线粒体凋亡途径的研究进展

线粒体凋亡途径是细胞凋亡的主要途径之一。是目前研究凋亡的热点,各种凋亡刺激信号通过BH3（Bcl-2homology domain3)-only蛋白引起Bax(Bcl-2-asslciated proteinX)蛋白移位到线粒体外膜并多聚化,形成膜通道,刺激线粒体释放细胞色素C（CytC)和Smac(second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspase),CytC通过Apaf-1因子的多聚化与胱天蛋白酶（caspases)-9形成凋亡小体,导致下游胱天蛋白酶的级联反应,而凋亡蛋白抑制因子（IAP）和Smac通过抑制和促进胱天蛋白酶的级联反应来调控细胞凋亡。     

抑制PI3K信号通路促进TRAIL诱导人乳腺癌细胞MCF-7凋亡

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体（tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, TRAIL）对癌细胞有独特的细胞毒性作用,而对正常细胞没有影响. 但乳腺癌细胞耐受TRAIL诱导凋亡.本研究探索磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶（phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase,PI3K）信号通路对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞耐受TRAIL的影响. 采用MTT法、显微照相以及DAPI染色观察TRAIL对MCF-7细胞生长的抑制作用以及诱导细胞凋亡状况;流式细胞分析细胞凋亡的情况;激光共聚焦显微镜观察多聚ADP核糖多聚酶-1（poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase -1,PARP-1）的迁移和定位;Western印迹分析死亡受体、caspase-3/8、磷酸化的AKT［pAKT(Ser473)］、Src和PARP-1等蛋白质表达. 结果显示,小剂量TRAIL（< 80 nmol/L）和Ly294002（< 40μmol/L）对MCF-7细胞生长没有显著的抑制作用,但是大剂量TRAIL（160 nmol/L）和Ly294002（80 μmol/L）则能抑制MCF-7细胞生长;低剂量Ly294002协同TRAIL抑制MCF-7细胞生长,并诱导细胞凋亡;Ly294002和TRAIL共同作用能促进PARP-1从胞浆进入细胞核;蛋白质表达分析显示,MCF-7细胞均表达死亡受体DR4、DR5、诱骗受体DcR1和DcR2、以及caspase-8,但是不表达caspase-3;Ly294002和TRAIL共同作用也能抑制pAKT(Ser473)和Src的表达,并且导致PARP-1断裂. 本研究结果提示,抑制PI3K信号可增加MCF-7细胞对TRAIL诱导的敏感性;MCF-7细胞通过PI3K/AKT途径促进Src的表达耐受TRAIL的细胞毒性作用Ly294002联合TRAIL是一种新的药物组合方式治疗乳腺癌.     

抑制PI3K信号通路促进TRAIL诱导人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞凋亡

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand,TRAIL)对癌细胞有独特的细胞毒性作用,而对正常细胞没有影响.但乳腺癌细胞耐受TRAIL诱导凋亡.本研究探索磷脂酰肌醇-3激酶(phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase,PI3K)信号通路对人乳腺癌MCF-7细胞耐受TRAIL的影响.采用MTT法、显微照相以及DAPI染色观察TRAIL对MCF-7细胞生长的抑制作用以及诱导细胞凋亡状况;流式细胞分析细胞凋亡的情况;激光共聚焦显微镜观察多聚ADP核糖多聚酶-1(poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1,PARP-1)的迁移和定位;Western印迹分析死亡受体、caspase-3/8、磷酸化的AKT[pAKT(Ser473)]、Src和PARP-1等蛋白质表达.结果显示,小剂量TRAIL(80 nmol/L)和Ly294002(40μmol/L)对MCF-7细胞生长没有显著的抑制作用,但是大剂量TRAIL(160 nmol/L)和Ly294002(80μmol/L)则能抑制MCF-7细胞生长;低剂量Ly294002协同TRAIL抑制MCF-7细胞生长,并诱导细胞凋亡;Ly294002和TRAIL共同作用能促进PARP-1从胞浆进入细胞核;蛋白质表达分析显示,MCF-7细胞均表达死亡受体DR4、DR5、诱骗受体DcR1和DcR2、以及caspase-8,但是不表达caspase-3;Ly294002和TRAIL共同作用也能抑制pAKT(Ser473)和Src的表达,并且导致PARP-1断裂.本研究结果提示,抑制PI3K信号可增加MCF-7细胞对TRAIL诱导的敏感性;MCF-7细胞通过PI3K/AKT途径促进Src的表达耐受TRAIL的细胞毒性作用;Ly294002联合TRAIL是一种新的药物组合方式治疗乳腺癌.     

蛋白激酶B抗细胞凋亡的信号转导机制

蛋白激酶B是抗细胞凋亡的重要调节子。蛋白激酶B的抗细胞凋亡机制主要涉及：磷酸化FoxO降低其与凋亡有关的转录活性;使凋亡抑制剂存活蛋白(survivin)的表达增加;使NF-κB活化并转位入核,启动抗凋亡基因的转录;使胱天蛋白酶-8(caspase-8)抑制剂FLIP(FADD—like ICE inhibitory protein)的表达增加;磷酸化MDM2使其转位入核进而抑制p53的促凋亡作用;使糖原合成酶激酶3失活;磷酸化Bad使其与Bcl-2或Bcl—XL解离而抗细胞凋亡;直接磷酸化胱天蛋白酶-9使其激活下游胱天蛋白酶的能力降低。     

猕猴脑胱天蛋白酶-3活化及其靶蛋白的体外研究(英)

凋亡的主要生化过程包括胱天蛋白酶的活化及其对细胞内蛋白质的选择性切割.在已知的胱天蛋白酶中,可被多种凋亡刺激信号激活的胱天蛋白酶-3备受注目.为进一步揭示灵长类动物神经组织中未知的胱天蛋白酶-3靶蛋白,采用成年猕猴脑组织粗提物作为无细胞体系,通过加入granzyme B引发凋亡途径的部分反应,如胱天蛋白酶-3的活化及随后发生的蛋白质水解.经蛋白质印迹分析发现,与granzyme B共孵育后,猕猴脑胱天蛋白酶-3以两步方式从酶原转化为活性酶.对猕猴脑组织自身蛋白质的进一步分析显示,多聚ADP-核糖聚合酶（PARP）被水解为长85 ku的片段,此片段提示胱天蛋白酶-3的特异切割活性.此外,神经元凋亡抑制蛋白（NAIP）也被切割,产生长约40 ku的小片段,但是它的出现不被胱天蛋白酶-3特异性抑制剂Ac-DEVD-CHO阻断,因此可能是granzyme B直接作用于NAIP所致.以上结果提示,凋亡相关酶切反应可在成年猕猴脑组织提取物中得到重现;NAIP可能是granzyme B而非胱天蛋白酶-3的作用靶点.     

猕猴脑胱天蛋白酶-3活化及其靶蛋白的体外研究

凋亡的主要生化过程包括胱天蛋白酶的活化及其对细胞内蛋白质的选择性切割.在已知的胱天蛋白酶中,可被多种凋亡刺激信号激活的胱天蛋白酶-3备受注目.为进一步揭示灵长类动物神经组织中未知的胱天蛋白酶-3靶蛋白,采用成年猕猴脑组织粗提物作为无细胞体系,通过加入granzyme B引发凋亡途径的部分反应,如胱天蛋白酶-3的活化及随后发生的蛋白质水解.经蛋白质印迹分析发现,与granzyme B共孵育后,猕猴脑胱天蛋白酶-3以两步方式从酶原转化为活性酶.对猕猴脑组织自身蛋白质的进一步分析显示,多聚ADP-核糖聚合酶(PARP)被水解为长85 ku的片段,此片段提示胱天蛋白酶-3的特异切割活性.此外,神经元凋亡抑制蛋白(NAIP)也被切割,产生长约40 ku的小片段,但是它的出现不被胱天蛋白酶-3特异性抑制剂Ac-DEVD-CHO阻断,因此可能是granzyme B直接作用于NAIP所致.以上结果提示,凋亡相关酶切反应可在成年猕猴脑组织提取物中得到重现;NAIP可能是granzyme B而非胱天蛋白酶-3的作用靶点.     

可溶性重组hTRAIL蛋白抑制U251细胞生长

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand, TRAIL) 是TNF超家族中的成员,能够广泛诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,对正常细胞无明显毒副作用. TRAIL已成为肿瘤治疗领域的研究热点.人脑胶质瘤是神经系统肿瘤中最常见类型, 占颅内肿瘤50%~60%,5年存活率为20%~30%. 本研究探讨可溶性TRAIL蛋白对人脑胶质瘤细胞（U251）的抑制作用. 由大肠杆菌表达系统表达的TRAIL多为包涵体,为获得可溶性的蛋白,将hTRAIL95~281功能区基因片段插入到pHisSUMO表达载体,经IPTG低温诱导表达,Ni-NTA Agarose纯化后获得可溶性SUMO-hTRAIL,经SUMO ProteaseⅠ切去SUMO融合标签后获得成熟可溶hTRAIL蛋白. 以U251细胞为靶细胞,通过MTT法检测TRAIL对肿瘤细胞的抑制作用.结果证明,TRAIL对U251细胞的抑制呈剂量依赖关系,最大抑制率为53.9%.流式细胞仪检测TRAIL诱导U251细胞凋亡实验中,对照组细胞存活率为92.2±0.8％,实验组细胞存活率为35.5±1.2%,证明重组蛋白具有生物学活性,并在体外能明显诱导U251肿瘤细胞发生死亡.本研究结果为TRAIL蛋白在临床上应用于肿瘤治疗奠定了基础.     

基于TRAIL的肿瘤治疗策略进展

肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(TRAIL)能选择性诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,且对机体正常组织细胞无毒副作用,被认为是一种非常有潜力的抗癌药物。我们简要介绍TRAIL及其配体诱导细胞凋亡的机制、肿瘤细胞对TRAIL的耐受机制及其克服策略。     

凋亡诱导因子(AIF)对细胞凋亡的调控

凋亡诱导因子（apoptosis-inducing factor,AIF）是一种具有凋亡诱导活性的蛋白质,定位于线粒体的膜间隙.细胞受到凋亡刺激时,AIF分子从线粒体释放到胞质,然后再易位到核,与染色体DNA结合,使染色体核周边凝集和DNA断裂成约50kb的大片段.AIF具有凋亡诱导活性和氧化还原酶活性,但二者的作用是脱偶联的.AIF是第一个被鉴定出可以不依赖于胱天蛋白酶（caspase）信号通路而直接介导细胞发生凋亡的分子,但后来也有的报道认为AIF的凋亡活性需依赖于胱天蛋白酶.     

5-脂氧合酶激活蛋白小干扰RNA诱导人乳腺癌细胞凋亡的初步研究

目的：研究5-脂氧合酶激活蛋白（FLAP）的表达抑制对乳腺癌细胞凋亡的诱导作用。方法：通过小干扰RNA（siRNA）抑制乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231中FLAP的表达,用流式细胞仪检测膜联蛋白（annexin）-V标记的早期凋亡细胞,用Western印迹检测细胞凋亡相关蛋白的水平。结果：转染了FLAP siRNA的乳腺癌细胞,24h后FLAP的表达被抑制,17％的细胞出现早期凋亡;48h时早期凋亡细胞增加到32．1％;72h时早期凋亡细胞下降到13．8％,而死亡或凋亡晚期细胞占到61．3％。在细胞凋亡过程中,Bcl-2水平下降,而细胞色素c、胱冬蛋白酶（caspase）-3的水平逐渐增高。结论：FLAP的表达抑制可以诱导乳腺癌细胞通过Bcl-2和胱冬蛋白酶-3途径发生凋亡。     

Radicicol, an inhibitor of Hsp90, enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in human epithelial ovarian carcinoma cells by promoting activation of apoptosis-related proteins

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis in various cancer cells. Hsp90 is known to be involved in cell survival and growth in tumor cells. Nevertheless, Hsp90 inhibitors exhibit a variable effect on the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs. Furthermore, the combined effect of Hsp90 inhibitors on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in epithelial ovarian cancer cells has not been determined. To assess the ability of an inhibitor of Hsp90 inhibitor radicicol to promote apoptosis, we investigated the effect of radicicol on TRAIL-induced apoptosis in the human epithelial ovarian carcinoma cell lines OVCAR-3 and SK-OV-3. TRAIL induced a decrease in Bid, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and survivin protein levels, increase in Bax levels, loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytochrome c release, activation of caspases (-8, -9, and -3), cleavage of PARP-1 and an increase in the tumor suppressor p53 levels. Radicicol enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis-related protein activation, nuclear damage and cell death. These results suggest that radicicol may potentiate the apoptotic effect of TRAIL on ovarian carcinoma cell lines by increasing the activation of the caspase-8- and Bid-dependent pathway and the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, leading to caspase activation. Radicicol may confer a benefit in the TRAIL treatment of epithelial ovarian adenocarcinoma.     

The short splice form of Casper/c-FLIP is a major cellular inhibitor of TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor family that selectively induces apoptosis of cancer cells. However, some cancer cells or subpopulations within cancer cell lines are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We developed a retroviral cDNA library-based functional cloning approach to unambiguously identify putative inhibitory genes of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. This effort identified the short splice form of Casper/c-FLIP, Casper-S/c-FLIPs, as a major cellular protein that confers resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we found that Casper deficient embryonic fibroblasts (EFs) were highly sensitive while their wild-type counterparts were completely resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Retroviral-mediated transduction of Casper-S/c-FLIPs into Casper(-/-) EFs restored resistance to TRAIL. These data suggest that Casper-S/c-FLIPs is a major cellular inhibitor of TRAIL-induced apoptosis.     

Selective inhibition of FLICE-like inhibitory protein expression with small interfering RNA oligonucleotides is sufficient to sensitize tumor cells for TRAIL-induced apoptosis

BACKGROUND: Most tumors express death receptors and their activation represents a potential selective approach in cancer treatment. The most promising candidate for tumor selective death receptor-activation is tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/Apo2L, which activates the death receptors TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2, and induces apoptosis preferentially in tumor cells but not in normal tissues. However, many cancer cells are not or only moderately sensitive towards TRAIL and require cotreatment with irradiation or chemotherapy to yield a therapeutically reasonable apoptotic response. Because chemotherapy can have a broad range of unwanted side effects, more specific means for sensitizing tumor cells for TRAIL are desirable. The expression of the cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (cFLIP) is regarded as a major cause of TRAIL resistance. We therefore analyzed the usefulness of targeting FLIP to sensitize tumor cells for TRAIL-induced apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To selectively interfere with expression of cFLIP short double-stranded RNA oligonucleotides (small interfering RNAs [siRNAs]) were introduced in the human cell lines SV80 and KB by electroporation. Effects of siRNA on FLIP expression were analyzed by Western blotting and RNase protection assay and correlated with TRAIL sensitivity upon stimulation with recombinant soluble TRAIL and TRAIL-R1- and TRAIL-R2-specific agonistic antibodies. RESULTS: FLIP expression can be inhibited by RNA interference using siRNAs, evident from reduced levels of FLIP-mRNA and FLIP protein. Inhibition of cFLIP expression sensitizes cells for apoptosis induction by TRAIL and other death ligands. In accordance with the presumed function of FLIP as an inhibitor of death receptor-induced caspase-8 activation, down-regulation of FLIP by siRNAs enhanced TRAIL-induced caspase-8 activation. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of FLIP expression was sufficient to sensitize tumor cells for TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The combination of TRAIL and FLIP-targeting siRNA could therefore be a useful strategy to attack cancer cells, which are resistant to TRAIL alone.     

Roscovitine sensitizes breast cancer cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through a pleiotropic mechanism

The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/APO2L) is a member of the TNF gene superfamily that induces apoptosis upon engagement of cognate death receptors. While TRAIL is relatively non-toxic to normal cells, it selectively induces apoptosis in many transformed cells. Nevertheless, breast tumor cells are particularly resistant to the effects of TRAIL. Here we report that, in combination with the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor roscovitine, exposure to TRAIL induced marked apoptosis in the majority of TRAIL-resistant breast cancer cell lines examined. Roscovitine facilitated TRAIL death-inducing signaling complex formation and the activation of caspase-8. The cFLIP(L) and cFLIP(S) FLICE-inhibitory proteins were significantly down-regulated following exposure to roscovitine and, indeed, the knockdown of cFLIP isoforms by siRNA sensitized breast tumor cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrate that roscovitine strongly suppressed Mcl-1 expression and up-regulated E2F1 protein levels in breast tumor cells. Significantly, the silencing of Mcl-1 by siRNA sensitized breast tumor cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the knockdown of E2F1 protein by siRNA reduced the sensitizing effect of roscovitine in TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In summary, our results reveal a pleitropic mechanism for the pro-apoptotic influence of roscovitine, highlighting its potential as an antitumor agent in breast cancer in combination with TRAIL.     

Glucose—a sweet way to die

TRAIL, a putative anticancer cytokine, induces extrinsic cell death by activating the caspase cascade directly (Type I cells) via the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) or indirectly (Type II cells) by caspase-8 cleavage of Bid and activation of the mitochondrial cell death pathway. Cancer cells are characterized by their dependence on aerobic glycolysis, which, although inefficient in terms of ATP production, facilitates tumor metabolism. Our studies show that TRAIL-induced cell death is significantly affected by the metabolic status of the cell. Inhibiting glycolysis with 2-deoxyglucose potentiates TRAIL-induced cell death, whereas glucose deprivation can paradoxically inhibit apoptosis. These conflicting responses to glycolysis inhibition are modulated by the balance between the Akt and AMPK pathways and their subsequent downstream regulation of mTORC1. This results in marked changes in protein translation, in which the equilibrium between anti- and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member proteins is decided by their individual degradation rates. This regulates the mitochondrial cell death pathway and alters its sensitivity not only to TRAIL, but to ABT-737, a Bcl-2 inhibitor. Taken together, our studies show that the sensitivity of cancer cells to apoptosis can be modulated by targeting their unique metabolism in order to enhance sensitivity to apoptotic agents.     

Glucose—a sweet way to die: Metabolic switching modulates tumor cell death

TRAIL, a putative anticancer cytokine, induces extrinsic cell death by activating the caspase cascade directly (Type I cells) via the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) or indirectly (Type II cells) by caspase-8 cleavage of Bid and activation of the mitochondrial cell death pathway. Cancer cells are characterized by their dependence on aerobic glycolysis, which, although inefficient in terms of ATP production, facilitates tumor metabolism. Our studies show that TRAIL-induced cell death is significantly affected by the metabolic status of the cell. Inhibiting glycolysis with 2-deoxyglucose potentiates TRAIL-induced cell death, whereas glucose deprivation can paradoxically inhibit apoptosis. These conflicting responses to glycolysis inhibition are modulated by the balance between the Akt and AMPK pathways and their subsequent downstream regulation of mTORC1. This results in marked changes in protein translation, in which the equilibrium between anti- and pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member proteins is decided by their individual degradation rates. This regulates the mitochondrial cell death pathway and alters its sensitivity not only to TRAIL, but to ABT-737, a Bcl-2 inhibitor. Taken together, our studies show that the sensitivity of cancer cells to apoptosis can be modulated by targeting their unique metabolism in order to enhance sensitivity to apoptotic agents.     

肿瘤细胞抗TRAIL凋亡诱导的分子机制

肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(tumornecrosisfactor-relatedapoptosis-inducingligand,TRAIL)是肿瘤坏死因子(tumornecrosisfactor,TNF)超家族的成员之一,它能选择性诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,对大多数正常细胞无杀伤作用。研究表明,某些恶性肿瘤抵抗TRAIL诱导的凋亡,且TRAIL重复作用使一些TRAIL敏感的细胞产生获得性抗性,这是TRAIL应用于肿瘤治疗的重大障碍。现对与TRAIL凋亡诱导通路直接相关的抗TRAIL机制及由Akt等途径介导的抗性分子机制进行综述。     

TRAIL apoptosis is enhanced by quercetin through Akt dephosphorylation

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising cancer therapy that preferentially induces apoptosis in cancer cells. However, many neoplasms are resistant to TRAIL by mechanisms that are poorly understood. Here we demonstrated that human prostate cancer cells, but not normal prostate cells, are dramatically sensitized to TRAIL-induced apoptosis and caspase activation by quercetin. Quercetin, a ubiquitous bioactive plant flavonoid, has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. We have shown that quercetin can potentiate TRAIL-induced apoptotic death. Human prostate adenocarcinoma DU-145 and LNCaP cells were treated with various concentrations of TRAIL (10-200 ng/ml) and/or quercetin (10-200 microM) for 4 h. Quercetin, which caused no cytotoxicity by itself, promoted TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The TRAIL-mediated activation of caspase, and PARP (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase) cleavage were both enhanced by quercetin. Western blot analysis showed that combined treatment with TRAIL and quercetin did not change the levels of TRAIL receptors (death receptors DR4 and DR5, and DcR2 (decoy receptor 2)) or anti-apoptotic proteins (FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP), inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP), and Bcl-2). However, quercetin promoted the dephosphorylation of Akt. Quercetin-induced potent inhibition of Akt phosphorylation. Taken together, the present studies suggest that quercetin enhances TRAIL-induced cytotoxicity by activating caspases and inhibiting phosphorylation of Akt.     

The small heat shock protein alpha B-crystallin is a novel inhibitor of TRAIL-induced apoptosis that suppresses the activation of caspase-3

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor alpha family of cytokines that preferentially induces apoptosis in transformed cells, making it a promising cancer therapy. However, many neoplasms are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by mechanisms that are poorly understood. We demonstrate that the expression of the small heat shock protein alpha B-crystallin (but not other heat shock proteins or apoptosis-regulating proteins) correlates with TRAIL resistance in a panel of human cancer cell lines. Stable expression of wild-type alpha B-crystallin, but not a pseudophosphorylation mutant impaired in its assembly and chaperone function, protects cancer cells from TRAIL-induced caspase-3 activation and apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, selective inhibition of alpha B-crystallin expression by RNA interference sensitizes cancer cells to TRAIL. In addition, wild-type alpha B-crystallin promotes xenograft tumor growth and inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis in vivo in nude mice, whereas a pseudophosphorylation alpha B-crystallin mutant impaired in its anti-apoptotic function inhibits xenograft tumor growth. Collectively, these findings indicate that alpha B-crystallin is a novel regulator of TRAIL-induced apoptosis and tumor growth. Moreover, these results demonstrate that targeted inhibition of alpha B-crystallin promotes TRAIL-induced apoptosis, thereby suggesting a novel strategy to overcome TRAIL resistance in cancer.     

An anthraquinone derivative, emodin sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL induced apoptosis through the induction of death receptors and downregulation of cell survival proteins

Recombinant tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is currently under clinical trials for cancer, however many tumor cells, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develop resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Hence, novel agents that can alleviate TRAIL-induced resistance are urgently needed. In the present report, we investigated the potential of emodin to enhance apoptosis induced by TRAIL in HCC cells. As observed by MTT cytotoxicity assay and the externalization of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylserine, we found that emodin can significantly potentiate TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HCC cells. When investigated for the mechanism(s), we observed that emodin can downregulate the expression of various cell survival proteins, and induce the cell surface expression of both TRAIL receptors, death receptors (DR) 4 as well as 5. In addition, emodin increased the expression of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) in a time-dependent manner. Knockdown of CHOP by siRNA decreased the induction of emodin-induced DR5 expression and apoptosis. Emodin-induced induction of DR5 was mediated through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as N-acetylcysteine blocked the induction of DR5 and the induction of apoptosis. Also, the knockdown of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein by siRNA significantly reduced the sensitization effect of emodin on TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Overall, our experimental results clearly indicate that emodin can indeed potentiate TRAIL-induced apoptosis through the downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins, increased expression of apoptotic proteins, and ROS mediated upregulation of DR in HCC cells.