Considering that Aurora kinase inhibitors are currently under clinical investigation in hematologic cancers, the identification of molecular events that limit the response to such agents is essential for enhancing clinical outcomes. Here, we discover a NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK)-cAbl-STAT3 signaling-centered feedback loop that restrains the efficacy of Aurora inhibitors in multiple myeloma. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Aurora inhibition promotes NIK protein stabilization via downregulation of its negative regulator TRAF2. Accumulated NIK converts c-Abl tyrosine kinase from a nuclear proapoptotic into a cytoplasmic antiapoptotic effector by inducing its phosphorylation at Thr735, Tyr245 and Tyr412 residues, and, by entering into a trimeric complex formation with c-Abl and STAT3, increases both the transcriptional activity of STAT3 and expression of the antiapoptotic STAT3 target genes PIM1 and PIM2. This consequently promotes cell survival and limits the response to Aurora inhibition. The functional disruption of any of the components of the trimer NIK-c-AblSTAT3 or the PIM survival kinases consistently enhances the responsiveness of myeloma cells to Aurora inhibitors. Importantly, concurrent inhibition of NIK or c-Abl disrupts Aurora inhibitor-induced feedback activation of STAT3 and sensitizes myeloma cells to Aurora inhibitors, implicating a combined inhibition of Aurora and NIK or c-Abl kinases as potential therapies for multiple myeloma. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition of cAbl together with Aurora resulted in substantial cell death and tumor regression in vivo. The findings reveal an important functional interaction between NIK, Abl and Aurora kinases, and identify the NIK, c-Abl and PIM survival kinases as potential pharmacological targets for improving the efficacy of Aurora inhibitors in myeloma.

Functional interplay between NIK and c-Abl kinases limits response to Aurora inhibitors in multiple myeloma / Mazzera, Laura; Abeltino, Manuela; Lombardi, Guerino; Cantoni, Anna Maria; Ria, Roberto; Ricca, Micaela; Saltarella, Ilaria; Naponelli, Valeria; Rizzi, Federica Maria Angela; Perris, Roberto; Corradi, Attilio; Vacca, Angelo; Bonati, Antonio; Lunghi, Paolo. - In: HAEMATOLOGICA. - ISSN 0390-6078. - 104:12(2019), pp. 2465-2481. [10.3324/haematol.2018.208280]

Functional interplay between NIK and c-Abl kinases limits response to Aurora inhibitors in multiple myeloma

MAZZERA, Laura;Abeltino, Manuela;Cantoni, Anna Maria;Naponelli, Valeria;Rizzi, Federica Maria Angela;Perris, Roberto;Corradi, Attilio;Bonati, Antonio;Lunghi, Paolo
2019-01-01

Abstract

Considering that Aurora kinase inhibitors are currently under clinical investigation in hematologic cancers, the identification of molecular events that limit the response to such agents is essential for enhancing clinical outcomes. Here, we discover a NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK)-cAbl-STAT3 signaling-centered feedback loop that restrains the efficacy of Aurora inhibitors in multiple myeloma. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Aurora inhibition promotes NIK protein stabilization via downregulation of its negative regulator TRAF2. Accumulated NIK converts c-Abl tyrosine kinase from a nuclear proapoptotic into a cytoplasmic antiapoptotic effector by inducing its phosphorylation at Thr735, Tyr245 and Tyr412 residues, and, by entering into a trimeric complex formation with c-Abl and STAT3, increases both the transcriptional activity of STAT3 and expression of the antiapoptotic STAT3 target genes PIM1 and PIM2. This consequently promotes cell survival and limits the response to Aurora inhibition. The functional disruption of any of the components of the trimer NIK-c-AblSTAT3 or the PIM survival kinases consistently enhances the responsiveness of myeloma cells to Aurora inhibitors. Importantly, concurrent inhibition of NIK or c-Abl disrupts Aurora inhibitor-induced feedback activation of STAT3 and sensitizes myeloma cells to Aurora inhibitors, implicating a combined inhibition of Aurora and NIK or c-Abl kinases as potential therapies for multiple myeloma. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition of cAbl together with Aurora resulted in substantial cell death and tumor regression in vivo. The findings reveal an important functional interaction between NIK, Abl and Aurora kinases, and identify the NIK, c-Abl and PIM survival kinases as potential pharmacological targets for improving the efficacy of Aurora inhibitors in myeloma.
2019
Functional interplay between NIK and c-Abl kinases limits response to Aurora inhibitors in multiple myeloma / Mazzera, Laura; Abeltino, Manuela; Lombardi, Guerino; Cantoni, Anna Maria; Ria, Roberto; Ricca, Micaela; Saltarella, Ilaria; Naponelli, Valeria; Rizzi, Federica Maria Angela; Perris, Roberto; Corradi, Attilio; Vacca, Angelo; Bonati, Antonio; Lunghi, Paolo. - In: HAEMATOLOGICA. - ISSN 0390-6078. - 104:12(2019), pp. 2465-2481. [10.3324/haematol.2018.208280]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Haematologica Mazzera Lunghi 2019.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione (PDF) editoriale
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 5.05 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
5.05 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2857817
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 3
social impact