MK基因对小鼠子宫基质细胞蜕膜化进程的影响

为探索肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡诱导配体(TNF related apoptosis inducing ligand,TRAIL)的死亡受体(mouse killer,MK)对小鼠子宫基质细胞蜕膜化进程的影响,构建MK基因过表达和siRNA干扰重组腺病毒.原代培养的小鼠子宫基质细胞感染MK过表达或者干扰重组腺病毒并诱导蜕膜化,72 h后用免疫细胞化学与流式细胞术分别检测蜕膜细胞的标志物催乳素(prolactin,PRL)与蜕膜细胞凋亡率的变化情况.妊娠d4小鼠子宫角注射MK重组腺病毒,观察胚胎植入点的数量变化.实验结果表明,与对照组相比,在诱导的蜕膜细胞中过表达MK使得催乳素的含量显著降低(P<0.05),同时,蜕膜细胞的凋亡率明显升高(P<0.05),而siRNA干扰之后催乳素的含量显著升高,凋亡率明显下降(P<0.05),但是,宫角注射MK基因过表达和siRNA干扰重组腺病毒之后,胚胎植入数量均显著减少(P<0.01).提示MK基因通过参与小鼠子宫内膜基质细胞的蜕膜化进程,调节蜕膜细胞增殖与凋亡之间的平衡从而影响胚胎的植入.     

PIAS3α过表达对前列腺癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响

目的 研究过表达PIAS3α蛋白对人前列腺癌细胞系DU145细胞增殖、细胞周期和凋亡的影响.方法 构建pcDNA3.1(+)-HA-PIAS3α真核表达载体,转染前列腺癌细胞系DU145,以蛋白免疫印迹实验检测外源PIAS3α的表达,通过MTT法检测细胞增殖,以流式细胞术分析细胞周期和细胞凋亡.结果 成功构建PIAS3α真核表达质粒,蛋白免疫印迹实验证实外源性PIAS3蛋白质DU145细胞中获得表达.分析目的 蛋白质过表达后的细胞生物学效应,结果显示在DU145细胞中过表达PIAS3α后,细胞增殖受到抑制;同时,细胞周期G0/G1期细胞显著增加,而S期细胞减少,细胞凋亡比率增加.结论 过表达PIAS3α抑制前列腺癌细胞的增殖并诱导其凋亡.     

PTEN基因诱导人胚肾293细胞凋亡和细胞周期停滞

为了研究抑癌基因PTEN过表达对HEK293细胞凋亡和细胞周期停滞的作用,以野生型PTEN和PTEN突变子(T910G)表达质粒分别转染无PTEN表达的人胚肾293细胞,采用细胞质梯度DNA方法检测细胞凋亡,以流式细胞仪分析细胞周期.发现PTEN过表达能够诱导人胚肾293细胞质中出现梯度DNA,293细胞发生凋亡,PTEN过表达改变细胞周期分布,G0/G1期细胞增加13%,S期细胞下降15%.PTEN突变子对细胞凋亡和G1细胞停滞的影响略弱于野生型PTEN.PTEN基因过表达明显下调血小板衍生生长因子(PDGF)诱导的蛋白激酶B(PKB)和p42,p44-促分裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)磷酸化水平,PTEN突变子对p42,p44-MAPK磷酸化水平的调节作用略弱于野生型PTEN.PTEN通过抑制细胞增殖,诱导细胞凋亡而影响细胞生长.     

RNA干扰PLCε诱导人膀胱癌BIU-87细胞凋亡的实验研究

目的探讨以RNA干扰沉默人源磷脂酶Ce(phospholipase Cepsilon,PLCε)基因表达后诱导人膀胱癌细胞株BIU-87细胞凋亡的作用和机制。方法脂质体介导重组阳性质粒pGenesil-PLCε(以下简称P)和阴性质粒pGenesil-NP(以下简称NP)转染BIU-87细胞48h后,用RT-PCR和Western blot检测转染前后PLCεmRNA和蛋白表达,流式细胞术检测细胞周期和细胞凋亡率,电镜观察细胞形态改变。结果转染P质粒后可明显抑制PLCεmRNA和蛋白表达水平,抑制率分别为78.7%和76.6%;流式细胞术显示P质粒转染组细胞周期发生改变呈明显G0/G1期阻滞,并出现亚二倍体凋亡峰,细胞凋亡率增加(P0.05);电镜观察P质粒转染组细胞可见凋亡小体。结论:RNA干扰沉默PLCε基因表达可诱导膀胱癌BIU-87细胞凋亡,其作用机制与细胞周期分布的改变有关。     

α-烯醇化酶基因干扰表达对籽鹅卵泡颗粒细胞增殖及凋亡的影响*

目的: 研究α-烯醇化酶(ENO1)基因干扰表达对籽鹅卵泡颗粒细胞增殖、凋亡和细胞周期的影响。方法: 原代培养籽鹅F1级卵泡颗粒细胞(复合培养),将ENO1基因干扰表达重组质粒转染至籽鹅卵泡颗粒细胞。实验分为四组:ENO1干扰表达组(RNAi)、无关序列干扰组(NC)、培养液组(Control)、转染试剂组(Lip)。流式细胞术检测干扰组和对照各组的凋亡率、细胞周期时相性。结果: ENO1基因干扰表达使籽鹅卵泡颗粒细胞增殖速度变慢,凋亡率增加,G2/M期颗粒细胞比例增高。结论: ENO1基因干扰表达可使籽鹅卵泡颗粒细胞周期发生G2/M期阻滞,诱导细胞发生凋亡,抑制细胞增殖。     

转录因子Foxo3a高表达对小鼠T淋巴瘤EL-4细胞周期和凋亡的影响

为了研究转录因子Foxo3a高表达对小鼠T淋巴瘤EL-4细胞周期和凋亡的影响,采用电穿孔法将真核表达载体pEGFP-N1/Foxo3a转染小鼠T淋巴瘤细胞系EL-4细胞,并通过聚合酶链式反应和免疫印迹法分别检测Foxo3a mRNA及蛋白表达。转录因子Foxo3a高表达后,采用细胞计数法绘制其细胞生长曲线;采用荧光显微镜法及流式细胞仪定性和定量观察典型EL-4细胞凋亡形态特征、细胞凋亡百分率及细胞周期变化情况。结果表明,转录因子Foxo3a真核表达质粒pEGFP-N1/Foxo3a经酶切鉴定及测序检测序列正确。转染pEGFP-N1/Foxo3a的小鼠EL-4细胞表达Foxo3a mRNA和蛋白水平显著升高。Foxo3a高表达明显抑制EL-4细胞的增殖能力,并使EL-4细胞发生明显G2期阻滞(P<0.001)。Foxo3a基因高表达后,荧光显微镜可以观察到典型凋亡的细胞形态。同时,EL-4细胞凋亡百分率显著升高(P<0.01)。结果提示,Foxo3a高表达可以有效抑制小鼠T淋巴瘤细胞体外细胞增殖,使细胞周期G2时相阻滞,并具有诱导细胞凋亡的作用。     

RNA干扰人pttg表达对肺癌SPC-A-1细胞表型的影响

目的研究RNA干扰人pttg表达对肺癌SPC-A-1细胞恶性表型的影响。方法构建针对人pttg的RNA干扰真核表达载体,运用脂质体介导转染SPC-A-1细胞并用G418筛选出阳性克隆株;半定量PCR和Western blot检测转染后PTTG mRNA及蛋白的表达水平;人工计数法检测阳性克隆株SPC-A-1细胞染色体倍性的变化;氚-胸腺嘧啶核苷掺入法观察抑制人pttg表达后SPC-A-1细胞增殖能力的改变;TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡的变化情况。结果成功构建针对人pttg基因的RNA干扰真核表达载体（命名为Si-hPTTG）,转染后筛选获得人pttg下调表达的SPC-A-1细胞株;Si-hPTTG转染使SPC-A-1细胞PTTG mRNA和蛋白的表达较未转染组和阴性对照质粒组均显著下调;Si-hPTTG转染后SPC-A-1细胞染色体众数和平均数增加,3H掺入量显著降低,细胞凋亡明显增加。结论人pttg下调表达可增加SPC-A-1细胞染色体众数和平均数,伴有减轻染色体结构畸变的趋势;显著抑制SPC-A-1细胞增殖,增加细胞凋亡。人pttg可能是肺癌治疗的新靶点。     

siRNA沉默SIRT1基因对宫颈癌细胞HeLa增殖和凋亡的影响

化学合成靶向SIRT1基因的小干扰RNA,脂质体法转染人宫颈癌细胞株HeLa,观察小干扰RNA沉默SIRT1基因对HeLa增殖及细胞凋亡的影响。在优化siRNA SIRT1转染条件的基础上,应用RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测各组SIRT1 mRNA、SIRT1蛋白及凋亡相关蛋白的表达;CCK-8法检测细胞增殖抑制率;Hoechst荧光染色法和流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡。结果表明,siRNA SIRT1转染细胞组SIRT1 mRNA水平和蛋白表达量明显低于对照组;siRNA SIRT1转染组细胞增殖受抑制,细胞凋亡率明显增加;凋亡相关蛋白P53、P21表达上调,Survivin表达下调。上述结果表明:siRNA SIRT1诱导的HeLa细胞凋亡与P53、P21、Survivin通路关系密切,但siRNA SIRT1诱导HeLa细胞凋亡的详尽机制有待进一步研究。     

Rictor对小鼠基质细胞蜕膜化的影响及其在人自然流产子宫蜕膜组织中的表达

该研究探讨Rictor及SGK1对小鼠基质细胞蜕膜化的影响及其在人自然流产子宫蜕膜组织中的表达。分离和培养小鼠基质细胞,siRNA沉默小鼠基质细胞Rictor基因并人工诱导蜕膜化,检测Rictor和SGK1的蛋白及mRNA表达情况,并检测蜕膜化标志物Dtprp mRNA的水平;此外,过表达SGK1,检测Dtprp mRNA的水平。选取妊娠8～10周无菌新鲜自然流产及正常人工流产的蜕膜组织标本作为实验研究组(自然流产组,n=17)及正常对照组(正常妊娠组,n=34);分别用Western blot、免疫组织化学、Real-time PCR检测Rictor及SGK1的蛋白和mRNA表达水平。结果表明,沉默Rictor基因后,Rictor及SGK1的蛋白和mRNA表达水平均显著降低,同时蜕膜化指标Dtprp mRNA也显著降低,而过表达SGK1后,蜕膜化指标Dtprp mRNA较前升高且差异有统计学意义。与正常妊娠组相比,Rictor和SGK1的蛋白及mRNA表达水平在自然流产组明显降低。该研究得出,Rictor可通过影响SGK1的表达来抑制基质细胞蜕膜化;Rictor和SGK1在自然流产组的表达均显著低于正常组,从而可能成为流产发生的原因之一。     

乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白调节TRAIL诱导的肝细胞凋亡

观察乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HBx)对肿瘤坏死因子相关的凋亡诱导配体(TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, TRAIL)诱导肝细胞凋亡的影响并初步探讨其分子机制. 构建包含HBx基因的真核表达载体pcDNA-HBx, 转染BEL7402肝癌细胞, 建立可稳定表达HBx的肝癌细胞系BEL7402-HBx, 同时设立空载体pcDNA3转染对照组细胞BEL7402-cDNA3. 台盼蓝染色计数, Caspase3活性检测和TUNEL法检测TRAIL诱导BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx细胞凋亡的情况, 并通过流式细胞术分析3组细胞表面TRAIL受体的表达水平. 此外, 利用硫代反义寡核苷酸封闭HBV全基因转染肝癌细胞系HepG2.2.15中HBx蛋白的表达, 观察阻断前后对TRAIL诱导凋亡敏感性的改变, 进一步反向验证HBx对TRAIL诱导凋亡的调节作用. 台盼蓝染色计数提示TRAIL 对BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3, BEL7402-HBx均有剂量依赖性的细胞毒作用, 但在相同浓度TRAIL作用下, BEL7402-HBx细胞较BEL7402, BEL7402-cDNA3细胞有更高的敏感性. Caspase3活性检测结果分析发现, TRAIL作用后BEL7402-HBx细胞在较短时间内有更高的Caspase3活化水平. TUNEL结果显示, 10 mg/LTRAIL作用下, BEL7402-HBx细胞凋亡率可达(41.4±7.2)%, 显著高于对照组细胞. 反义封闭HepG2.2.15细胞中HBx基因的表达可部分阻断TRAIL诱导的凋亡. 两组实验结果均显示HBx的表达变化并不影响细胞表面TRAIL受体的表达模式. HBx蛋白参与调节TRAIL诱导的细胞凋亡, 可能在HBV相关疾病的发生中起一定作用, 这一作用与TRAIL受体表达水平无关. 从两个不同的侧面证实了HBx对TRAIL诱导细胞凋亡的调节作用, 为进一步论证凋亡失衡在HBV感染相关肝炎及肝癌发生中的作用提供了新的论据.     

Prevention of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by transfer of embryonic stem cell-derived dendritic cells expressing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide along with TRAIL or programmed death-1 ligand

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is caused by activation of myelin Ag-reactive CD4+ T cells. In the current study, we tested a strategy to prevent EAE by pretreatment of mice with genetically modified dendritic cells (DC) presenting myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide in the context of MHC class II molecules and simultaneously expressing TRAIL or Programmed Death-1 ligand (PD-L1). For genetic modification of DC, we used a recently established method to generate DC from mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells) in vitro (ES-DC). ES cells were sequentially transfected with an expression vector for TRAIL or PD-L1 and an MHC class II-associated invariant chain-based MOG epitope-presenting vector. Subsequently, double-transfectant ES cell clones were induced to differentiate to ES-DC, which expressed the products of introduced genes. Treatment of mice with either of the double-transfectant ES-DC significantly reduced T cell response to MOG, cell infiltration into spinal cord, and the severity of MOG peptide-induced EAE. In contrast, treatment with ES-DC expressing MOG alone, irrelevant Ag (OVA) plus TRAIL, or OVA plus PD-L1, or coinjection with ES-DC expressing MOG plus ES-DC-expressing TRAIL or PD-L1 had no effect in reducing the disease severity. In contrast, immune response to irrelevant exogenous Ag (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) was not impaired by treatment with any of the genetically modified ES-DC. The double-transfectant ES-DC presenting Ag and simultaneously expressing immune-suppressive molecules may well prove to be an effective therapy for autoimmune diseases without inhibition of the immune response to irrelevant Ag.     

Selective TRAIL‐induced cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells mediated by miRNA response elements

Lung cancer is among the most common cancers, and the current therapeutic strategies are still inefficient in most cases. Tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising biological agent for cancer treatment because of its potent pro‐apoptotic effect on cancer cells. However, TRAIL also induces apoptosis in normal cells and therefore may cause toxicity to normal tissues if clinically applied. To address this issue, we inserted microRNA response elements (MREs) of miR‐133a, miR‐137 and miR‐449a, which are all underexpressed in lung cancer cells, into an adenoviral vector to regulate TRAIL expression. This MRE‐regulated vector (Ad‐TRAIL‐MRE) was able to express TRAIL in a lung‐cancer‐specific fashion. No TRAIL expression was detected in normal cells. Consistently, Ad‐TRAIL‐MRE exerted cytotoxicity to lung cancer cells, rather than normal cells, perhaps via inducing selective apoptosis. The selective TRAIL‐mediated growth‐inhibiting effect was further confirmed in a tumour xenograft model. Also, Ad‐TRAIL‐MRE only resulted in very low hepatotoxicity when applied. Collectively, we generated a novel TRAIL‐expressing adenoviral vector that was regulated by MREs. This strategy permits TRAIL expression in a lung‐cancer‐specific manner and is worth further studying for clinical trials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

人类肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡配体活性部位基因在毕赤酵母中的表达

探讨了人类肿瘤坏死因子相关凋亡配体 (TRAIL)生物活性部分在巴斯德毕赤酵母 (Pichiapastoris)中的分泌表达。由于TRAIL活性部位区第 149 15 0氨基酸含有一个Kex2位点 ,根据Pichiapastoris分泌表达的特点 ,对 149位氨基酸进行了改造 ,使其编码的氨基酸由Arg突变为Lys。这样使TRAIL在分泌的过程中不被Kex2切割 ,保证了片段的完整。序列分析正确后 ,将编码TRAIL的可溶区的基因片段插入到酵母表达载体pPIC9K中 ,使之位于α 因子信号肽下游 ,且与之同框 ,构建分泌型表达载体pPIC9K TRAIL。采用原生质体法将重组质粒转化Pichiapastoris菌株GS115 ,获基因工程菌株Pichiapastoris(pPIC9K TRAIL)。将工程菌用甲醇诱导培养 3～ 4d ,对摇瓶发酵的培养上清进行SDS PAGE、Westernblot分析和体外生物活性检测 ,结果发现发酵液中分子量约为 19kD和 38kD的蛋白质能被TRAIL多克隆抗体特异性识别 ,且具有在体外诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的活性。通过薄层扫描分析显示目的蛋白最高可占可溶性总蛋白的 36 %。上述实验结果表明 ,在Pichiapastoris中表达的TRAIL能以寡聚体的形式存在并且具有生物学活性。     

Overexpression of BAD potentiates sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand treatment in the prostatic carcinoma cell line LNCaP

Here we show that LNCaP, which is resistant to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis, becomes sensitive to TRAIL after overexpression of full-length, wild-type BAD (BAD WT). TRAIL induces caspase-dependent cleavage of BAD WT that results in generation of a M(r) 15,000 protein. LNCaP stably expressing truncated BAD (tBAD) and cells expressing mutated BAD at the caspase cleavage site were less sensitive to TRAIL treatment when compared to LNCaP expressing BAD WT. Cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO release from mitochondria into cytosol was found after TRAIL treatment only in cells overexpressing BAD WT. Furthermore, differences in phosphorylation of serine residues for BAD WT and tBAD were identified. BAD WT was phosphorylated at positions S136 and S155, whereas tBAD was phosphorylated at positions S112, S136, and S155. LNCaP stably expressing BAD mutated at serine 112 to alanine was less sensitive to TRAIL treatment when compared to LNCaP expressing BAD WT. Lastly, recombinant BAD cleaved by caspase-3 is a more potent inducer of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO release than BAD WT. In summary, BAD-mediated sensitivity of LNCaP to TRAIL depends on the phosphorylation status of BAD WT and tBAD.     

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.     

pVAX1 plasmid vector-mediated gene transfer of soluble TRAIL suppresses human hepatocellular carcinoma growth in nude mice

The extracellular domain of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) may function as a soluble cytokine to selectively kill various cancer cells without toxicity to most normal cells. We used a high-biosafety plasmid pVAX1 as a vector and constructed a recombinant plasmid expressing the extracellular domain (95-281 aa) of human TRAIL fused with signal peptides of human IgGgamma, designated as pVAX-sT. Transduction of human BEL7402 liver cancer cells with pVAX-sT led to high levels of sTRAIL protein in the cell culture media and induced apoptosis. The therapeutic potential of pVAX-sT was then evaluated in the BEL7402 transplanted naked mouse model. Subsequent intratumoral administration of naked pVAX-sT resulted in the expression of soluble TRAIL in the sera and the tumor site, as well as effective suppression of tumor growth, with no toxicity to liver. In conclusion, the successful inhibition of liver cancer growth and the absence of detectable toxicity suggest that pVAX-sT could be useful in the gene therapy of liver cancer.     

The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha ) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand differentially modulate proliferation and apoptotic pathways in human keratinocytes expressing the human papillomavirus-16 E7 oncoprotein

Keratinocytes are the natural target cells for infection by human papillomaviruses (HPVs), most of which cause benign epithelial hyperplasias (warts). However, a subset of papillomaviruses, the "high risk" HPVs, cause lesions that can progress to carcinomas. Inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) are produced by cells in response to a viral infection. To determine the effects of TNF-alpha and TRAIL on keratinocytes expressing the high risk HPV-16 oncoprotein E7, human foreskin keratinocytes stably expressing E7 were treated with TNF-alpha and TRAIL. Treatment with TNF-alpha alone, but not TRAIL, induced growth arrest and differentiation in keratinocytes that was almost completely overcome by expression of HPV-16 E7. Both cytokines induced apoptosis when administered in combination with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, but the apoptotic response to TRAIL was significantly more rapid and efficient compared with the response seen after TNF-alpha treatment. HPV-16 E7-expressing keratinocytes were more prone to both TNF-alpha- and TRAIL-mediated apoptosis compared with vector-infected controls.     

Arsenic Trioxide Selectively Induces Early and Extensive Apoptosis via the APO2/Caspase-8 Pathway Engaging the Mitochondrial Pathway in Myeloma Cells with Mutant p53

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is effective in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and induces apoptosis in APL cells and in a great variety of other cancer cells. We have previously shown that ATO induces apoptosis in myeloma cells in two different modes depending on p53 status in the cells. In cells expressing mutated p53, ATO induced, G2/M arrest and activation caspase 8 and 3 and rapid and extensive apoptosis. Myeloma cells expressing w.t. p53, ATO induced G1 arrest and delayed apoptosis with activation of caspase 9 and 3. APO2/TRAIL receptor expression was induced in both cell types and APO2/TRAIL synergized with ATO in the induction of apoptosis. Here we tested the effect of ATO on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in myeloma cells expressing mutated or w.t. p53. In myeloma cells expressing mutated p53, depolarization of MMP occurred early, concomitant with induction of APO2/TRAIL, activation of BID and release of AIF, preceding apoptosis. However, in cells expressing w.t. p53, APO2/TRAIL is not induced, BID is not cleaved and depolarization of MMP occurs concurrently with cytochrome c release and apoptosis. These results explain the greater sensitivity to ATO of cells with mutated p53 and suggest perhaps a general mechanism for ATO-induced apoptosis.     

Arsenic trioxide selectively induces early and extensive apoptosis via the APO2/caspase-8 pathway engaging the mitochondrial pathway in myeloma cells with mutant p53

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is effective in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and induces apoptosis in APL cells and in a great variety of other cancer cells. We have previously shown that ATO induces apoptosis in myeloma cells in two different modes depending on p53 status in the cells. In cells expressing mutated p53, ATO induced, G2/M arrest and activation caspase 8 and 3 and rapid and extensive apoptosis. Myeloma cells expressing w.t. p53, ATO induced G1 arrest and delayed apoptosis with activation of caspase 9 and 3. APO2/TRAIL receptor expression was induced in both cell types and APO2/TRAIL synergized with ATO in the induction of apoptosis. Here we tested the effect of ATO on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in myeloma cells expressing mutated or w.t. p53. In myeloma cells expressing mutated p53, depolarization of MMP occurred early, concomitant with induction of APO2/TRAIL, activation of BID and release of AIF, preceding apoptosis. However, in cells expressing w.t. p53, APO2/TRAIL is not induced, BID is not cleaved and depolarization of MMP occurs concurrently with cytochrome c release and apoptosis. These results explain the greater sensitivity to ATO of cells with mutated p53 and suggest perhaps a general mechanism for ATO-induced apoptosis.