Colon cancer results from progressive disregulation of the normal growth inhibitory, differentiation and apoptotic signals in colonic epithelial cells. Our long-term goal is to understand the role of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes in colonic epithelial cell biology and colon carcinogenesis. Several lines of evidence suggest that the atypical PKC iota isoform (PKCi) plays an important promotive role in colon carcinogenesis. First, PKC expression is elevated in colon tumors relative to uninvolved colonic epithelium. Second, expression of PKCi protects cancer cells from apoptosis by activating NF-kB. Third, PKCi plays a requisite role in the transformation of intestinal epithelial cells by activated Ras, an oncogene commonly mutated in colon cancer. Fourth, inhibition of PKCi activity by dietary omega-3 fatty acids correlates with the cancer-preventive effects of omega-3 fatty acids. Taken together these data indicate that PKCi plays a key role in colon carcinogenesis by enhancing cell survival. We hypothesize that PKCi protects colonic epithelial cells against apoptosis and that elevated PKCi in the colonic epithelium will result in an increased susceptibility to colon carcinogenesis. We have generated transgenic mice that express constitutively active (ca) or dominant-negative (dn) mutant forms of PKCi in the colonic epithelium and have detected a decrease in basal apoptosis in the colonic epithelium of mice expressing caPKCi.
In Specific Aim 1, we will determine the role of PKCi in colonic epithelial cell homeostasis by further characterizing our caPKCi and dnPKCi transgenic mice.
Specific Aim 2 will assess the role of PKCi in mediating the effects of K-ras on colonic epithelial cell homeostasis and colon carcinogenesis in-vivo.
Specific Aim 3 will determine the role of PKCi in Ras transformation and NF-kB signaling in intestinal epithelial cells in-vitro and in the colonic epithelium in-vivo.
Specific Aim 4 will assess the role of PKCi in dietary fat-mediated changes in colonic epithelial cell homeostasis and colon carcinogenesis.
These aims will be accomplished through the use of complementary transgenic mouse and rat intestinal epithelial cell models to assess the function of PKCi in the colonic epithelium.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA094122-05
Application #
6889523
Study Section
Metabolic Pathology Study Section (MEP)
Program Officer
Davis, Cindy D
Project Start
2003-06-01
Project End
2007-03-31
Budget Start
2005-04-01
Budget End
2006-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$267,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville
Department
Type
DUNS #
153223151
City
Jacksonville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32224
Calcagno, Shelly R; Li, Shuhua; Shahid, Muhammad W et al. (2011) Protein kinase C iota in the intestinal epithelium protects against dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis. Inflamm Bowel Dis 17:1685-97
Murray, Nicole R; Weems, Justin; Braun, Ursula et al. (2009) Protein kinase C betaII and PKCiota/lambda: collaborating partners in colon cancer promotion and progression. Cancer Res 69:656-62
Fields, Alan P; Calcagno, Shelly R; Krishna, Murli et al. (2009) Protein kinase Cbeta is an effective target for chemoprevention of colon cancer. Cancer Res 69:1643-50
Su, Weidong; Necela, Brian M; Fujiwara, Kosaku et al. (2008) The high affinity peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist RS5444 inhibits both initiation and progression of colon tumors in azoxymethane-treated mice. Int J Cancer 123:991-7
Calcagno, Shelly R; Li, Shuhua; Colon, Migdalisel et al. (2008) Oncogenic K-ras promotes early carcinogenesis in the mouse proximal colon. Int J Cancer 122:2462-70
Fields, Alan P; Murray, Nicole R (2008) Protein kinase C isozymes as therapeutic targets for treatment of human cancers. Adv Enzyme Regul 48:166-78
Su, Weidong; Bush, Craig R; Necela, Brian M et al. (2007) Differential expression, distribution, and function of PPAR-gamma in the proximal and distal colon. Physiol Genomics 30:342-53
Murray, Nicole R; Jamieson, Lee; Yu, Wangsheng et al. (2004) Protein kinase Ciota is required for Ras transformation and colon carcinogenesis in vivo. J Cell Biol 164:797-802