Thiazolidinediones inhibit insulin-like growth factor-i-induced activation of p70S6 kinase and suppress insulin-like growth factor-I tumor-promoting activity.

Thiazolidinediones are a novel class of antidiabetic drugs that improve insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Recently, these compounds have also been shown to suppress tumor development in several animal models. The molecular basis for their antitumor action, however, is largely unknown. We report here that oral administration of thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone and troglitazone) remarkably inhibited insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-promoted skin tumor development by 73% in BK5.IGF-1 transgenic mice, although they were previously found to be ineffective in inhibiting UV- or chemically induced mouse skin tumorigenesis. The anti-IGF-I effect of troglitazone in mouse skin keratinocytes was due to, at least partially, inhibition of IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) at Thr(389), a site specifically phosphorylated by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Troglitazone did not directly inhibit mTOR kinase activity as shown by mTOR in vitro kinase assay but rapidly activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) through a yet undefined peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-independent mechanism. Expression of a dominant-negative AMPK reversed the inhibitory effect of troglitazone on IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of p70S6K, suggesting that troglitazone inhibited IGF-I and p70S6K signaling through activation of AMPK. Collectively, these data suggest that thiazolidinediones specifically inhibit IGF-I tumor-promoting activity in mouse skin through activation of AMPK and subsequent inhibition of p70S6K.