Inhibition of the c-Abl–TAp63 pathway protects mouse oocytes from chemotherapy-induced death
Researchers postulate a new use for imatinib, aimed at preserving oocytes of the follicle reserve during chemotherapeutic treatments
In an article published online in the Nature Medicine on 27 September 2009, Stefania Gonfloni and colleagues from the Department of Biology, University of Rome, Italy describe the c-Abl–TAp63 pathway activated by chemotherapeutic DNA-damaging drugs in model human cell lines and in mouse oocytes and its role in cell death. In cell lines, upon cisplatin treatment, c-Abl phosphorylates TAp63 on specific tyrosine residues. Such modifications affect p63 stability and induce a p63-dependent activation of proapoptotic promoters. Similarly, in oocytes, cisplatin rapidly promotes TAp63 accumulation and eventually cell death. Treatment with the c-Abl kinase inhibitor imatinib counteracts these cisplatin-induced effects. Taken together, these data support a model in which signals initiated by DNA double-strand breaks are detected by c-Abl, which, through its kinase activity, modulates the p63 transcriptional output.
Clinical relevancy of these data, researchers explained by fact that germ cells are sensitive to genotoxins, and ovarian failure and infertility are major side effects of chemotherapy in young patients with cancer. Moreover, they suggest a new use for imatinib, aimed at preserving oocytes of the follicle reserve during chemotherapeutic treatments.
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