Interleukin 3 (IL-3) is a multi-potential hematopoietic growth factor that activates cellular signaling pathways to mediate growth and differentiation of bone marrow progenitor cells. Removal of IL-3 from factor- dependent cells induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Our laboratory has discovered that cellular stresses, including IL-3 withdrawal from factor-dependent hematopoietic cells, inflammatory cytokines, chemotherapy treatment or viral infection promotes activation of the double-stranded RNA dependent protein kinase, PKR, by its cellular activator protein, RAX. Once activated, PKR inhibits protein synthesis by phosphorylating the alpha subunit of eIF2 to initiate apoptosis. Significantly, our findings reveal that RAX phosphorylation on serine 18 is required for PKR activation, translation inhibition and apoptosis initiated by diverse cellular stresses. In addition, we identified a novel RAX-dependent mechanism for regulation of tumor suppressor p53 transcriptional activity during cellular stress and discovered that reduced levels of endogenous RAX or forced expression of a dominant negative RAX mutant will promote aberrant cell growth. Significantly, our preliminary data indicate that PKR is differentially localized and activated in IPSS high risk compared to low risk MDS patient samples or normal hematopoietic progenitors. Taken together these findings suggest that the RAX- PKR stress signaling pathway may be critical for maintaining the correct composition of bone marrow cells and for initiating the response to infection from foreign agents. We hypothesize that PKR is activated by RAX during stress to promote both eIF2 phosphorylation and p53 activation that leads to translation inhibition, changes in gene expression, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Thus, inhibition or activation of PKR activity may be therapeutically useful in certain conditions. Specifically, PKR activators may be useful for promoting apoptosis of leukemic cells that have reduced levels of PKR, while small molecules that can inhibit PKR activity may be useful for treating hematopoietic disorders that display increased levels of activated PKR associated with aberrant apoptosis of bone marrow progenitor cells, such as in Fanconi anemia (FA) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) that progress to AML. To test these hypotheses we will 1) determine the mechanism(s) by which RAX-PKR signal transduction regulates the cell cycle and initiates apoptosis following cellular stress in hematopoietic cells and 2) determine the significance of PKR in MDS progression to acute leukemia. For these studies we will use molecular biochemical and cell culture approaches and make use of the NUP98- HOXD13 transgenic mouse model that faithfully mimics MDS and progression to AML observed in humans. By achieving these specific aims we will gain new and important insights that fill knowledge gaps about how cellular stress activates the RAX-PKR signaling axis to regulate cell growth and apoptosis. A novel therapeutic strategy for treating patients with MDS and AML is expected to be the outcome.

Public Health Relevance

The results generated by this research will increase our understanding of both the molecular mechanism(s) by which PKR promotes the cellular stress response and PKR's role in MDS evolution to AML. Results will point the way to and provide a basis for discovering novel anti-leukemia therapies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL054083-13
Application #
8231409
Study Section
Hematopoiesis Study Section (HP)
Program Officer
Thomas, John
Project Start
1996-04-01
Project End
2013-02-28
Budget Start
2012-03-01
Budget End
2013-02-28
Support Year
13
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$362,588
Indirect Cost
$115,088
Name
University of Florida
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Cheng, Xiaodong; Byrne, Michael; Brown, Kevin D et al. (2015) PKR inhibits the DNA damage response, and is associated with poor survival in AML and accelerated leukemia in NHD13 mice. Blood 126:1585-94
Byrne, Michael; Bennett, Richard L; Cheng, Xiaodong et al. (2014) Progressive genomic instability in the Nup98-HoxD13 model of MDS correlates with loss of the PIG-A gene product. Neoplasia 16:627-33
Cheng, X; Bennett, R L; Liu, X et al. (2013) PKR negatively regulates leukemia progression in association with PP2A activation, Bcl-2 inhibition and increased apoptosis. Blood Cancer J 3:e144
Liu, Xiangfei; Bennett, Richard L; Cheng, Xiaodong et al. (2013) PKR regulates proliferation, differentiation, and survival of murine hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Blood 121:3364-74
Bennett, Richard L; Pan, Yu; Christian, Jaime et al. (2012) The RAX/PACT-PKR stress response pathway promotes p53 sumoylation and activation, leading to G? arrest. Cell Cycle 11:407-17
Bennett, Richard L; Carruthers, Aubrey L; Hui, Teng et al. (2012) Increased expression of the dsRNA-activated protein kinase PKR in breast cancer promotes sensitivity to doxorubicin. PLoS One 7:e46040
Bennett, Richard L; Blalock, William L; Choi, Eun-Jung et al. (2008) RAX is required for fly neuronal development and mouse embryogenesis. Mech Dev 125:777-85
Bennett, Richard L; Blalock, William L; Abtahi, Dean M et al. (2006) RAX, the PKR activator, sensitizes cells to inflammatory cytokines, serum withdrawal, chemotherapy, and viral infection. Blood 108:821-9
Bennett, Richard L; Blalock, William L; May, W Stratford (2004) Serine 18 phosphorylation of RAX, the PKR activator, is required for PKR activation and consequent translation inhibition. J Biol Chem 279:42687-93
Varma, Tushar; Liu, Si Qi; West, Matthew et al. (2003) Protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation and mitochondrial translocation of aldose reductase. FEBS Lett 534:175-9

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