Thiostrepton inhibits growth and induces apoptosis by targeting FoxM1/SKP2/MTH1 axis in B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
Shilpa KuttikrishnanKirti S PrabhuAbdul Q KhanFeras Q AlaliAamir AhmadShahab UddinPublished in: Leukemia & lymphoma (2021)
Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is a transcription factor that plays an important role in the etiology of many cancers, however, its role has not been elucidated in B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-pre-ALL). In the current study, we showed that the downregulation of FoxM1 by its inhibitor thiostrepton inhibited cell viability and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in a panel of B-pre-ALL cell lines. Thiostrepton led downregulation of FoxM1 accompanied by decreased expression of Aurora kinase A, B, matrix metalloproteinases, and oncogene SKP2 as well as MTH1. Downregulation of the FoxM1/SKP2/MTH1 axis led to increase in the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and suppression of antiapoptotic proteins. Thiostrepton-mediated apoptosis was prevented by N-acetyl cysteine, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species. Co-treatment of B-pre-ALL with subtoxic doses of thiostrepton and bortezomib potentiated the proapoptotic action. Altogether, our results suggest that targeting FoxM1expression could be an attractive strategy for the treatment of B-pre-ALL.
Keyphrases
- acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- transcription factor
- induced apoptosis
- poor prognosis
- signaling pathway
- cell cycle arrest
- reactive oxygen species
- cell proliferation
- cell death
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- binding protein
- allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
- newly diagnosed
- drug delivery
- endothelial cells
- single molecule
- tyrosine kinase
- drug induced
- fluorescent probe