The Pim-1 kinase

The oncogenic kinase Pim-1

Pim-1 (Provirus integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus 1) kinase belongs to a family of constitutively active Seronin/Threonin kinases. The expression of Pim-1 is mainly controlled on transcriptional level by several interleukins and growth factor via the Jak/STAT pathway involving STAT3 and/or STAT5. Additionally, its expression can be increased upon cellular stress, like hypoxia or shear stress. Notably, Pim kinases are overexpressed in various tumors and are believed to play a role in malignant transformation. For Pim-1 several target proteins involved in apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, signal transduction, and transcriptional regulation have been identified, leading overall to anti-apoptotic effects and cell survival.

This project explores the anti-tumor effects of RNA interference mediated knockdown of Pim-1 in tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, and analyses downstream signal transduction pathways. Studies also include sensitization processes of Pim-1 inhibition towards chemotherapy.