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Induction of stem cell factor/c-Kit/slug signal transduction in multidrug-resistant malignant mesothelioma cells.

Catalano A, Rodilossi S, Rippo MR, Caprari P, Procopio A

Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60131, Italy. catgfp@yahoo.it

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is strongly resistant to conventional chemotherapy by unclear mechanisms. We and others have previously reported that cytokine- and growth factor-mediated signal transduction is involved in the growth and progression of MM. Here, we identified a pathway that involves stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit/Slug in mediating multidrug resistance of MM cells. When we compared gene expression profiles between five MM cells and their multidrug-resistant (MM DX) sublines, we found that MM DX cells expressed both SCF and c-Kit and had higher mRNA levels of Slug. Knockdown of c-Kit or Slug expression with their respective small interfering RNA sensitized MM DX cells to the induction of apoptosis by different chemotherapeutic agents, including doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and vincristine. Transfection of c-Kit in parental MM cells in the presence of SCF up-regulated Slug and increased resistance to the chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, MM cells expressing Slug showed a similar increased resistance to the chemotherapeutic agents. These results indicate that induction of Slug by autocrine production of SCF and c-Kit activation plays a key role in conferring a broad spectrum chemoresistance on MM cells and reveal a novel signal transduction pathway for pharmacological or genetic intervention of MM patients.

Published 1 November 2004 in J Biol Chem, 279(45): 46706-14.
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