Abstract 4375: Hrk mediates 2-methoxyestradiol-induced mitochondrial apoptotic signaling in prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in males and ranks the second most common cause of cancer related deaths. 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME), an endogenous estrogen metabolite, is a promising anticancer agent for various types of cancers. Although 2-ME has been shown to activate Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and mitochondrial dependent apoptotic signaling pathways, the underlying mechanisms including downstream effectors remain unclear. Here, we report that the human Bcl-2 homology 3 (BH3)-only protein harakiri (Hrk) is a critical effector of 2-ME-induced-JNK dependent apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Hrk mRNA and protein are preferentially up-regulated by 2-ME, and Hrk induction is dependent on JNK activation of c-Jun. Hrk knockdown prevents 2-ME-mediated apoptosis by attenuating the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, subsequent cytochrome c (cyt c) release and caspase activation. Conversely, Hrk over-expression increases caspase-dependent prostate cancer cell apoptosis. Involvement of the pro-apoptotic protein Bak in this process suggested the possible interaction between Hrk and Bak. Thus, Hrk activation by 2-ME or its over-expression displaced Bak from the complex with anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL, while deletion of the Hrk BH3 domain abolished its interaction with Bcl-xL, reducing the pro-apoptotic function of Hrk. Finally, Hrk is also involved in the 2-ME-mediated reduction of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) through Bak activation in prostate cancer cells. Together, our findings suggest that induction of the BH3-only protein Hrk is a critical step in 2-ME activation of the JNK-induced apoptotic pathway targeting mitochondria by liberating pro-apoptotic protein Bak. Citation Format: Inik Chang, Shahana Majid, Sharanjot Saini, Mohd S. Zaman, Soichiro Yamamura, Takeshi Chiyomaru, Varahram Shahryari, Shinichiro Fukuhara, Guoren Deng, Rajvir Dahiya, Yuichiro Tanaka. Hrk mediates 2-methoxyestradiol-induced mitochondrial apoptotic signaling in prostate cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4375. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4375