Intracellular reactive oxygen species are essential for PI3K/Akt/mTOR-dependent IL-7-mediated viability of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

Leukemia. 2011 Jun;25(6):960-7. doi: 10.1038/leu.2011.56. Epub 2011 Apr 1.

Abstract

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) activates phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway, thereby mediating viability, proliferation and growth of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be upregulated by growth factors and are known to regulate proliferation and viability. Here, we show that IL-7 upregulates ROS in T-ALL cells in a manner that is dependent on PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activity and that relies on both NADPH oxidase and mitochondrial respiratory chain. Conversely, IL-7-induced activation of PI3K signaling pathway requires mitochondrial respiration and ROS. We have previously shown that IL-7-mediated activation of PI3K pathway drives the upregulation of the glucose transporter Glut1, promoting glucose uptake in T-ALL cells. Using phloretin to inhibit Glut function, we demonstrate that glucose uptake is mandatory for ROS upregulation in IL-7-treated T-ALL cells, suggesting that IL-7 stimulation leads to increased ROS via PI3K pathway activation and consequent upregulation of Glut1 and glucose uptake. Overall, our data reveal the existence of a critical crosstalk between PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and ROS that is essential for IL-7-mediated T-ALL cell survival, and that may constitute a novel target for therapeutic intervention.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-7 / physiology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Receptor Cross-Talk
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • IL7 protein, human
  • Interleukin-7
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases