Induction, regulation, and biologic function of Axl receptor tyrosine kinase in Kaposi sarcoma.

Abstract

Axl is an oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase that plays multiple roles in tumorigenesis and metastasis of many cancers. This study is the first to demonstrate that Axl is induced in Kaposi sarcoma and Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) transformed endothelial cells. Conditionally, expression of one KSHV latency protein vFLIP induces Axl expression in endothelial cells. This induction can be blocked by nuclear factor-kappaB inhibitor, consistent with the known vFLIP mechanism of action. KS cell lines lacking KSHV also have elevated Axl expression, which probably resulted from hypomethylation of AXL promoter. Axl activation activates downstream phosphoinositol-3 kinase signaling, and Axl knockdown by siRNA impairs phosphoinositol-3 kinase signaling. Furthermore, Axl knockdown inhibits KS cell growth and invasion. To explore the potential for translation of these findings, we generated monoclonal antibodies to block the biologic functions of Axl. MAb173, which induces receptor degradation, showed activity in vitro to inhibit KS cell invasion. Moreover, in vivo xenograft studies with KS cells with or without KSHV infection showed that MAb173 reduced tumor growth, increased tumor cell apoptosis, and markedly decreased Axl protein level in tumors. Axl thus has a potential role in KS pathogenesis and is a candidate for prognostic and therapeutic investigations.

• Authors: Ren Liu, Ming Gong, Xiuqing Li, Yue Zhou, Wenming Gao, Anil Tulpule, Preet M Chaudhary, Jae Jung, Parkash S Gill
• Journal: Blood (Blood) Vol. 116 Issue 2 Pg. 297-305 (Jul 15 2010) ISSN: 1528-0020 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20442363 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins
• RNA, Small Interfering
• Viral Proteins
• viral FLIP protein, Human herpesvirus 8
• Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
• Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (pharmacology)
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Blotting, Western
• Cell Transformation, Viral (genetics)
• DNA Methylation
• Endothelial Cells (virology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Fluorescent Antibody Technique
• Gene Dosage
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Herpesvirus 8, Human
• Humans
• Immunoprecipitation
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Neoplasm Invasiveness (genetics)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Promoter Regions, Genetic (genetics)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• RNA, Small Interfering
• Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases (genetics, immunology, metabolism)
• Sarcoma, Kaposi (genetics, metabolism, virology)
• Signal Transduction (physiology)
• Transfection
• Viral Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase