The JNK signaling pathway plays a key role in methuosis (non-apoptotic cell death) induced by MOMIPP in glioblastoma

Background: Synthetic indolyl- pyridinyl- propenones (IPPs) induce methuosis, a form of non-apoptotic cell death, in glioblastoma and other Cancer cell lines. Methuosis is characterized by accumulation of cytoplasmic vacuoles derived from macropinosomes and late endosomes, followed by metabolic failure and rupture of the plasma membrane. However, not all IPPs that cause vacuolization are cytotoxic. The main goals of the present study were to identify key signaling pathways that contribute to methuosis induced by cytotoxic IPPs and to evaluate the anti-tumor potential of a prototype IPP in vivo.

Methods: We utilized metabolic flux analysis, glucose uptake, immunoblotting, and selective pharmacological inhibitors to compare the effects of closely related cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic IPPs in cultured glioblastoma cells. To determine whether the use of methuosis-inducing IPPs might be feasible in a therapeutic context, we quantified the distribution of our lead IPP compound, MOMIPP, in mouse plasma and brain, and tested its ability to inhibit tumor growth in an intracerebral glioblastoma xenograft model.

Results: The cytotoxic IPP compound, MOMIPP, causes early disruptions of glucose uptake and glycolytic metabolism. Coincident with these metabolic changes, MOMIPP selectively activates the JNK1/2 stress kinase pathway, resulting in phosphorylation of c-Jun, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. At the same concentration, the non-cytotoxic analog, MOPIPP, does not activate these pathways. Pharmacologic inhibition of JNK activity promotes survival, even when cells are extensively vacuolated, but suppression of c-Jun transcriptional activity offers no protection. MOMIPP readily penetrates the blood-brain barrier and is moderately effective in suppressing progression of intracerebral glioblastoma xenografts.

Conclusions: The results suggest that interference with glucose uptake and induction of JNK-mediated phosphorylation of pro-survival members of the Bcl-2 Family represent key events in the methuosis death process. In addition to providing new insights into the underlying molecular mechanism of methuosis, the results indicate that compounds of the cytotoxic IPP class may have potential for further development as therapeutic agents for brain tumors.