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PIM kinases alter mitochondrial dynamics and chemosensitivity in lung cancer

Oncogene volume 39, pages 2597–2611 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Resistance to chemotherapy represents a major obstacle to the successful treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The goal of this study was to determine how PIM kinases impact mitochondrial dynamics, ROS production, and response to chemotherapy in lung cancer. Live-cell imaging and microscopy were used to determine the effect of PIM loss or inhibition on mitochondrial phenotype and ROS. Inhibition of PIM kinases caused excessive mitochondrial fission and significant upregulation of mitochondrial superoxide, increasing intracellular ROS. Mechanistically, we define a signaling axis linking PIM1 to Drp1 and mitochondrial fission in lung cancer. PIM inhibition significantly increased the protein levels and mitochondrial localization of Drp1, causing marked fragmentation of mitochondria. An inverse correlation between PIM1 and Drp1 was confirmed in NSCLC patient samples. Inhibition of PIM sensitized NSCLC cells to chemotherapy and produced a synergistic antitumor response in vitro and in vivo. Immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy verified that PIM inhibitors promote mitochondrial fission and apoptosis in vivo. These data improve our knowledge about how PIM1 regulates mitochondria and provide justification for combining PIM inhibition with chemotherapy in NSCLC.

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Fig. 1: PIM1 is upregulated in advanced lung cancer and predicts poor survival outcomes.
Fig. 2: PIM inhibition increases mitochondrial superoxide production and total cellular ROS.
Fig. 3: Loss of PIM induces mitochondrial fragmentation.
Fig. 4: PIM1 affects mitochondrial phenotype in a Drp1-dependent manner.
Fig. 5: PIM inhibition sensitizes lung cancer cells to chemotherapy by altering the mitochondrial phenotype.
Fig. 6: Combined treatment with PIM inhibitor and docetaxel displays synergistic antitumor effects in vivo.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Donna Zhang (University of Arizona) for providing the H1299 Keap1−/− cell line and assistance with the acquisition and analysis of EPR results. We thank Adam R. Kohr for his assistance with graphic design. The research was supported by American Cancer Society grant RSG-16-159-01-CDD, American Lung Association grant LCD-504131, and Department of Defense PCRP Award (W81XWH-19-1-0455) to NAW. Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA023074 also provided support for this research.

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Author notes

  1. Noel A. Warfel

    Present address: Levy Cancer Center, Rm 0977, 1515 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Shailender S. Chauhan & Noel A. Warfel

  2. University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Rachel K. Toth & Noel A. Warfel

  3. Department of Cancer Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Corbin C. Jensen & Andrea L. Casillas

  4. Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    David F. Kashatus

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Contributions

Study concept and design: NAW and SSC. Acquisition of data: SSC, RKT, CCJ, ALC, and NAW. Analysis and presentation of data: NAW and SSC. Material support: DFA. Study supervision: NAW. Funding: NAW.

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Correspondence to Noel A. Warfel.

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Chauhan, S.S., Toth, R.K., Jensen, C.C. et al. PIM kinases alter mitochondrial dynamics and chemosensitivity in lung cancer. Oncogene 39, 2597–2611 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-020-1168-9

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