Project description:We designed and developed new chemical agents (AAPK) simultaneously targeting on the suppression of Aurora-A/PLK-1 activities. We used microarrays to investigate the whole gene expressions after AAPK administration in comparison to DMSO control.
Project description:Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B-cells receive signals from the lymph node and bone marrow (BM) microenvironments that regulate their survival and proliferation. These signals and the pathways that propagate them to the interior of the cell represent potential targets for therapeutic intervention. To characterize the pathways that are activated by the BM microenvironment in CLL cells in vivo, we performed gene expression profiling of tumor cells purified from BM and peripheral blood. Functional classification analysis revealed that the most frequently upregulated genes in BM-CLL cells are genes involved in cell cycle and mitosis. Among the most significantly overexpressed were the Aurora A and B kinases. To investigate whether these kinases could represent potential therapeutic targets in CLL, we performed RNA interference experiments in the CLL cell lines MEC1 and EHEB. Downregulation of Aurora A and B inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis in these cells. Similar effects were observed with the pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor VX-680 in primary CLL cells induced to proliferate by CpG-ODN and IL-2. VX-680 also inhibited leukemia growth in vivo in a mouse model of CLL. These data suggest that inhibition of Aurora kinases could represent a potential strategy to selectively target the proliferating compartment in CLL. To identify gene expression related to microenvironmental stimuli in B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) cells in vivo, expression profiles of CLL cells purified (>95%) from bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) were compared. Paired BM and PB samples from 6 individuals were used for this analysis.
Project description:Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B-cells receive signals from the lymph node and bone marrow (BM) microenvironments that regulate their survival and proliferation. These signals and the pathways that propagate them to the interior of the cell represent potential targets for therapeutic intervention. To characterize the pathways that are activated by the BM microenvironment in CLL cells in vivo, we performed gene expression profiling of tumor cells purified from BM and peripheral blood. Functional classification analysis revealed that the most frequently upregulated genes in BM-CLL cells are genes involved in cell cycle and mitosis. Among the most significantly overexpressed were the Aurora A and B kinases. To investigate whether these kinases could represent potential therapeutic targets in CLL, we performed RNA interference experiments in the CLL cell lines MEC1 and EHEB. Downregulation of Aurora A and B inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis in these cells. Similar effects were observed with the pan-Aurora kinase inhibitor VX-680 in primary CLL cells induced to proliferate by CpG-ODN and IL-2. VX-680 also inhibited leukemia growth in vivo in a mouse model of CLL. These data suggest that inhibition of Aurora kinases could represent a potential strategy to selectively target the proliferating compartment in CLL.
Project description:To study the senescence gene signatures in the cells, which were genetic SMARCB1 depleted or treated with aurora kinase inhibitors or etoposide, we performed next generation RNA sequencing on these cell, and 'FRIDMAN_SENESCENCE_UP' geneset was used to determine the enrichment of senescence-related genes. The RNA sequencing results include (1) A375 cells and SMARCB1 depleted counterparts. (2) A549 cells and aurora kinase inhibitor (Alisertib, barasertib or tozasertib) or etoposide treated counterparts.
Project description:PURPOSE: Despite over 70,000 new cases of bladder cancer in the United States annually, patients with advanced disease have a poor prognosis due to limited treatment modalities. We evaluate the role of Aurora A, identified as an upregulated candidate molecule in bladder cancer, in regulating bladder tumor growth. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Gene expression in human bladder cancer samples was evaluated using RNA microarray and reverse-transcriptase PCR. The specific Aurora kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 (Millennium) was used to determine effects on bladder cancer cell growth using in vitro and in vivo models using malignant T24 and UM-UC-3 and papilloma-derived RT4 bladder cells. RESULTS: Urothelial carcinoma upregulates a set of 13 mitotic spindle associated transcripts, as compared to normal urothelium, including MAD2L1 (7.6-fold), BUB1B (8.8-fold), Aurora kinases A (5.6-fold) and Aurora kinase B (6.2-fold). Application of MLN8237 (10nM-1µM) to the human bladder tumor cell lines T24 and UM-UC-3 induced dose-dependent G2 cell cycle arrest, aneuploidy, mitotic spindle abnormalities, and apoptosis. MLN8237 arrested tumor growth when administered orally over 4 weeks in a mouse bladder cancer xenograft model (p<0.05). Finally, in vitro combination of MLN8237 with either paclitaxel or gemcitabine produced schedule-dependent synergistic antiproliferative effects in T24 cells when administered sequentially. CONCLUSIONS: Mitotic spindle checkpoint dysfunction is a common characteristic of human urothelial carcinoma, and can be exploited with pharmacologic Aurora A inhibition. Future studies that explore the mechanisms of spindle checkpoint failure in bladder cancer and evaluate the therapeutic role of Aurora kinases for bladder cancer patients would be of value. Tissue samples with urothelial cell carcinoma from bladder as well as normal references were collected and the gene expression profiles were compared. No technical replicates.
Project description:U-2 OS (human osteosarcoma cell line) were treated with ZM447439 (an aurora kinase inhibitor), SB202190 (a p38 inhibitor) or ZM447439+SB202190 and resulting changes in gene expression were profiled.
Project description:PURPOSE: Despite over 70,000 new cases of bladder cancer in the United States annually, patients with advanced disease have a poor prognosis due to limited treatment modalities. We evaluate the role of Aurora A, identified as an upregulated candidate molecule in bladder cancer, in regulating bladder tumor growth. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Gene expression in human bladder cancer samples was evaluated using RNA microarray and reverse-transcriptase PCR. The specific Aurora kinase A inhibitor MLN8237 (Millennium) was used to determine effects on bladder cancer cell growth using in vitro and in vivo models using malignant T24 and UM-UC-3 and papilloma-derived RT4 bladder cells. RESULTS: Urothelial carcinoma upregulates a set of 13 mitotic spindle associated transcripts, as compared to normal urothelium, including MAD2L1 (7.6-fold), BUB1B (8.8-fold), Aurora kinases A (5.6-fold) and Aurora kinase B (6.2-fold). Application of MLN8237 (10nM-1µM) to the human bladder tumor cell lines T24 and UM-UC-3 induced dose-dependent G2 cell cycle arrest, aneuploidy, mitotic spindle abnormalities, and apoptosis. MLN8237 arrested tumor growth when administered orally over 4 weeks in a mouse bladder cancer xenograft model (p<0.05). Finally, in vitro combination of MLN8237 with either paclitaxel or gemcitabine produced schedule-dependent synergistic antiproliferative effects in T24 cells when administered sequentially. CONCLUSIONS: Mitotic spindle checkpoint dysfunction is a common characteristic of human urothelial carcinoma, and can be exploited with pharmacologic Aurora A inhibition. Future studies that explore the mechanisms of spindle checkpoint failure in bladder cancer and evaluate the therapeutic role of Aurora kinases for bladder cancer patients would be of value.
Project description:At the blastocyst stage, the embryo invades the uterine and the pluripotent epiblast cells get reshaped from an amorphous ball into a polarized cup-shaped epithelium. At the same time, the transiently established naïve pluripotency is dismantled, transforming into a more developmentally advanced post-implantation pluripotent state. The major driver of the differentiation process is the autocrine Fgf/Mek/Erk singling which promotes the exit of naïve pluripotency. However, inhibiting Mek alone is not sufficient to maintain the cells in the naïve state suggesting the contribution of additional, as yet unidentified, pro-differentiation signals. Using a 3D embryonic stem cells (ESC) based model of epiblast development we established an automated pipeline for cell culture and analysis and performed a large-scale functional screen to identify factors regulating the development of the pluripotent lineage. We found that the mitotic kinases – Aurora kinase A (Aurka) and Polo-like kinase (PLK) positively regulate Erk signalling in a Mek-independent manner. We determined that Aurka and Erk form a complex in ESCs and suppression of Aurka activity delays the exit of naïve pluripotency. Moreover, a combination of Aurka and Mek inhibition enabled the de novo derivation of ESC lines from mouse embryos. Interestingly, during cell division, we found that phospho-Erk (pErk) localizes on the spindle poles at prophase and metaphase, gradually decreasing its signal at anaphase and telophase. Proximity biotinylation analysis of the pErk interactome identified the formation of PLK/pErk complex in metaphase cells. Moreover, inhibition of PLK, but not Mek or Aurka, resulted in a substantial decrease in Erk phosphorylation at the mitotic spindle. In summary, our findings demonstrate that the pluripotent cells continuously generate and perceive two types of Erk-mediated pro-differentiation cues - autocrine signals of the Fgf/Mek cascade and cell-intrinsic cues via the mitotic kinase Aurka and PLK. Altogether, these signals promote the exit of naïve pluripotency, driving the transient pace of embryonic development.