Deletion of histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1/PKC-interacting protein growth in mice enhances cell growth and carcinogenesis

PKC-interacting protein (PKCI), also designated histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1, belongs to the histidine triad (HIT) family of proteins. Its structure is highly conserved from bacteria to humans and shares homology with the tumor-suppressor gene fragile histidine triad (FHIT). Although it was originally thought to inhibit PKC, its actual physiologic function is not known. Therefore, we used the technique of homologous recombination to generate homozygous deleted PKCI-/- mice. These mice display normal fetal and adult development. However, when mouse embryo fibroblasts were established from 13.5-day embryos and serially passaged the PKCI-/- cells displayed an increase in growth rate and underwent spontaneous immortalization, whereas the PKCI+/+ cells senesced and ceased growing. Furthermore, the PKCI-/- mouse embryo fibroblasts displayed increased resistance to cytotoxicity by ionizing radiation. In view of these findings we examined possible effects of PKCI on susceptibility to carcinogenicity. Both PKCI+/+ and PKCI-/- mice were treated with the chemical carcinogen N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA) by intragastric administration and killed 12 weeks later. As expected with this protocol, NMBA induced squamous tumors (both papillomas and carcinomas) of the forestomach. The incidence, multiplicity per mouse, volume, and degree of malignancy of these tumors were significantly greater in the PKCI-/- than in the PKCI+/+ mice. Furthermore, four adenomas and one adenocarcinoma of the glandular stomach were found in the NMBA-treated PKCI-/- mice but no tumors of the glandular stomach were found in the NMBA-treated PKCI+/+ mice or in any of the untreated mice. Taken together, these findings suggest that, like FHIT, PKCI may normally play a tumor suppressor role. The possible role of PKCI as a tumor suppressor in humans remains to be determined.