Additive effect of TRAIL and p53 gene transfer on apoptosis of human lung cancer cell lines

TRAIL is a cytokine that can induce tumor-specific apoptosis through its specific death receptors (DR4 and DR5) and p53 has been proven to increase the expression of death receptors. To examine their interaction in tumor suppression, p53 and TRAIL genes were inserted in recombinant adenovirus vectors and transferred simultaneously into non-small cell lung cancer cell lines (NCI-H157, NCI-H358, NCI-H460 and A549). Western blot assay demonstrated production of TRAIL protein in NCI-H157 and A549 cell lines. Increased expressions of DR4 and DR5 of NCI-H157 and DR4 of A549 after p53 overexpression were confirmed by flow cytometry. p53 or TRAIL gene transfer increased sub-G1 fraction in cell cycle analysis and inhibited the tumor growth dose-dependently and the degree was potentiated by co-transfer. But isobologram analysis indicated an additive effect. Together, these data indicate that p53 and TRAIL interact additively on tumor apoptosis despite theoretical synergism.     

欧前胡素通过上调细胞表面死亡受体5的数量增强TRAIL对乳腺癌细胞的杀伤活性

目的:探讨中药活性成分欧前胡素对肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(TRAIL)的协同抗乳腺癌效应及分子机制。方法:将人乳腺癌细胞T-47D和MCF-7按对照组、欧前胡素组、TRAIL组、欧前胡素+TRAIL组及欧前胡素+TRAIL+死亡受体5(DR5)siRNA组进行分组,MTT法检测T-47D和MCF-7细胞活力,流式细胞术检测T-47D细胞凋亡和线粒体膜电位,Western blot实验和流式细胞术检测T-47D细胞表面DR5的表达水平及caspase-8、caspase-3的活化水平。结果:MTT实验结果显示,欧前胡素联合用药能显著提高各浓度TRAIL对T-47D和MCF-7细胞的杀伤活性;流式细胞术和Western blot结果显示欧前胡素处理能显著提高T-47D细胞DR5的表达水平和活性氧簇产生水平(P0.05)。另外,流式细胞术和Western blot结果还显示,欧前胡素联合用药能显著增强TRAIL促进T-47D细胞线粒体膜电位损伤、caspase-8和caspase-3活化及凋亡的作用。结论:欧前胡素通过上调乳腺癌细胞DR5的表达水平发挥对TRAIL的协同抗乳腺癌效应。     

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体在前列腺癌细胞株PC-3M中对核因子kappa B活化的影响

目的：研究TRAIL诱导激素非依赖前列腺癌细胞株PC-3M过程中核因子kappa B（NF-κB）的活化和失活现象。方法： 当不同浓度的TRAIL和LPS作用于细胞后，我们通过细胞免疫组化染色和凝胶电泳迁移试验（EMSA）来检测NF-κB核转位的情况。并通过RT-PCR的方法粗略评定二硫代氨基甲酸吡咯烷（PDTC）对抑制蛋白IκB的影响。结果： EMSA和免疫组化分析显示PC-3M细胞中NF-κB的核转位可被TRAIL或LPS明显地激活。以PDTC预处理可以上调抑制蛋白IκB的表达，阻断NF-κB的核转位。结论： TRAIL的作用于激素非依赖前列腺癌细胞时主要的负作用在于其可以显著地刺激NF-κB的活化。另一方面，在PC-3M细胞凋亡过程中NF-κB的核转位可以被PDTC有力地抑制，同时IκB的表达升高和降解减少（PDTC引起的）是抑制NF-κB活化的潜在因素，为我们提出了增强TRAIL疗效的可能性方案。     

Protective effect of RIP and c-FLIP in preventing liver cancer cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL

TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily that can induce tumor selective death by up-regulating death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5 expression. The study aimed to explore the role of RIP and c-FLIP genes in TRAIL induced liver cancer cell HepG2 and Hep3B apoptosis and related mechanism. RIP and c-FLIP silenced HepG2 and Hep3B cell model were established through siRNA. Western blot was applied to test c-FLIP, RIP, DR4, DR5, FADD, Caspase-3/8/9, ERK1/2, and DFF45 protein expression. Caspase-8 kit was used to detect Caspase-8 expression. Flow cytometry was performed to measure cell apoptosis rate. Acid phosphatase method was applied to determine cell cycle. TRAIL had no significant effect on Caspase-3/8/9, DR4, DR5, ERK1/2, and DFF45 protein expression, but up-regulated c-FLIP and RIP protein expression and reduced FADD expression level. After treated by the chemotherapy drug mitomycin and adriamycin, c-FLIP and RIP expression decreased significantly, while FADD increased. After knockout c-FLIP and RIP gene, HepG2 and Hep3B cell apoptosis rate induced by TRAIL increased obviously. Meanwhile, cell subG1 percentage increased markedly and exhibited G1 phase growth retardation. In addition, after two kinds of gene knockout, Caspase-8 was activated and produce Caspase-3 P20 and P24, leading DFF45 appeared DNA fragment P17 and P25. c-FLIP and RIP can inhibit Caspase-8 activation and prompting HepG2 and Hep3B resistant to cell apoptosis induced by TRAIL.     

Ectopic expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL inhibits apoptosis induced by TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) through suppression of caspases-8, 7, and 3 and BID cleavage in human acute myelogenous leukemia cell line HL-60.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is one of the latest members of the TNF superfamily known to induce apoptosis in a wide variety of tumor cells. Some cell types, however, are quite resistant to TRAIL. We investigated the effect of ectopic expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human acute myelogenous leukemia HL-60 cells. We found that HL-60 cells, which express TRAIL receptors (also called death receptor, DR) DR4, DR5, and Dc (decoy) R2, are highly sensitive to TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity. Greater than 90% killing occurred within 24 h of TRAIL treatment. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, however, completely abolished the TRAIL-induced cytotoxic effects. Treatment of HL-60 cells with TRAIL induced caspase-8 activation within 2-4 h, but no activation could be seen in Bcl-2-expressing or Bcl-xL-expressing cells. TRAIL also induced cleavage of BID, which was also abolished by Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Similarly, TRAIL activated caspase-3 and caspase-7 in control cells but not in cells expressing Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL. Cleavage of the caspase-3 substrate poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), was abrogated by ectopic expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Inhibition of caspases by the pan-caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-valine-alanine-aspartate-fluoromethylketone (zVAD-fmk) abolished the TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Overall, these results indicate that TRAIL-induced apoptosis involves activation of caspase-8, caspase-7, caspase-3, and BID cleavage, and Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL prevents TRAIL-induced apoptosis by abrogating caspase activation and BID cleavage.     

A GTP-binding adapter protein couples TRAIL receptors to apoptosis-inducing proteins

Apoptosis-inducing tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family receptors recruit the proforms of caspase family cell death proteases to ligand-receptor complexes through interactions with intracellular adapter proteins. We have found that the GTP-binding protein DAP3 binds directly (with high affinity) to the death domain of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors, and is required for TRAIL-induced apoptosis. DAP3 also associates with the pro-caspase-8--binding adapter protein Fas-associated death domain (FADD), and links FADD to the TRAIL receptors DR4 and DR5. We have also found that binding of DAP3 to FADD and activation of pro-caspase-8 in an in vitro reconstituted system is GTP-dependent. Elucidation of this mechanism suggests GTP-binding proteins as potential targets for pharmacological intervention in TRAIL-induced apoptosis.     

TRAIL facilitates cytokine expression and macrophage migration during hypoxia/reoxygenation via ER stress-dependent NF-κB pathway

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), which is known as a key molecule to induce cancer cell apoptosis, has also been found to participate in the process of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Infiltrated macrophages play dual roles in inflammatory injury and healing following I/R. Whether TRAIL has any effect on macrophages during this process remains elusive. Here we showed that I/R triggered the expressions of TRAIL, DR5 and cytokines (IL-1β, TNFα, CCL-2 and ICAM-1), in addition to macrophage infiltration, which could be abolished by TRAIL neutralizing antibody. In vitro, TRAIL enhanced DR5 expression and facilitated the macrophages migration following hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) treatment in a dose-dependent manner via ER stress and NF-κB signaling pathways, which is accompanied by inflammatory factors expression. The increased cytokines production (such as TNFα and IL-1β) stimulated by TRAIL can be blocked by the NF-κB and ER stress inhibitor. The results also suggested that NF-κB activation of macrophages during H/R was regulated by ER stress. Thus, our research present that TRAIL affects functional activities of macrophages during I/R injury, which may be a potential therapeutic target for ischemic heart disease.     

Trauma patients' elevated tumor necrosis related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) contributes to increased T cell apoptosis

Immunosuppression resulting from excessive post-trauma apoptosis of hyperactivated T cells is controversial. TRAIL mediated T cell apoptosis decreases highly activated T cells' responses. Caspase-10, a particular TRAIL target, was increased in trauma patients' T cells with concomitantly elevated plasma TRAIL levels. These patients' T cells developed anergy, implicating increased TRAIL-mediated T cell apoptosis in post-trauma T cell anergy. Control T cells cultured with patients' sera containing high TRAIL levels increased their caspase-10 activity and apoptosis. Stimulated primary T cells are TRAIL apoptosis resistant. Increased plasma thrombospondin-1 and T cell expression of CD47, a thrombospondin-1 receptor, preceded patients' T cell anergy. CD47 triggering of T cells increased their sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Augmentation of T cell TRAIL-induced apoptosis was secondary to CD47 triggered activation of the Src homology-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) and was partially blocked by a SHP-1 inhibitor. We suggest that combined post-trauma CD47 triggering, SHP-1 mediated NFκB suppression, and elevated TRAIL levels increase patients' CD47 expressing T cell apoptosis, thus contributing to subsequent T cell anergy.     

Ionizing radiation sensitizes leukemic MOLT-4 cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis

One of perspective approaches in treatment of hematological malignancies is activation of death receptors for TRAIL. However, leukemia cells studied to date have shown variable susceptibility to TRAIL. Our study demonstrates that cells of acute T-lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 are resistant to TRAIL and that ionizing radiation in the therapeutically achievable dose of 1 Gy sensitizes TRAIL-resistant cells MOLT-4 to the TRAIL-induced apoptosis by increase in death receptors for TRAIL DR5. When TRAIL is applied after the irradiation in the time of increased DR5 positivity more efficient cell killing is achieved.     

NSCLC and the alternative pathway of NF-κB: uncovering an unknown relation

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although our knowledge on the pathobiology of the disease has increased in the last decades, the prognosis of lung cancer patients has hardly changed. Many signaling pathways are implicated in lung carcinogenesis, but the role of the alternative pathway of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in lung cancer pathogenesis and progression has not been investigated. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of this pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. NF-κB2 and RelB protein expression was retrospectively assessed by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples from 109 NSCLC patients. RelB and NF-κB2 protein levels differed between tumors and adjacent nonneoplastic lung parenchyma. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of NF-κB2 and RelB was correlated with tumor stage (p = 0.03 and p = 0.016, respectively). In addition, cytoplasmic NF-κB2 levels were related to tumor grade (p = 0.046). Expression of RelB in the cytoplasm was tumor histologic type-specific, with squamous cell carcinomas having the highest protein levels. Nuclear expression of RelB and NF-κB2 differed between tumor and nonneoplastic tissues, possibly indicating activation of the alternative pathway of NF-κB in cancer cells. Moreover, lymph node metastasis was related to nuclear NF-κB2 expression in tumor cells. The deregulation of the alternative NF-κB pathway in NSCLC could play a role in the development and progression of the disease.     

Histone deacetylase inhibitors sensitize human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines to TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand-mediated apoptosis

Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAI) induces accumulation of highly acetylated histones by inhibiting the activity of histone deacetylase and inhibits cell proliferation, induces differentiation, and promotes apoptosis. TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in various human cancer cells, a promising observation because it raises the possibility of a death ligand selectively for tumor cells. However, resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis was seen in colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines. So we investigated whether human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines can be sensitized to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by the addition of HDAI. We investigated sensitivity to histone deacetylase inhibitor in colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines using the MTT assay. Cell viability decreased with sodium butyrate (SB) and trichostatinA (TSA) in a dose-dependent manner in LS 180 and HT-29 cells. Nuclear condensation and fragmentation were observed by DAPI staining after 24 h stimulation with SB or TSA in LS 180 cells. We also investigated the combination of HDAI and TNF family members (TRAIL, anti-Fas antibody or TNFalpha) in colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines. HDAI augmented TNF family-related apoptosis in LS 180 cells and HT-29 cells. HDAI sensitizes human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. HDAI may be useful as an adjuvant agent for TRAIL in the treatment of human colonic adenocarcinomas that are resistant to TRAIL.     

TRAIL triggers apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells through extrinsic and intrinsic pathways

Many malignant glioma cells express death receptors for tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), yet some of these cells are resistant to TRAIL. Here, we examined signaling events in TRAIL-induced apoptosis and searched for therapeutic agents that could overcome TRAIL resistance in glioma cells. TRAIL induced apoptosis through death receptor 5 (DR5) and was mediated by caspase-8-initiated extrinsic and intrinsic mitochondrial pathways in sensitive glioma cell lines. TRAIL also triggered apoptosis in resistant glioma cell lines through the same pathways, but only if the cells were pretreated with chemotherapeutic agents, cisplatin, camptothecin and etoposide. Previous studies suggested that this was due to an increase in DR5 expression in wild-type TP53 cells, but this mechanism did not account for cells with mutant TP53. Here, we show that a more general effect of these agents is to downregulate caspase-8 inhibitor c-FLIP(S) (the short form of cellular Fas-associated death domain-fike interleukin-1-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein) and up-regulate Bak, a pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, independently of cell's TP53 status. Furthermore, we showed that TRAIL alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents, induced apoptosis in primary tumor cultures from patients with malignant gliomas, reinforcing the potential of TRAIL as an effective therapeutic agent for malignant gliomas.     

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) acts as an endogenous decoy receptor in tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis of fibroblast-like synovial cells

We examined the role of osteoprotegerin (OPG) on tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis in rheumatoid fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS). OPG protein concentrations in synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) correlated with those of interleukin (IL)-1beta or IL-6. A similar correlation was present between IL-1beta and IL-6 concentrations. Rheumatoid FLS in vitro expressed both death domain-containing receptors [death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5] and decoy receptors [decoy receptor 1 (DcR1) and DcR2]. DR4 expression on FLS was weak compared with the expression of DR5, DcR1 and DcR2. Recombinant TRAIL (rTRAIL) rapidly induced apoptosis of FLS. DR5 as well as DR4 were functional with regard to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis induction in FLS; however, DR5 appeared be more efficient than DR4. In addition to soluble DR5 (sDR5) and sDR4, OPG administration significantly inhibited TRAIL-induced apoptogenic activity. OPG was identified in the culture supernatants of FLS, and its concentration increased significantly by the addition of IL-1beta in a time-dependent manner. Neither IL-6 nor tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha increased the production of OPG from FLS. TRAIL-induced apoptogenic activity towards FLS was reduced when rTRAIL was added without exchanging the culture media, and this was particularly noticeable in the IL-1beta-stimulated FLS culture; however, the sensitivity of FLS to TRAIL-induced apoptosis itself was not changed by IL-1beta. Interestingly, neutralization of endogenous OPG by adding anti-OPG monoclonal antibody (MoAb) to FLS culture restored TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that OPG is an endogenous decoy receptor for TRAIL-induced apoptosis of FLS. In addition, IL-1beta seems to promote the growth of rheumatoid synovial tissues through stimulation of OPG production, which interferes with TRAIL death signals in a competitive manner.     

热休克蛋白参与NF-κB介导的H2O2预处理的细胞保护作用

目的探讨热休克蛋白(HSP)是否参与核因子-κB(NF-κB)介导的H2O2预处理的细胞保护作用。方法应用碘化丙啶(PI)染色流式细胞技术(FCM)检测细胞凋亡率,免疫印迹法(Westernblot)测定NF-κB的表达水平,免疫细胞化学染色法测定NF-κB的核转移。结果100μmol/LH2O2预处理PC12细胞90min可显著地抑制300μmol/LH2O2引起的细胞凋亡,并可明显地上调PC12细胞NF-κB的表达及促进NF-κB的核转移,同时也能上调HSP70和HSP90的表达。NF-κB的抑制剂TPCK阻断NF-κB表达,并显著地阻断H2O2预处理的细胞保护作用及HSP70和HSP90的表达。结论HSP70和HSP90参与NF-κB介导的H2O2预处理的适应性细胞保护作用。     

TRAIL signaling is mediated by DR4 in pancreatic tumor cells despite the expression of functional DR5

Tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and agonistic anti-DR4/TRAIL-R1 and anti-DR5/TRAIL-R2 antibodies are currently under clinical investigation for treatment of different malignancies. TRAIL activates DR4 and DR5 and thereby triggers apoptotic and non-apoptotic signaling pathways, but possible different roles of DR4 or DR5 in these responses has poorly been addressed so far. In the present work, we analyzed cell viability, DISC formation as well as IL-8 and NF–κB activation side by side in responses to TRAIL and agonistic antibodies against DR4 (mapatumumab) and against DR5 (lexatumumab) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. We found that all three reagents are able to activate cell death and pro-inflammatory signaling. Death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) analysis revealed that mapatumumab and lexatumumab induce formation of homocomplexes of either DR4 or DR5, whereas TRAIL additionally stimulated the formation of heterocomplexes of both receptors. Notably, blocking of receptors using DR4- and DR5-specific Fab fragments indicated that TRAIL exerted its function predominantly via DR4. Interestingly, inhibition of PKC by Goe6983 enabled DR5 to trigger apoptotic signaling in response to TRAIL and also strongly enhanced lexatumumab-mediated cell death. Our results suggest the existence of mechanisms that silence DR5 for TRAIL- but not for agonistic-antibody treatment.     

A small interfering RNA targeting NF-κB p65 alone or combined with 5-FU inhibits growth of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in nude mice

NF-κB signaling pathway plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Although constitutive NF-κB activation has been reported in many human tumors, the effect of NF-κB signaling pathway in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still poorly understood. To explore the role of NF-κB signaling pathway in ESCC, RNA interference (RNAi) was used to knockdown the NF-κB p65 protein level in the ESCC cells and nude mice. 5-FU was used to investigate whether knockdown NF-κB p65 can potentiate 5-FU's antitumor effect. Animal results indicated that tumor growth was inhibited in p65 siRNA and p65 siRNA+5-FU groups as compared with the control group. Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and TUNEL assay showed that p65 siRNA downregulated the expression of p65 and enhanced the sensitivity of EC9706 cells to 5-FU treatment in vivo. Overall, our work indicates that downregulation of p65 can increase tumor apoptosis and potentiates the effects of 5-FU by suppressing NF-κB signaling pathway. Thus, p65 is an interesting target for ESCC treatment.