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Drug Design, Development and Therapy Volume 9, 2015 - Issue
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Original Research

The investigational Aurora kinase A inhibitor alisertib (MLN8237) induces cell cycle G2/M arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy via p38 MAPK and Akt/mTOR signaling pathways in human breast cancer cells

Jin-Ping Li1 Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China;2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
,
Yin-Xue Yang3 Department of Colorectal Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China
,
Qi-Lun Liu1 Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China
,
Shu-Ting Pan1 Department of Surgical Oncology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, People’s Republic of China;4 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China
,
Zhi-Xu He5 Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Research Center and Sino-US Joint Laboratory for Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
,
Xueji Zhang6 Research Center for Bioengineering and Sensing Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
,
Tianxin Yang7 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah and Salt Lake Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
,
Xiao-Wu Chen8 Department of General Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Southern Medical University, Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
,
Dong Wang9 Cancer Center, Daping Hospital and Research Institute of Surgery, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
,
Jia-Xuan Qiu4 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence[email protected]
&
Shu-Feng Zhou2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA;5 Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Research Center and Sino-US Joint Laboratory for Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence[email protected]
 show all
Pages 1627-1652 | Published online: 16 Mar 2015

Figures & data

Figure 1 The cytotoxic effects of ALS on malignant and normal breast epithelial cells.

Notes: (A) Cytotoxicity of ALS toward MCF10A (normal), MCF7, and MDA-MB-231 cells determined by 24 hour MTT assay and (B) cytotoxicity of ALS toward MCF10A, MCF7, and MDA-MB-231 cells determined by 48 hour MTT assay.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; MTT, thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide.
Figure 1 The cytotoxic effects of ALS on malignant and normal breast epithelial cells.

Figure 2 Effect of ALS concentrations on cell cycle distribution in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells determined using flow cytometry.

Notes: (A) Representative DNA fluorescence histograms showing the distribution of specific cell populations in G1, S, and G2/M phases in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231. Cells were treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μM for 24 hours and then subjected to flow cytometric analysis and (B) the bar graphs show the percentage of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in G1, S, and G2/M phases. Cells were stained using PI and subjected to flow cytometric analysis that collected 10,000 events. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; PI, propidium iodide.
Figure 2 Effect of ALS concentrations on cell cycle distribution in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells determined using flow cytometry.
Figure 2 Effect of ALS concentrations on cell cycle distribution in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells determined using flow cytometry.

Figure 3 The time course of ALS-induced G2/M arrest in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells determined by flow cytometry.

Notes: (A) Representative DNA fluorescence histograms showing the distribution of specific cell populations in G1, S, and G2/M phases in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Cells were treated with ALS at 1.0 μM for 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours and then subjected to flow cytometric analysis and (B) the bar graphs show the percentage of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in G1, S, and G2/M phases. Cells were stained using PI and subjected to flow cytometric analysis that collected 10,000 events. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; PI, propidium iodide.
Figure 3 The time course of ALS-induced G2/M arrest in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells determined by flow cytometry.
Figure 3 The time course of ALS-induced G2/M arrest in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells determined by flow cytometry.

Figure 4 Effect of ALS concentrations on the expression levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Notes: (A) Representative blots showing the expression levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 measured by Western blotting assay. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μM for 24 hours, and β-actin was used as the internal control and (B) bar graphs showing the relative levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μM for 24 hours. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; CDK, cyclin-dependent kinase.
Figure 4 Effect of ALS concentrations on the expression levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Figure 5 Effect of ALS treatment time on the expression levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Notes: (A) Representative blots showing the expression levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 measured by Western blotting assay. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with ALS at 1.0 μM for 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, and β-actin was used as the internal control and (B) bar graphs showing the relative levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 1.0 μM for 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; CDK, cyclin-dependent kinase; conc, concentration.
Figure 5 Effect of ALS treatment time on the expression levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.
Figure 5 Effect of ALS treatment time on the expression levels of CDK1/CDC2, CDK2, cyclin B1, p21 Waf1/Cip1, p27 Kip1, and p53 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Figure 6 ALS induced apoptotic death in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

Notes: (A) Representative flow cytometric dot plots showing the % of specific cell populations (live, early apoptosis, and late apoptosis) in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μM for 24 hours and (B) bar graphs showing the % of apoptotic cells in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μM for 24 hours. Cells were double stained using annexin V:PE and 7-AAD to detect cells undergoing early and late apoptosis. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: 7-AAD, 7-aminoactinomycin D; ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; PE, phycoerythrin; Q1, debris.
Figure 6 ALS induced apoptotic death in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

Figure 7 Effects of ALS concentrations on the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, PUMA, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 9 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells determined by Western blotting assay.

Notes: (A) Representative blots showing the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, PUMA, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 9 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, or 5.0 μM for 24 hours and (B) bar graphs showing the relative levels of Bcl-2, Bax, PUMA, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 9 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. β-actin was used as the internal control. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; Bcl-2, B-cell lymphoma 2; Bax, Bcl-2-associated X protein; PUMA, p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis; casp, caspase.
Figure 7 Effects of ALS concentrations on the expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax, PUMA, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved caspase 9 in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells determined by Western blotting assay.

Figure 8 Effect of ALS concentrations on ALS-induced autophagic death in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Notes: (A) Representative flow cytometric dot plots showing autophagic MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μM for 24 hours and (B) bar graphs showing the percentage of autophagic MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μM for 24 hours. Cells were treated with green fluorescent Cyto-ID® to detect autophagic vacuoles and subjected to flow cytometric analysis that collected 10,000 events. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance.
Figure 8 Effect of ALS concentrations on ALS-induced autophagic death in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Figure 9 Effect of treatment time on ALS-induced autophagic cell death in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Notes: (A) Representative flow cytometric dot plots showing autophagic MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 1.0 μM for 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours and (B) bar graphs showing the percentage of autophagic MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 1.0 μM for 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cells were treated with green fluorescent Cyto-ID® to detect autophagic vacuoles and subjected to flow cytometric analysis that collected 10,000 events. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance.
Figure 9 Effect of treatment time on ALS-induced autophagic cell death in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Figure 10 Effect of ALS concentrations on the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR and the levels of beclin 1, LC3-I, and LC3-II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Notes: (A) Representative blots showing the expression levels of p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-Akt, Akt, beclin 1, and LC3-I/II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, or 5.0 μM for 24 hours. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with ALS at 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 μM for 24 hours, and β-actin was used as the internal control and (B) bar graphs showing the ratio of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and p-mTOR/mTOR and the relative level of beclin 1 and LC3-II. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; Akt, protein kinase B; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; p-p38 MAPK, phosphorylated p38 MAPK.
Figure 10 Effect of ALS concentrations on the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR and the levels of beclin 1, LC3-I, and LC3-II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Figure 11 Effect of ALS treatment time on the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR and the expression levels of beclin 1, LC3-I, and LC3-II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Notes: (A) Representative blots showing the expression levels of p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, p-PI3K, PI3K, p-Akt, Akt, beclin 1, and LC3-I/II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with ALS for 4 to 72 hours. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 Cells were treated with 1.0 μM ALS for 0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours, and β-actin was used as the internal control and (B) bar graphs showing the ratio of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR and the relative levels of beclin1 and LC3-II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: p, phosphorylated; ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; Akt, protein kinase B; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3.
Figure 11 Effect of ALS treatment time on the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, PI3K, Akt, and mTOR and the expression levels of beclin 1, LC3-I, and LC3-II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Figure 12 Effect of various autophagy inhibitors on basal and ALS-induced autophagy in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Notes: (A) Representative dot plots from flow cytometry showing the distribution of autophagic MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with various autophagy inhibitors with or without addition of ALS. Cells were pretreated with WM (10 μM), bafilomycin A1 (100 nM) and 10 μM SB202190 for 30 minutes; 1.0 μM ALS was added and incubated for a further 24 hours. Cells were harvested and the percentage of autophagic MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was determined by flow cytometry. (B) Bar graphs showing the percentage of autophagic cells treated with ALS alone at 1.0 μM for 24 hours or pretreated with the inhibitor in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Cells were treated with green fluorescent Cyto-ID® to detect autophagic vacuoles and subjected to flow cytometric analysis that collected 10,000 events. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; WM, wortmannin; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; Baf A1, bafilomycin A1.
Figure 12 Effect of various autophagy inhibitors on basal and ALS-induced autophagy in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Figure 13 Effect of various autophagy inhibitors on the expression levels of p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, beclin 1, and LC3-I/II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in the presence or absence of ALS.

Notes: (A) Representative blots showing the expression levels of p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, beclin 1, and LC3-I/II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with various autophagy inhibitors with or without addition of ALS. Cells were pretreated with WM (10 μM) or bafilomycin A1 (100 nM) for 30 minutes; 1.0 μM ALS was added and incubated for a further 24 hours. Cells were harvested and the relative levels of beclin 1 and LC3-I/II and the ratio of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK were examined by Western blotting assay using β-actin as the internal control and (B) bar graphs showing the relative levels of p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, beclin 1, and LC3-I/II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. β-Actin was used as the internal control. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. *P<0.05 and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; WM, wortmannin; LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; p-p38 MAPK, phosphorylated p38 MAPK; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; Baf A1, bafilomycin A1.
Figure 13 Effect of various autophagy inhibitors on the expression levels of p-p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, beclin 1, and LC3-I/II in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in the presence or absence of ALS.

Figure 14 Effect of p38 MAPK knockdown by siRNA interference and chemical inhibition by SB202190 p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, p-Akt, Akt, p-mTOR, mTOR, beclin 1, LC3-I, and LC3-II in MCF7 cells in the presence or absence of ALS.

Notes: (A) Representative blots showing the effects of p38 MAPK knockdown by siRNA interference or chemical inhibition by 10 μM SB202190 p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, p-Akt, Akt, p-mTOR, mTOR, beclin 1, LC3-I, and LC3-II in MCF7 cells in the presence or absence of ALS and (B) bar graphs showing the relative expression levels of p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, p-Akt, Akt, p-mTOR, mTOR, beclin 1, LC3-I, and LC3-II in MCF7 cells treated with p38 MAPK siRNA or 10 μM SB202190 with or without addition of ALS. β-actin was used as the internal control. Data are the mean ± SD of three independent experiments. **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 by one-way ANOVA.
Abbreviations: ALS, alisertib; SD, standard deviation; ANOVA, analysis of variance; p-p38 MAPK, phosphorylated p38 MAPK; Akt, protein kinase B; mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin; LC3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; siRNA, small interfering ribonucleic acid.
Figure 14 Effect of p38 MAPK knockdown by siRNA interference and chemical inhibition by SB202190 p38 MAPK, p38 MAPK, p-Akt, Akt, p-mTOR, mTOR, beclin 1, LC3-I, and LC3-II in MCF7 cells in the presence or absence of ALS.

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