acetylated transcriptionally active forms of p65. In addition, activation of NF-κB in response to immunostimuli in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and primary hepatocytes isolated from Clock-deficient mice is significantly reduced compared with WT cells, whereas Clock-Δ19 mutation, which reduces the transactivation capacity of CLOCK on E-box-containing circadian promoters, has no effect on the ability of CLOCK to up-regulate NF-κB-responsive promoters. These findings establish a molecular link between two essential determinants of the circadian and immune mechanisms, the transcription factors CLOCK and NF-κB, respectively.

Selenium is a modulator of circadian clock that protects mice from the toxicity of a chemotherapeutic drug via upregulation of the core clock protein, BMAL1.

Selenium compounds are known as cancer preventive agents and are also able to ameliorate the toxicity associated with anti-cancer radiation and chemotherapy in mouse models. Sensitivity to the toxicity of chemotherapy is also modulated by the circadian clock, molecular time-keeping system that underlie daily fluctuations in multiple physiological and biochemical processes. Here we show that these two mechanisms are interconnected. By screening a library of small molecules in a cell-based reporter system, we identified L-methyl-selenocysteine as a positive regulator of the core clock protein, BMAL1. L-methyl-selenocysteine up-regulates BMAL1 at the transcriptional level both in cultured cells and in mice. We also show that in tissue culture selenium exerts its action by interfering with TIEG1-mediated repression of Bmal1 promoter. Selenium treatment fails to protect BMAL1-deficient mice from toxicity induced by the chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide but does protect Clock mutant mice deficient in circadian rhythm control but having normal BMAL1. These findings define selenium as circadian modulator and indicate that the tissue protective effect of selenium results, at least in part, from up-regulation of BMAL1 expression and subsequent enhancement of CLOCK/BMAL1-mediated transcription.

A serine cluster mediates BMAL1-dependent CLOCK phosphorylation and degradation.

The circadian clock regulates biological processes from gene expression to organism behavior in a precise, sustained rhythm that is generated at the unicellular level by coordinated function of interlocked transcriptional feedback loops and post-translational modifications of core clock proteins. CLOCK phosphorylation regulates transcriptional activity, cellular localization and stability; however little is known about the specific residues and enzymes involved. We have identified a conserved cluster of serines that include, Ser431, which is a prerequisite phosphorylation site for the generation of BMAL dependent phospho-primed CLOCK and for the potential GSK-3 phosphorylation at Ser427. Mutational analysis and protein stability assays indicate that this serine cluster functions as a phospho-degron. Through the use of GSK-3 activators/inhibitors and kinase assays, we demonstrate that GSK-3beta regulates the degron site by increasing CLOCK phosphorylation/degradation, which correlates with an increase in the expression of CLOCK responsive promoters. Stabilization of phospho-deficient CLOCK delays the phase of oscillation in synchronized fibroblasts. This investigation begins the characterization of a complex phospho-regulatory site that controls the activity and degradation of CLOCK, a core transcription factor that is essential for circadian behavior.