The wild-type p53-induced phosphatase PPM1D (or Wip1) is a serine/threonine phosphatase that is transcriptionally upregulated by p53 following ultraviolet and ionizing radiation. PPM1D is an oncogene in transformation assays and is amplified or overexpressed in several human tumor types. Here, we demonstrate that PPM1D interacts with the nuclear isoform of uracil DNA glycosylase, UNG2, and suppresses base excision repair (BER). Point mutations that inactivate PPM1D phosphatase activity abrogate BER suppression, indicating that dephosphorylation by PPM1D is important for BER inhibition. We have identified UNG2 phosphorylation sites at threonines 6 and 126 that exhibit enhanced phosphorylation following UV irradiation. The UV-induced phosphorylated forms of UNG2 are more active than nonphosphorylated forms in mediating uracil-associated DNA cleavage. PPM1D dephosphorylation of UNG2 at phosphothreonine 6 is associated with reduced UNG2 activity. Thus, PPM1D may inhibit BER by dephosphorylating UNG2 to facilitate its inactivation after completion of DNA repair.

The melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7/IL24) is a unique member of the IL-10 family of cytokines, with ubiquitous tumor cell proapoptotic activity. Transduction of tumor or normal cells with the mda-7 gene results in secretion of glycosylated MDA-7 protein. Recent data indicate that secreted MDA-7 protein functions as a pro-Th1 cytokine and as a potent antiangiogenic molecule. MDA-7 protein binds two distinct type II cytokine heterodimeric receptor complexes, IL-20R1/IL-20R2 (type 1 IL-20R) and IL-22R1/IL-20R2 (type 2 IL-20R). In this study we analyzed the activity of glycosylated secreted MDA-7 against human melanoma cells. MDA-7 protein induces phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of STAT3 in melanoma cells via both type 1 and type 2 IL-20R. MDA-7 induces dose-dependent cell death in melanoma tumor cells. MDA-7 receptor engagement results in up-regulation of BAX and subsequent apoptosis induction; this effect is mediated by STAT3-independent signaling. Additional IL-10 family members (IL-10, -19, -20, and -22) also activate STAT3; however, these ligands do not activate death pathways in melanoma. In normal cells, MDA-7 can bind to its cognate receptors and induce phosphorylation of STAT3, without cytotoxic sequelae. This study defines a tumor-selective cytotoxic bystander role for secreted MDA-7 protein and identifies a novel receptor-mediated, STAT3-independent, and PKR-independent death pathway.

The melanoma differentiation-associated gene (mda-7; approved gene symbol IL24) is a tumor suppressor gene whose protein expression in normal cells is restricted to the immune system and to melanocytes. Recent studies have shown that mda-7 gene transfer inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in melanoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, and other tumor types through activation of various intracellular signaling pathways. In the current study, we demonstrate that Ad-mda7 transduction of human pancreatic cancer cells results in G2/M cell cycle arrest and cell killing. Cytotoxicity is mediated via apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Tumor cell killing correlates with regulation of proteins involved in the Wnt and PI3K pathways: beta-catenin, APC, GSK-3, JNK, and PTEN. Additionally, we identify bystander cell killing activated by exposure of pancreatic tumor cells to secreted human MDA-7 protein. In pancreatic tumor cells, exogenous MDA-7 protein activates STAT3 and kills cells via engagement of IL-20 receptors. The specificity of bystander killing is demonstrated using neutralizing anti-MDA-7 antibodies and anti-receptor antibodies, which inhibit the apoptotic effects. In sum, we show that Ad-mda7 is able to induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells via inhibition of the Wnt/PI3K pathways and identify a novel bystander mechanism of MDA-7 killing in pancreatic cancer that functions via IL-20 receptors.

The melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7/IL-24) is a unique member of the interleukin 10 (IL-10) family of cytokines, with ubiquitous tumor cell pro-apoptotic activity. Recent data have shown that IL-24 is secreted as a glycosylated protein and functions as a pro-Th1 cytokine and as a potent anti-angiogenic molecule. In this study, we analyzed the activity of Ad-mda7 and its protein product, secreted IL-24, against human breast cancer cells. We show that Ad-mda7 transduction of human breast cancer cells results in G(2)/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death, which correlates with secretion of IL-24 protein. Neutralizing antibody against IL-24 significantly inhibited Ad-mda7 cytotoxicity. IL-24 and IL-10 both engage their cognate receptors on breast cancer cells resulting in phosphorylation and activation of STAT3, however, IL-10 receptor binding failed to induce cell killing, indicating that tumor cell killing by IL-24 is independent of STAT3 phosphorylation. Treatment with exogenous IL-24 induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells and this effect was abolished by addition of anti-IL-24 antibody or anti-IL-20R1, indicating that bystander cell killing is mediated via IL-24 binding to the IL-20R1/IL-20R2 heterodimeric receptor complex. Co-administration of the related cytokine IL-10 inhibited killing mediated by IL-24 and concomitantly inhibited IL-24 mediated up-regulation of the tumor suppressor proteins, p53 and p27(Kip1). In summary, we have defined a tumor-selective cytotoxic bystander role for secreted IL-24 protein and identified a novel receptor-mediated death pathway in breast cancer cells, wherein the related cytokines IL-24 and IL-10 exhibit antagonistic activity.

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