Cdk inhibitors, roscovitine and olomoucine, synergize with farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) to induce efficient apoptosis of human cancer cell lines

Farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) induces apoptosis of transformed cells. This involves changes in mitochondria, including decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c. The released cytochrome c then induces events leading to the activation of caspase-3. In this study, we report that purine derivative cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors, roscovitine and olomoucine, dramatically enhance this FTI-induced apoptosis of human cancer cell lines. We noticed the synergy between Cdk inhibitors and FTI through our screen to identify compounds that enhance FTI-induced apoptosis of promyelocytic leukemic cell line HL-60. The Cdk inhibitors by themselves do not induce apoptosis at the concentrations used. Roscovitine synergizes with FTI to release cytochrome c from mitochondria. In addition, we detected synergistic effects of FTI and roscovitine to inhibit hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. Enhancement of FTI-induced apoptosis by roscovitine is not unique to HL-60 cells, since similar synergy was observed with a leukemic cell line CEM and a prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. In LNCaP cells, in addition to roscovitine and olomoucine, phophatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) inhibitor, LY294002, was effective in enhancing FTI-induced apoptosis. However, the effects of roscovitine appear to be distinct from those of LY294002, since roscovitine did not affect Akt activity while LY294002 significantly decreased the activity of Akt. Our finding of the synergy between FTI and Cdk inhibitor is significant for understanding the mechanism of action of FTI as well as for clinical use of FTI.     

The DNA damage-induced decrease of Bcl-2 is secondary to the activation of apoptotic effector caspases

Apoptosis induced by DNA-damaging agents or radiation mainly proceeds through death receptor-independent caspase activation. The release of mitochondrial apoptogenic proteins, such as cytochrome c, into the cytoplasm leading to Apaf1-dependent activation of caspase-9 is a key event in this pathway. The permeability of the mitochondrial outer membrane is regulated by the various pro- and antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, and it is thought that DNA damage triggers apoptosis through the downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2. Using murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) deficient and proficient in Apaf1, we show that DNA-damaging agents and radiation lead to a decline in Bcl-2 protein only in wt MEF, but not in apaf1(-/-) MEF, which are defective in the activation of effector caspases and apoptosis. In contrast, the induction of proapoptotic Noxa, the activation of Bax, the cytoplasmic release of cytochrome c, as well as a drop of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential Deltapsim are equally observed in wt and apaf1(-/-) MEF following DNA damage. Moreover, the loss of Bcl-2 protein occurring in wt MEF can be prevented by caspase inhibition. Hence, the activation of proapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins rather than the downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 mediates the primary signal in the DNA damage-induced release of mitochondrial apoptogenic proteins in MEF.     

Akt-mediated cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer: modulation of p53 action on caspase-dependent mitochondrial death pathway

Akt is a determinant of cisplatin [cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (CDDP)] resistance in ovarian cancer cells, and this may be related to the regulation of p53. Precisely how Akt facilitates CDDP resistance and interacts with p53 is unclear. Apoptotic stimuli induce second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) release from mitochondria into the cytosol, where it attenuates inhibitor of apoptosis protein-mediated caspase inhibition. Whereas Smac release is regulated by p53 via the transactivation of proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members, it is unclear whether p53 also facilitates Smac release via its direct mitochondrial activity. Here we show that CDDP induces mitochondrial p53 accumulation, the mitochondrial release of Smac, cytochrome c, and HTR/Omi, and apoptosis in chemosensitive but not in resistant ovarian cancer cells. Smac release was p53 dependent and was required for CDDP-induced apoptosis. Mitochondrial p53 directly induced Smac release. Akt attenuated mitochondrial p53 accumulation and Smac/cytochrome c/Omi release and conferred resistance. Inhibition of Akt facilitated Smac release and sensitized chemoresistant cells to CDDP in a p53-dependent manner. These results suggest that Akt confers resistance, in part, by modulating the direction action of p53 on the caspase-dependent mitochondrial death pathway. Understanding the precise etiology of chemoresistance may improve treatment for ovarian cancer.     

Involvement of proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members in parthenolide-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis

Parthenolide is a sesquiterpene lactone responsible for the bioactivities of Feverfew. Besides its potent anti-inflammatory effect, this compound has recently been reported to induce apoptosis in cancer cells, possibly through mitochondrial dysfunction. In the present study, we attempted to examine parthenolide-mediated cell death signaling pathway by focusing on the involvement of Bcl-2 family members. Using a human colorectal cancer cell line COLO205, we first demonstrated that parthenolide acted through the cell death receptor pathway to activate caspase 8. Following caspase 8 activation, Bid, a proapoptotic Bcl-2 member, was cleaved and this cleavage then triggered Bax conformational changes and Bax translocation from cytosol to mitochondrial membrane. Meanwhile, another proapoptotic protein, Bak, was up-regulated and oligomerized on the mitochondrial membrane. All these alterations were found to be prerequisite for the subsequent release of proapopototic mitochondrial proteins, including cytochrome c and Samc, in parthenolide-treated cells. Moreover, selective inhibition of caspase 8 activity by a synthetic caspase inhibitor (IETD-FMK) or overexpression of a viral protein (CrmA) suppressed the cleavage of Bid, conformational changes of Bax, cytochrome c release, and apoptosis. Therefore, the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members are important mediators relaying the cell death signaling elicited by parthenolide from caspase 8 to downstream effector caspases such as caspase 3, and eventually to cell death.     

Glucocorticoid cotreatment induces apoptosis resistance toward cancer therapy in carcinomas

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer often have severe side effects that limit their efficacy. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are frequently used as cotreatment because they may have potent proapoptotic properties and reduce nausea, hyperemesis, and acute toxicity on normal tissue. In contrast to the proapoptotic effect of GCs in lymphoid cells, resistance toward cancer therapy-mediated apoptosis was induced in solid tumors of human cervix and lung carcinomas. Filter hybridization, expression data, as well as functional assays identified multiple core apoptosis molecules, which are regulated by GCs in a pro- or antiapoptotic manner. Both antiapoptotic genes such as FLIP and members of the Bcl-2 and IAP family as well as proapoptotic elements of the death receptor and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways were down-regulated in carcinomas resulting in a decreased activity of caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-3. In contrast, death receptor and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling as well as caspase activity was enhanced by dexamethasone in lymphoid cells. To restore apoptosis sensitivity in dexamethasone-treated carcinomas, caspase-8 and caspase-9 were transfected. This resensitized tumor cells in vitro and xenografts in vivo to cisplatin induced cell death. These data therefore raise concern about the widespread combined use of GCs with antineoplastic drugs or agents in the clinical management of cancer patients.     

Matrix detachment induces caspase-dependent cytochrome c release from mitochondria: inhibition by PKB/Akt but not Raf signalling

Detachment of epithelial cells from extracellular matrix results in induction of apoptosis ('anoikis') which can be blocked by expression of activated Ras or PKB/Akt. Here we show that detachment causes release of cytochrome c from mitochondria in MDCK cells. This is blocked by caspase inhibitors, suggesting a role for caspases upstream of mitochondria in the initiation of anoikis, in accord with the ability of dominant negative FADD to inhibit this form of cell death. Bulk activation of caspase-8 following detachment lags behind cytochrome c release, and is likely the result of a mitochondrial positive feed back loop. Matrix detachment also induces Bax translocation to mitochondria in a caspase-dependent manner. Expression of activated Ras or PKB/Akt blocks all the detectable events on the detachment-induced apoptosis signalling pathway, suggesting that PKB/Akt acts at an early point in the pathway, providing the signal normally generated by matrix attachment. Strong activation of Raf can also protect MDCK cells from detachment induced apoptosis, but this occurs at a point downstream of cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and is clearly distinct from the effect of PKB/Akt. Oncogene (2000) 19, 4461 - 4468.     

Current status of the molecular mechanisms of anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. The contribution of molecular-level analysis to cancer chemotherapy

Apoptosis is an important phenomenon in cytotoxicity induced by anticancer drugs. Here, we review the current status of the molecular mechanisms of anticancer drug-induced apoptosis in order to assess the contribution of molecular-level analysis to cancer chemotherapy. It is apparent that the molecular mechanisms by which anticancer drugs induce apoptosis are mediated by death receptor-dependent and -independent pathways, which are related to the release of cytochrome c through voltage-dependent anion channels in the mitochondrial inner membrane. The release of cytochrome c is the central gate in turning on/off apoptosis, and is regulated by the interaction of proapoptotic proteins, including Bid, Bax and Bak, and antiapoptotic proteins including Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L), and a specific class of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) including Akt, survivin, and heat-shock proteins. The caspase cascade is activated by the release of cytochrome c, which is initiated by the formation of apoptosomes consisting of procaspase-9, Apaf-1 and cytochrome c in the presence of dATP, and results in the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, thereby leading to apoptosis. Drug sensitivity can be enhanced by the introduction of proapoptotic genes and the inhibition of antiapoptotic proteins. The latter process is mediated by antisense oligonucleotides and is associated with apoptosis. The signal transduction pathways that are triggered by the central gate in mitochondria play a critical role in anticancer drug-induced apoptosis. The modulation of signal transduction pathways targeting the proteins involved in these signal transduction pathways using antisense IAPs, and growth factor antibodies may be a good strategy for enhancing therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs in cancer chemotherapy.     

Synergistic interaction between 17-AAG and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibition in human malignant glioma cells

The phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway is often constitutively activated in malignant glioma cells, in many cases as a result of mutation of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN), an endogenous inhibitor of Akt, which renders tumor cells resistant to cytotoxic insults, including those related to anticancer drugs. Pharmacological inhibition of this pathway may potentially restore or augment the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy or other signaling-targeted agents. Because the heat shock protein (HSP) is involved in the conformational maturation of a number of signaling proteins critical to the proliferation of malignant glioma cells, we hypothesized that the combination of the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and the HSP90 inhibitor 17-allyl-aminogeldanamycin (17-AAG) would promote glioma cytotoxicity by decreasing both the activation status and levels of Akt, as well as downregulating the levels of other relevant signaling effectors. We, therefore, examined the effects of LY294002 and 17-AAG, alone and in combination, on signal transduction and apoptosis in a series of malignant glioma cell lines. Simultaneous exposure to these inhibitors significantly induced cell death, and irreversibly inhibited proliferative activity and colony forming ability of the glioma cell lines. Quantitative analysis revealed that enhancement by LY294002 of 17-AAG-induced cytotoxicity was synergistic, leading to a pronounced increase in active caspase-3 and poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage together with the release of cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF). No significant growth inhibition or caspase activation was seen in control cells. The enhanced cytotoxicity of this combination was associated with diminished Akt activation and a significant downregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Raf-1, and mitogen activated protein kinase. Combination of 17-AAG and LY294002 did not modify phospho-JNK/SPK and phospho-p38. Cells exposed to 17-AAG and LY294002 displayed a significant reduction in cell-cycle regulatory proteins, such as retinoblastoma (Rb), cyclin dependent kinase (CDK)4, CDK6, cyclin D1, and cyclin D3. Taken together, these findings suggest that the PI3K/Akt pathway plays a critical role in regulating the apoptotic response to 17-AAG and that targeting this pathway could provide a potent strategy to treat patients with malignant gliomas.     

Epidermal growth factor and serum activate distinct pathways to inhibit the BH3 only protein BAD in prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells

A better understanding of pathways involved in survival of prostate cancer cells is the key to develop effective and target-selective therapies. Presence of serum or epidermal growth factor in the culture medium of LNCaP cells decreases apoptosis induced by the inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase with LY294002. However, intracellular pathway(s) involved in this survival signaling are not well defined. Here, we investigated the mechanism(s) involved in serum or epidermal growth factor-mediated inhibition of LY294002-induced death in LNCaP cells. Cell death was assessed by the percentage of cells in sub-G1 phase and caspase 3 activity. Phosphorylation status of BAD, ERK1/2 and RSKs were assessed by Western blot. Specific gene expression knock down of BAD, BAX, RSK1 and RSK2 were performed using siRNA transfections. Our results demonstrate that cell death induced by LY294002 is mediated by translocation of BAD and BAX proteins from the cytosol to the mitochondria. Whereas, epidermal growth factor activates a MAPK/ERK/RSK1 module leading to inactivation of BAD via Ser(75) phosphorylation, the presence of serum, on the other hand, induces a nonconducive intracellular environment for mitochondrial translocation of dephosphorylated BAD. Taken together, these results indicate that phosphorylation of BAD or inhibition of its translocation to the mitochondria are critical phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-independent survival pathways in LNCaP cells.     

Androgen blocks apoptosis of hormone-dependent prostate cancer cells.

Androgen plays a critical role in the promotion and growth of prostate cancer. Androgen ablation has an expanding role in prostate cancer treatment and is now used to improve the efficacy of radiation therapy in addition to its role in treatment of metastatic disease. Here we show that androgen interferes with induction of prostate cancer cell death induced by a variety of stimuli. The effect of androgen on cell death occurs predominantly by interference with caspase activation and the inhibition of caspase cleavage in both the extrinsic and intrinsic cell death pathways. Androgen inhibited apoptosis induced by both tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and by Fas activation with or without concomitant irradiation. An antiapoptotic effect was seen in the presence of R1881, dihydrotestosterone, and also 17beta-estradiol within 24 h of death induction. Sustained inhibition of apoptosis at 72 h was seen only with R1881, dihydrotestosterone, cyproterone acetate, and hydroxyflutamide. Androgen treatment inhibited activation of caspases-8, -7, and -9 by TNF-alpha +/- irradiation. Androgen attenuated BAX expression and blocked appearance of the proapoptotic p18 fragment of BAX. Androgen also abrogated BID cleavage induced by TNF-alpha + irradiation that contributed to a decrease in cytochrome c egress from mitochondria induced by TNF-alpha +/- irradiation. There was also decreased mitochondrial depolarization in response to TNF-alpha + irradiation. Production of the proapoptotic lipid metabolite ceramide was not affected by androgen, but androgen acted downstream from ceramide generation because R1881 blocked cell-death induction by bacterial sphingomyelinase. Inhibition of phosphoinositol-3-kinase activity by wortmannin induced apoptosis that was also blocked by androgen, but there was no effect on protein levels or phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that R1881 did not interact with survival signaling of phosphoinositol-3-kinase. Lastly, androgen inhibited activation of nuclear factor-kappaB during death induction, but the effect of androgen on cell death was not mediated by interference with the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway. The data suggest that androgen induced blockade of caspase activation in both intrinsic and extrinsic cell death pathways and thereby was able to protect prostate cancer cells from apoptosis induced by diverse stimuli.     

GSK-3beta reactivation with LY294002 sensitizes hepatoma cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis

Constitutive activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) confers resistance to apoptotic stimuli induced by chemotherapeutic agents in a variety of cancer cells. Therefore, the comprehension of mechanisms whereby PI3K downregulation interferes with chemotherapy is of major clinical interest for the elaboration of combined anticancer treatment modalities. Here, we examined the molecular mechanisms whereby the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 sensitized p53- and Fas-deficient hepatoma cells to etoposide and camptothecin. LY294002 increased Hep3B cell susceptibility to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis by enhancing the expression of DR4 and DR5 and the activation of caspase-8 and -3. Moreover, LY294002-mediated sensitization to chemotherapy involved mitochondrial Bax translocation and cytosolic cytochrome c accumulation. In Hep3B cells, LY294002 led to the reactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) by promoting its dephosphorylation on the serine 9 residue independently from Akt inhibition. The transient transfection of a constitutively active and non-phosphorylable S9AGSK-3beta mutant sensitized cells to etoposide cytotoxic effects while cell treatment with the small GSK-3beta inhibitor SB-415286 repressed the sensitizing effect of LY294002 on chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and caspase-8 activation. Altogether, our results show that LY294002 sensitizes hepatoma cells to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis via death receptor and mitochondria signalling pathways and that GSK-3beta reactivation is involved in this process. Therefore, PI3K-mediated GSK-3beta inhibition could be a mechanism by which cancer cells escape from chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.     

Molecular mechanisms of curcumin-induced cytotoxicity: induction of apoptosis through generation of reactive oxygen species,down-regulation of Bcl-XL and IAP,the release of cytochrome c and inhibition of Akt

Curcumin, a natural, biologically active compound extracted from rhizomes of Curcuma species, has been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-oxidative properties. The mechanism by which curcumin initiates apoptosis remains poorly understood. In the present report we investigated the effect of curcumin on the activation of the apoptotic pathway in human renal Caki cells. Treatment of Caki cells with 50 microM curcumin resulted in the activation of caspase 3, cleavage of phospholipase C-gamma1 and DNA fragmentation. Curcumin-induced apoptosis is mediated through the activation of caspase, which is specifically inhibited by the caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbony-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone. Curcumin causes dose-dependent apoptosis and DNA fragmentation of Caki cells, which is preceded by the sequential dephosphorylation of Akt, down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and IAP proteins, release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase 3. Cyclosporin A, as well as caspase inhibitor, specifically inhibit curcumin-induced apoptosis in Caki cells. Pre-treatment with N-acetyl-cysteine, markedly prevented dephosphorylation of Akt, and cytochrome c release, and cell death, suggesting a role for reactive oxygen species in this process. The data indicate that curcumin can cause cell damage by inactivating the Akt-related cell survival pathway and release of cytochrome c, providing a new mechanism for curcumin-induced cytotoxicity.     

Effect of Bax deficiency on death receptor 5 and mitochondrial pathways during endoplasmic reticulum calcium pool depletion-induced apoptosis

Thapsigargin (TG), by inducing perturbations in cellular Ca(2+) homeostasis, can induce apoptosis, but the molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. We have recently reported that TG-induced apoptosis appears to involve the DR5-dependent apoptotic pathway that cross talks with the mitochondrial pathway via TG-induced Bid cleavage. In this study, we have utilized Bax-proficient and -deficient HCT116 human colon cancer cells to investigate the effect of Bax deficiency on TG-induced apoptosis and TG regulation of the DR5 and mitochondrial pathways. Our results indicate that Bax-deficient cells are less sensitive to undergo apoptosis following TG treatment. Our results further demonstrate that TG-induced apoptosis is coupled with DR5 upregulation and caspases 8 and 3 activation, as well as Bid cleavage in both Bax-proficient and -deficient cells, although caspase 3 activation was reduced in Bax-deficient cells. TG also promoted the release of cytochrome c into cytosol and caspase 9 activation in Bax-proficient cells but not in Bax-deficient cells. These findings suggest that although Bax is not absolutely required for death receptor (DR)-dependent signals, it appears to be a key molecule in TG-regulated mitochondrial events. Bax-deficient cells were relatively more resistant to Apo2L/TRAIL than the Bax-proficient counterparts. However, the combination of Apo2L/TRAIL and TG was more effective in mediating apoptosis in both Bax-proficient and -deficient cells and that was coupled with activation of caspases 8 and 3. Although both agents in combination also induced cytochrome c release into cytosol and caspase 9 activation in Bax-proficient cells, these events were abrogated in Bax-deficient cells. Our results thus suggest that the combination of Apo2L/TRAIL and TG appears to bypass the Bax deficiency-induced defects in the mitochondrial (intrinsic) pathway by engaging the DR5-dependent apoptotic signals (extrinsic pathway).     

2-Methoxyestradiol-induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells proceeds through a reactive oxygen species and Akt-dependent process

The effects of 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME)-induced apoptosis was examined in human leukemia cells (U937 and Jurkat) in relation to mitochondrial injury, oxidative damage, and perturbations in signaling pathways. 2ME induced apoptosis in these cells in a dose-dependent manner associated with release of mitochondrial proteins (cytochrome c, AIF), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), downregulation of Mcl-1 and XIAP, and inactivation (dephosphorylation) of Akt accompanied by activation of JNK. In these cells, enforced activation of Akt by a constitutively active myristolated Akt construct prevented 2ME-mediated mitochondrial injury, XIAP and Mcl-1 downregulation, JNK activation, and apoptosis, but not ROS generation. Conversely, 2ME lethality was potentiated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002. Furthermore, in U937 cells, the hydrogen peroxide scavenger catalase and a superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic, TBAP, blocked these events, as well as Akt inactivation. Interruption of the JNK pathway by pharmacologic or genetic (e.g. siRNA) means attenuated 2ME-induced mitochondrial injury, XIAP and Mcl-1 downregulation, and apoptosis. Collectively, these findings suggest a hierarchical model of 2ME-related apoptosis induction in human leukemia cells in which 2ME-induced oxidative injury represents a primary event resulting in Akt inactivation, leading, in turn, to JNK activation, and culminating in XIAP and Mcl-1 downregulation, mitochondrial injury, and apoptosis. They also suggest that in human leukemia cells, the Akt pathway plays a critical role in mediating the response to oxidative stress induced by 2ME.     

Adenovirus-mediated Bax overexpression for the induction of therapeutic apoptosis in prostate cancer

Using adenoviral technology, we overexpressed the proapoptotic molecules pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-7, and Bax to induce therapeutic apoptosis of prostate cancer cell lines growing in vitro and in vivo. Because overexpressed pro-caspase-3 did not undergo autocatalytic activation in any of the five prostate cancer cell lines evaluated, this strategy was unable to engage any component of the apoptotic pathway. Overexpressed pro-caspase-7 was proteolytically cleaved in LNCaP and LnCaP-Bcl-2 cells but not in PC-3, DU-145, or TsuPr(1) cells. Cleavage was associated with engagement of many components of the apoptotic pathway, including DEVDase activity, cleavage of intracellular caspase targets such as the DNA fragmentation factor and the proapoptotic Bid, release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling. No apoptosis was observed in the cells where caspase-7 did not undergo autocatalytic activation. Searching for an approach that would more reliably induce therapeutic apoptosis of prostate cancer cell lines, we used a binary adenoviral system to overexpress the proapoptotic molecule Bax. Bax was dramatically overexpressed and caused apoptosis of every cell line infected by engaging the mitochondrial pathway, including proteolytic cleavage and catalytic activation of the caspases, cleavage of caspase substrates, release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, three injections of the Bax overexpression system into PC-3 cell tumors in nude mice in vivo caused a 25% regression in tumor size corresponding to a 90% reduction relative to continued tumor growth in animals that received injections with the control binary system expressing Lac-Z. These experiments show that adenovirus-mediated Bax overexpression is capable of inducing therapeutic programmed cell death in vitro and in vivo by activating the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. On the basis of these studies, we conclude that manipulation of Bax expression is an attractive new gene therapy approach for the treatment of prostate cancer.     

Antiapoptotic signaling in LNCaP prostate cancer cells: a survival signaling pathway independent of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase and Akt/protein kinase B

Constitutive activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3 kinase)-Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) "survival signaling" pathway is a likely mechanism by which many cancers become refractory to cytotoxic therapy. In LNCaP prostate cancer cells, the PTEN phosphoinositide phosphatase is inactivated, leading to constitutive activation of Akt/PKB and resistance to apoptosis. However, apoptosis and inactivation of Akt/PKB can be induced in these cells by treatment with PI3 kinase inhibitors. Surprisingly, androgen, epidermal growth factor, or serum can protect these cells from apoptosis, even in the presence of PI3 kinase inhibitors and without activation of Akt/PKB, indicating the activity of a novel, Akt/PKB-independent survival pathway. This pathway blocks apoptosis at a level prior to caspase 3 activation and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria.     

Ethanol Extract of Hizikia fusiforme Induces Apoptosis in B16F10 Mouse Melanoma Cells through ROS-Dependent Inhibition of the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Background: Previous studies have reported that Hizikia fusiforme, an edible brown seaweed, has diverse health-promoting effects; however, evidence for its anti-cancer potential is still lacking. In this study, we examined the effect of ethanol extract of H. fusiforme (EHF) on the proliferation of B16F10 mouse melanoma cells. Methods: Analyses of cell viability and apoptosis were performed to study the actions of EHF on B16F10 cells. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) were measured using a flow cytometer. Western blot analysis was carried out to measure apoptosis and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling related proteins. Results: EHF treatment significantly decreased B16F10 cell viability, which was associated with induction of apoptosis. EHF activated caspase-8 and caspase-9, which are involved in the initiation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, respectively, and also increased caspase-3 activity, a typical effect caspase, subsequently leading to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. In addition, EHF destroyed the integrity of mitochondria and increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which contributed to cytosolic release of cytochrome c. EHF further enhanced intracellular levels of ROS and the addition of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), a ROS inhibitor, significantly diminished EHF-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and growth inhibition. Moreover, EHF inactivated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and LY294002, a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, increased the apoptosis-inducing effect of EHF. However, increased apoptosis and reduced cell viability by simultaneous treatment of EHF and LY294002 were significantly attenuated in the presence of NAC. Conclusion: These results indicate that EHF induces apoptosis through activation of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways and ROS-dependent inactivation of PI3K/Akt signaling in B16F10 cells.     

Smac is required for cytochrome c-induced apoptosis in prostate cancer LNCaP cells.

Release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol has been identified as one of the central events of apoptosis. Direct injection of cytochrome c induces apoptosis in some but not in all cell types. We observed that LNCaP prostate cancer cells failed to undergo apoptosis induced by cytochrome c microinjections. Microinjection of cytochrome c with another mitochondrial protein, Smac, was sufficient to activate caspases, however. Smac is believed to function as a neutralizer of caspase inhibitors, and mass spectrometry analysis identified XIAP as a predominant Smac binding protein in LNCaP cells. These findings are consistent with a requirement for a release of Smac from mitochondria to enable caspase activation in prostate cells. Indeed, translocation of Smac from mitochondria to cytosol was observed in LNCaP cells that undergo apoptosis and was inhibited by epidermal growth factor, which is a survival factor for these cells. These results further emphasize the central role of mitochondria in the regulation of apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.     

Phytosphingosine induces apoptotic cell death via caspase 8 activation and Bax translocation in human cancer cells.

PURPOSE: Sphingolipid metabolites, such as sphingosine and ceramide, are highly bioactive compounds and are involved in diverse cell processes, including cell-cell interaction, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. However, the physiological roles of phytosphingosine are poorly understood. In this study, we report that phytosphingosine can potently induce apoptotic cell death in human cancer cells via caspase activation and caspase-independent cytochrome c release. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Phytosphingosine-induced apoptosis was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining, flow cytometric analysis, and DNA fragmentation assay. Involvement of caspases was determined by immunoblot analysis and cell death detection assays after treatment with synthetic inhibitor z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone, z-DEVD-fmk, or z-IETD-fmk. Death receptor (DR) dependency was analyzed by examining expression of DRs (Fas, DR4, DR5, TNFR1, and R2), and interaction of Fas-associated death domain and caspase 8. Involvement of the mitochondria pathway was examined by monitoring of the mitochondria membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and Bax translocation. RESULTS: Phytosphingosine-treated cells displayed several features of apoptosis, including increase of sub-G(1) population, DNA fragmentation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. We observed that phytosphingosine cause activation of caspase 8 in a DR-independent fashion. Phytosphingosine also induced activation of caspase 9 and 3, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and the cytochrome c release from mitochondria. However, we failed to detect Bid cleavage. Moreover, caspase 8 inhibitor z-IETD-fmk did not affect phytosphingosine-induced cytochrome c release and caspase 9 activation, suggesting that phytosphingosine-induced cytochrome c release is caused by caspase 8-independent manner. Phytosphingosine induced mitochondrial translocation of Bax from the cytosol without changes in the protein levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bax. In addition, Bcl-2/Bax interaction was diminished after addition of phytosphingosine. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that phytosphingosine induces apoptotic cell death in human cancer cells by direct activation of caspase 8, and by mitochondrial translocation of Bax and subsequent release of cytochrome c into cytoplasm, providing a potential mechanism for the anticancer activity of phytosphingosine.     

Inhibition of PI-3 kinase sensitizes human leukemic cells to histone deacetylase inhibitor-mediated apoptosis through p44/42 MAP kinase inactivation and abrogation of p21(CIP1/WAF1) induction rather than AKT inhibition

Effects of the PI-3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 (LY) have been examined in relation to responses of human leukemia cells to histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs). Coexposure of U937 cells for 24 h to marginally toxic concentrations of LY294002 (e.g., 30 microM) and sodium butyrate (SB; 1 mM) resulted in a marked increase in mitochondrial damage (e.g., cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO release, loss of DeltaPsi(m)), caspase activation, and apoptosis. Similar results were observed in Jurkat, HL-60, and K562 leukemic cells and with other HDIs (e.g., SAHA, MS-275). Exposure of cells to SB/LY was associated with Bcl-2 and Bid cleavage, XIAP and Mcl-1 downregulation, and diminished CD11b expression. While LY blocked SB-mediated Akt activation, enforced expression of a constitutively active (myristolated) Akt failed to attenuate SB/LY-mediated lethality. Unexpectedly, treatment of cells with SB+/-LY resulted in a marked reduction in phosphorylation (activation) of p44/42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Moreover, enforced expression of a constitutively active MEK1 construct partially but significantly attenuated SB/LY-induced apoptosis. Lastly, cotreatment with LY blocked SB-mediated induction of p21(CIP1/WAF1); moreover, enforced expression of p21(CIP1/WAF1) significantly reduced SB/LY-mediated apoptosis. Together, these findings indicate that LY promotes SB-mediated apoptosis through an AKT-independent process that involves MEK/MAP kinase inactivation and interference with p21(CIP1/WAF1) induction.