Coagulation factor Xa drives tumor cells into apoptosis through BH3-only protein Bim up-regulation.

Abstract

Coagulation Factor (F)Xa is a serine protease that plays a crucial role during blood coagulation by converting prothrombin into active thrombin. Recently, however, it emerged that besides this role in coagulation, FXa induces intracellular signaling leading to different cellular effects. Here, we show that coagulation factor (F)Xa drives tumor cells of epithelial origin, but not endothelial cells or monocytes, into apoptosis, whereas it even enhances fibroblast survival. FXa signals through the protease activated receptor (PAR)-1 to activate extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and p38. This activation is associated with phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB, and in tumor cells with up-regulation of the BH3-only pro-apoptotic protein Bim, leading to caspase-3 cleavage, the main hallmark of apoptosis. Transfection of tumor cells with dominant negative forms of CREB or siRNA for either PAR-1, Bim, ERK1 and/or p38 inhibited the pro-apoptotic effect of FXa. In fibroblasts, FXa-induced PAR-1 activation leads to down-regulation of Bim and pre-treatment with PAR-1 or Bim siRNA abolishes proliferation. We thus provide evidence that beyond its role in blood coagulation, FXa plays a key role in cellular processes in which Bim is the central player in determining cell survival.

• Authors: Keren S Borensztajn, Maarten F Bijlsma, Angelique P Groot, Lois W Brüggemann, Henri H Versteeg, Pieter H Reitsma, Maikel P Peppelenbosch, C Arnold Spek
• Journal: Experimental cell research (Exp Cell Res) Vol. 313 Issue 12 Pg. 2622-33 (Jul 15 2007) ISSN: 0014-4827 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17531220 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
• BCL2L11 protein, human
• Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
• Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
• Membrane Proteins
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins
• Receptor, PAR-1
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Factor Xa

Topics

• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins (genetics)
• Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein (metabolism)
• Enzyme Activation (drug effects)
• Epithelial Cells (drug effects)
• Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases (metabolism)
• Factor Xa (pharmacology)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (drug effects)
• Humans
• Membrane Proteins (genetics)
• Phosphorylation (drug effects)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins (genetics)
• Receptor, PAR-1 (metabolism)
• Transcription, Genetic (drug effects)
• Up-Regulation (drug effects)
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)