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Target validation for Neurofibromatosis Type 2 therapeutics.
Title
Target validation for Neurofibromatosis Type 2 therapeutics.
Creator
Petrilli Guinart, Alejandra, Fernandez-Valle, Cristina, Altomare, Deborah, Khaled, Annette, Lambert, Stephen, University of Central Florida
Abstract / Description
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a benign tumor disease of the nervous system. Development of bilateral vestibular schwannomas is characteristic of NF2; however patients frequently present schwannomas on other nerves, as well as meningiomas and ependymomas. Currently, there are no drug therapies for NF2. There is an urgent need for development of NF2 therapeutics and this dissertation presents two independent potential therapeutic targets.The disease is caused by mutations in the NF2 gene...
Show moreNeurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a benign tumor disease of the nervous system. Development of bilateral vestibular schwannomas is characteristic of NF2; however patients frequently present schwannomas on other nerves, as well as meningiomas and ependymomas. Currently, there are no drug therapies for NF2. There is an urgent need for development of NF2 therapeutics and this dissertation presents two independent potential therapeutic targets.The disease is caused by mutations in the NF2 gene that encodes a tumor suppressor called merlin. Loss of merlin function is associated with increased activity of Rac and p21-activated kinases (PAK) and deregulation of cytoskeletal organization. LIM domain kinases (LIMK1 and 2) are substrates for Cdc42/Rac-PAK, and modulate actin dynamics by phosphorylating cofilin, an actin severing and depolymerizing agent. LIMKs also translocate into the nucleus and regulate cell cycle progression. Here we report that mouse Schwann cells (MSCs) in which merlin function is lost as a result of Nf2 exon2 deletion (Nf2 delta Ex2) exhibited increased levels of LIMK1, LIMK2, and active phospho-Thr508/505-LIMK1/2, as well as phospho-Ser3-cofilin, compared to wild-type normal MSCs. Similarly, levels of LIMK1 and 2 total protein and active phosphorylated forms were elevated in human vestibular schwannomas compared to normal human Schwann cells (SCs). Reintroduction of wild-type NF2 into Nf2?delta Ex2 MSC reduced LIMK1 and LIMK2 levels. Pharmacological inhibition of LIMK with BMS-5, decreased the viability of Nf2?delta Ex2 MSCs in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect viability of control MSCs. Similarly, LIMK knockdown decreased viability of Nf2?delta Ex2 MSCs. The decreased viability of Nf2?delta Ex2 MSCs was due to inhibition of cell cycle progression as evidenced by accumulation of cells in G2/M phase. Inhibition of LIMKs arrest cells in early mitosis by decreasing Aurora A activation and cofilin phosphorylation.To increase the search for NF2 therapeutics, we applied an alternative approach to drug discovery with an unbiased pilot high-throughput screen of the Library of Pharmacologically Active Compounds. We assayed for compounds capable of reducing viability of Nf2?delta Ex2 MSC as a cellular model for human NF2 schwannomas. AGK2, a SIRT2 (sirtuin 2) inhibitor, was identified as a candidate compound. SIRT2, a mammalian sirtuin, is a NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase. We show that Nf2?delta Ex2 MSC have higher expression levels of SIRT2 and lower levels of overall lysine acetylation than wild-type control MSC. Pharmacological inhibition of SIRT2 decreases Nf2?delta Ex2 MSC viability in a dose dependent manner without substantially reducing wild-type MSC viability. Inhibition of SIRT2 activity in Nf2?delta Ex2 MSC causes cell death accompanied by release of the necrotic markers lactate dehydrogenase and high mobility group box 1 protein into the medium in the absence of significant apoptosis, autophagy, or cell cycle arrest.Overall this work uncovered two novel potential therapeutic targets, LIMK and SIRT2 for NF2 and tumors associated with merlin deficiency.
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Date Issued
2013
Identifier
CFE0005398, ucf:50453
Format
Document (PDF)
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0005398