Selective inhibition of growth of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 null cells by atorvastatin is associated with impaired Rheb and Rho GTPase function and reduced mTOR/S6 kinase activity

Cancer Res. 2007 Oct 15;67(20):9878-86. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-1394.

Abstract

Inactivating mutations in the tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) gene, which encodes tuberin, result in the development of TSC and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The tumor suppressor effect of tuberin lies in its GTPase-activating protein activity toward Ras homologue enriched in brain (Rheb), a Ras GTPase superfamily member. The statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors, have pleiotropic effects which may involve interference with the isoprenylation of Ras and Rho GTPases. We show that atorvastatin selectively inhibits the proliferation of Tsc2-/- mouse embryo fibroblasts and ELT-3 smooth muscle cells in response to serum and estrogen, and under serum-free conditions. The isoprenoids farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP) significantly reverse atorvastatin-induced inhibition of Tsc2-/- cell growth, suggesting that atorvastatin dually targets a farnesylated protein, such as Rheb, and a geranylgeranylated protein, such as Rho, both of which have elevated activity in Tsc2-/- cells. Atorvastatin reduced Rheb isoprenylation, GTP loading, and membrane localization. Atorvastatin also inhibited the constitutive phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin, S6 kinase, and S6 found in Tsc2-/- cells in an FPP-reversible manner and attenuated the high levels of phosphorylated S6 in Tsc2-heterozygous mice. Atorvastatin, but not rapamycin, attenuated the increased levels of activated RhoA in Tsc2-/- cells, and this was reversed by GGPP. These results suggest that atorvastatin may inhibit both rapamycin-sensitive and rapamycin-insensitive mechanisms of tuberin-null cell growth, likely via Rheb and Rho inhibition, respectively. Atorvastatin may have potential therapeutic benefit in TSC syndromes, including LAM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atorvastatin
  • Cell Growth Processes / drug effects
  • Cell Growth Processes / genetics
  • Drug Interactions
  • Female
  • Heptanoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / pharmacology
  • Prenylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain Protein
  • Rats
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases / metabolism*
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / deficiency*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Neuropeptides
  • Polyisoprenyl Phosphates
  • Pyrroles
  • Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain Protein
  • Rheb protein, mouse
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Tsc2 protein, mouse
  • Tsc2 protein, rat
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • farnesyl pyrophosphate
  • Atorvastatin
  • Protein Kinases
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins
  • geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate