No abstract

Metformin is the most commonly prescribed drug for type II diabetes and is associated with decreased cancer risk. Previously, we showed that metformin prevented tobacco carcinogen (NNK)-induced lung tumorigenesis in a non-diabetic mouse model, which was associated with decreased IGF-I/insulin receptor signaling but not activation of AMPK in lung tissues, as well as decreased circulating levels of IGF-1 and insulin. Here, we used liver-IGF-1-deficient (LID) mice to determine the importance of IGF-1 in NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis and chemoprevention by metformin. LID mice had decreased lung tumor multiplicity and burden compared to WT mice. Metformin further decreased lung tumorigenesis in LID mice without affecting IGF-1 levels, suggesting that metformin can act through IGF-1-independent mechanisms. In lung tissues, metformin decreased phosphorylation of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) as well as levels of GTP-bound Ras independently of AMPK. Metformin also diminished plasma levels of several cognate ligands for these RTKs. Tissue distribution studies using [14C]-metformin showed that uptake of metformin was high in liver but 4 fold lower in lungs, suggesting that the suppression of RTK activation by metformin occurs predominantly via systemic, indirect effects. Systemic inhibition of circulating growth factors and local RTK signaling are new AMPK-independent mechanisms of action of metformin that could underlie its ability to prevent tobacco carcinogen-induced lung tumorigenesis.

As mediators of innate immunity, neutrophils respond to chemoattractants by adopting a highly polarized morphology. Efficient chemotaxis requires the formation of one prominent pseudopod at the cell front characterized by actin polymerization, while local inhibition suppresses the formation of rear and lateral protrusions. This asymmetric control of signaling pathways is required for directional migration along a chemotactic gradient. Here, we identify the MAGUK protein p55/MPP1 as a mediator of the frontness signal required for neutrophil polarization. We developed a p55 knockout (p55 ؊/؊ ) mouse model, and demonstrate that p55 ؊/؊ neutrophils form multiple transient pseudopods upon chemotactic stimulation, and do not migrate efficiently in vitro. Upon agonist stimulation, p55 is rapidly recruited to the leading edge of neutrophils in mice and humans. Total F-actin polymerization, along with Rac1 and RhoA activation, appear to be normal in p55 ؊/؊ neutrophils. Importantly, phosphorylation of Akt is significantly decreased in p55 ؊/؊ neutrophils upon chemotactic stimulation. The activity of immunoprecipitated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase ␥ (PI3K␥), responsible for chemoattractantinduced synthesis of PIP3 and Akt phosphorylation, is unperturbed in p55 ؊/؊ neutrophils. Although the total amount of PIP3 is normal in p55 ؊/؊ neutrophils, PIP3 is diffusely localized and forms punctate aggregates in activated p55 ؊/؊ neutrophils, as compared to its accumulation at the leading edge membrane in the wild type neutrophils. Together, these results show that p55 is required for neutrophil polarization by regulating Akt phosphorylation through a mechanism that is independent of PI3K␥ activity.Akt ͉ erythrocyte p55 ͉ MPP1 ͉ MAGUK