A mechanism of resistance to TRAIL/Apo2L-induced apoptosis of newly established glioma cell line and sensitisation to TRAIL by genotoxic agents

Most tumour cells are sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, but not normal cells; thus, cancer therapy using TRAIL is expected clinically. Several tumour cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and various mechanisms of such resistance were reported in individual cases. In this study, we established a TRAIL-resistant glioma cell line, which completely lacked TRAIL receptors. In addition, this tumour cell line had wild-type p53 tumour-suppressive gene, suggesting new mechanisms for tumour cells to expand and escape from immune surveillance. The present study further explored the mechanisms that determine the sensitivity to TRAIL. We show that genotoxic agents such as cisplatin, doxorubicin and camptothecin, in addition to UV radiation, can induce TRAIL-R2 on the cell surface of TRAIL receptor-negative tumour cells. Newly synthesised TRAIL-R2 is functional, so apoptosis is effectively induced by TRAIL, but it is significantly inhibited by constitutive expression of dominant-negative p53. In addition, apoptosis induced by pretreatment of genotoxic agents and additional stimulation of TRAIL is efficiently inhibited by either antagonistic anti-TRAIL-R2 antibody or pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-FMK. Taken together, these findings suggest that resistance to TRAIL by lack of TRAIL receptors on glioma is restored by genotoxic agents, which support the new strategies for tumour killing by TRAIL-bearing cytotoxic cells in combination with genotoxic treatment.     

Functional screening of genes suppressing TRAIL-induced apoptosis: distinct inhibitory activities of Bcl-XL and Bcl-2

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is known to selectively induce apoptosis in various tumour cells. However, downstream-signalling of TRAIL-receptor is not well defined. A functional genetic screening was performed to isolate genes interfering with TRAIL-induced apoptosis using cDNA retroviral library. Bcl-X(L) and FLIP were identified after DNA sequencing analysis of cDNA rescued from TRAIL-resistant clones. We found that increased expression of Bcl-X(L), but not Bcl-2, suppressed TRAIL-induced apoptosis in tumour cells. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses showed that expression of Bcl-X(L), but not Bcl-2, was highly increased in human breast cancer tissues. Exposure of MDA-MB-231 breast tumour cells to TRAIL induced apoptosis accompanied by dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and enzymatic activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9. However, SK-BR-3 breast tumour cells exhibiting increased expression level of Bcl-X(L) were resistant to TRAIL, though upon exposure to TRAIL, caspase-8 and Bid were activated. Forced expression of Bcl-X(L), but not Bcl-2, desensitised TRAIL-sensitive MDA-MB-231 cells to TRAIL. Similar inhibitory effects were also observed in other tumour cells such as HeLa and Jurkat cells stably expressing Bcl-X(L), but not Bcl-2. These results are indicative of the crucial and distinct function of Bcl-X(L) and Bcl-2 in the modulation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis.     

Regulation of proliferation, survival and apoptosis by members of the TNF superfamily

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was first identified in 1984 as a cytokine with anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Extensive research since then has shown that there are at least 18 distinct members of the TNF super family and they exhibit 15-25% amino acid sequence homology with each other. These family members bind to distinct receptors, which are homologous in their extracellular domain. These cytokines have been implicated in a wide variety of diseases including tumorigenesis, septic shock, viral replication, bone resorption, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases. TNF blockers have been approved for human use in treating some of these conditions in the United States and other countries. Various members of the TNF super family mediate either proliferation, survival, or apoptosis of cells. Although distinct receptors, all members share a common cell signaling pathway that mediates the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (e.g. c-jun N-terminal kinase). Regulation of cell growth and activation of NF-kappaB and of c-jun N-terminal kinase by the TNF super family is mediated through sequential activation/association of a set of cell signaling proteins named TNF receptor-associated factors, Fas-associated death domain and FADD-like ICE, caspases, receptor-interacting protein, NF-kappaB-inducing kinases, and IkappaBalpha kinases. Both apoptotic and antiapoptotic signals are activated simultaneously by the same cytokine in the same cell. Together these cytokines regulate cell growth/survival/apoptosis in a complex dance of changing partners and overlapping steps.     

Synergistic induction of apoptosis by the combination of trail and chemotherapy in chemoresistant ovarian cancer cells

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) alone or in combination with chemotherapy could induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy. METHODS: Twelve chemoresistant epithelial cancer cell lines were treated with each chemotherapeutic drug alone (cisplatin, doxorubicin, or paclitaxel), TRAIL alone, or the combination. Toxicity was assessed using the MTS assay. To assess whether growth inhibition was due to apoptosis, TUNEL assay, caspase activation (measured by caspase-3 and PARP cleavage), and the sub G0/G1 fraction of cells were measured. Synergism was confirmed by fractional inhibition and dose-effect analysis. Expression of death and decoy receptors was studied by immunoblotting and an RNase protection assay. Statistical comparison of means was performed using Student's t test. RESULTS: The majority of the chemoresistant cells were also resistant to TRAIL alone. In contrast, the combination of TRAIL and chemotherapy resulted in a significant growth inhibition over a wide range of concentrations. This interaction was synergistic by dose-effect analysis. Flow cytometry demonstrated a significant increase in the fraction of apoptotic cells by the combination compared to each reagent alone. A significant enhancement in caspase and PARP cleavage was observed upon treatment with the combination. Finally, no correlation between induction of apoptosis and level of death receptors was found. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that almost all the ovarian cancer cells, which are resistant to chemotherapy, are also resistant to TRAIL. The combination of TRAIL and chemotherapy overcomes this resistance in a synergistic fashion by triggering caspase-mediated apoptosis. The combination of TRAIL and chemotherapy could be useful as a therapy for chemoresistant ovarian cancers.     

胶质母细胞瘤组织中TRAIL受体表达的研究

目的研究TRAIL受体(TRAIL receptor,TRAIL-R)在胶质母细胞瘤中的表达,并探讨其临床意义。方法联合采用免疫组织化学和RT-PCR方法检测胶质母细胞瘤及正常脑组织中TRAIL-R的表达。结果25例胶质母细胞瘤均表达死亡受体(death receptor,DR)4和DR5,11例(44.0%)表达诱骗受体(decoy receptor,DcR)1,5例(20.0%)表达DcR2,而20例正常脑组织普遍表达DcR1和DcR2。胶质母细胞瘤组织中DR的高表达以及DcR的低表达不同于正常脑组织中DR的低表达及DcR的高表达,两者间差异有显著性(P<0.01)。RT-PCR显示,25例胶质母细胞瘤组织分别有22例(88.0%)DcR1和15例(60.0%)DcR2在mRNA水平呈阳性表达,DcR在转录水平的表达明显高于翻译水平(P<0.01)。结论胶质母细胞瘤中普遍存在DR的高表达和DcR的低表达,DcR在胶质母细胞瘤中限制性表达的调控位于转录后水平。这可能为胶质母细胞瘤的凋亡诱导治疗提供新的靶点和策略。     

Repression of NF‐κB and activation of AP‐1 enhance apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

TNFα and TRAIL, 2 members of the tumor necrosis factor family, share many common signaling pathways to induce apoptosis. Although many cancer cells are sensitive to these proapoptotic agents, some develop resistance. Recently, we have demonstrated that upregulation of c‐Fos/AP‐1 is necessary, but insufficient for cancer cells to undergo TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Here we present a prostate cancer model with differential sensitivity to TNFα and TRAIL. We show that inhibition of NF‐κB or activation of AP‐1 can only partially sensitize resistant prostate cancer cells to proapoptotic effects of TNFα or TRAIL. Inhibition of NF‐κB by silencing TRAF2, by silencing RIP or by ectopic expression of IκB partially sensitized resistant prostate cancer. Similarly, activation of c‐Fos/AP‐1 only partially sensitized resistant cancer cells to proapoptotic effects of TNFα or TRAIL. However, concomitant repression of NF‐κB and activation of c‐Fos/AP‐1 significantly enhanced the proapoptotic effects of TNFα and TRAIL in resistant prostate cancer cells. Therefore, multiple molecular pathways may need to be modified, to overcome cancers that are resistant to proapoptotic therapies. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

TRAIL诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡及其与FHIT基因突变关系的初步研究

目的:分析原核重组表达的人可溶性TRAIL分子诱导多种肿瘤细胞的凋亡,并观察凋亡作用与FHIT基因突变的关系.方法:观察人可溶性TRAIL对28株不同来源的肿瘤细胞和正常细胞的直接细胞毒作用,RT-PCR法分析部分细胞的FHIT基因缺失突变情况.结果:1～100 mg/L的重组人可溶性T RAIL蛋白即可诱导19株细胞(包括人肿瘤细胞株)如1990(胰腺导管癌)、MCF-7(乳腺癌)、A5 4 9(肺癌)、U251(星形胶质瘤)、HepG-2(肝细胞癌)、M85(胃癌)、CNE-2(鼻咽癌)、Hep-2( 喉癌)、AT-29(结肠癌)、3AO(卵巢癌)和B16-MB(黑色素瘤),髓性恶性细胞如Jurkat、K56 2、U937、6T-CEM,鼠源性S180(肉瘤)、Ehrlich(腹水瘤)和Lewis(肺癌),以及人内皮细胞株ECV304等发生凋亡;而其他9株细胞,如SK-N-SH(人神经母细胞瘤)、8898(人胰腺导管癌)、HeLa(人宫颈癌)、SMMU7721(人肝癌)、HL60(人白血病)、COS-7(猴肾)、人成纤维细胞、L929(鼠成纤维细胞)、Wish(人羊膜细胞)等需大于100 mg/L的TRAIL才能使其凋亡;观察到上述部分对TRAIL敏感的人源细胞的FHIT基因有缺失突变,而不敏感的人源细胞FHIT 基因完整.结论:原核表达的人可溶性TRAIL具有明显诱导多种肿瘤细胞凋亡的活性,其机制可能与FHIT基因的缺失有关.     

雷公藤内酯醇对狼疮性肾炎患者外周血单个核细胞TRAIL受体表达的影响

目的 检测雷公藤内酯醇对狼疮性肾炎(LN)患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMCs)凋亡及凋亡诱导配体TRAIL受体DR5、DcR1表达的影响.方法 培养LN患者PBMCs,20、20、60 μg/L的雷公藤内酯醇分别刺激细胞6、12、24 h,流式细胞仪FTTC-Annexin V联合PI染色检测细胞凋亡及TRAIL受体DR5、DcR1蛋白的表达.结果 雷公藤内酯醇以剂量依赖的形式诱导LN患者PBMCs凋亡,雷公藤内酯醇诱导PBMCs凋亡的同时伴随有TRAIL受体DR5、DcR1表达的上调.结论 雷公藤内酯醇可以通过上调TRAIL受体DR5和DcR1表达诱导PBMCs凋亡.