Chemotherapy overcomes TRAIL-R4-mediated TRAIL resistance at the DISC level

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand or Apo2L (Apo2L/TRAIL) is a promising anti-cancer drug owing to its ability to trigger apoptosis by binding to TRAIL-R1 or TRAIL-R2, two membrane-bound receptors that are often expressed by tumor cells. TRAIL can also bind non-functional receptors such as TRAIL-R4, but controversies still exist regarding their potential to inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We show here that TRAIL-R4, expressed either endogenously or ectopically, inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, the combination of chemotherapeutic drugs with TRAIL restores tumor cell sensitivity to apoptosis in TRAIL-R4-expressing cells. This sensitization, which mainly occurs at the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) level, through enhanced caspase-8 recruitment and activation, is compromised by c-FLIP expression and is independent of the mitochondria. Importantly, TRAIL-R4 expression prevents TRAIL-induced tumor regression in nude mice, but tumor regression induced by TRAIL can be restored with chemotherapy. Our results clearly support a negative regulatory function for TRAIL-R4 in controlling TRAIL signaling, and unveil the ability of TRAIL-R4 to cooperate with c-FLIP to inhibit TRAIL-induced cell death.     

TRAIL induces apoptosis but not necroptosis in colorectal and pancreatic cancer cells preferentially via the TRAIL-R2/DR5 receptor

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a cytokine that can trigger apoptosis in many types of human cancer cells via engagement of its two pro-apoptotic receptors TRAIL-R1 (DR4) and TRAIL-R2 (DR5). TRAIL can also activate several other signaling pathways such as activation of stress kinases, canonical NF-κB signaling and necroptosis. Though both receptors are ubiquitously expressed, their relative participation in TRAIL-induced signaling is still largely unknown. To analyze TRAIL receptor-specific signaling, we prepared Strep-tagged, trimerized variants of recombinant human TRAIL with high affinity for either DR4 or DR5 receptor. Using these receptor-specific ligands, we examined the contribution of individual pro-apoptotic receptors to TRAIL-induced signaling pathways. We found that in TRAIL-resistant colorectal HT-29 cells but not in pancreatic PANC-1 cancer cells, DISC formation and initial caspase-8 processing proceeds comparably via both DR4- and DR5-activated signaling. TRAIL-induced apoptosis, enhanced by the inhibitor of the Bcl-2 family ABT-737, or by the translation inhibitor homoharringtonine, proceeded in both cell lines predominantly via the DR5 receptor. ShRNA-mediated downregulation of DR4 or DR5 receptors in HT-29 cells also pointed to a stronger contribution of DR5 in TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In contrast to apoptosis, necroptotic signaling was activated similarly by both DR4- or DR5-specific ligands. Activation of auxiliary signaling pathways involving NF-κB or stress kinases proceeded under apoptotic conditions mainly in a DR5-dependent manner, while these signaling pathways were during necroptosis similarly activated by either of these ligands. Our study provides the first systematic insight into DR4 ?/DR5-specific signaling in colorectal and pancreatic cancer cells.     

Bile acids stimulate cFLIP phosphorylation enhancing TRAIL-mediated apoptosis

Bile acids induce hepatocyte injury by enhancing death receptor-mediated apoptosis. In this study, bile acid effects on TRAIL-mediated apoptosis were examined to gain insight into bile acid potentiation of death receptor signaling. TRAIL-induced apoptosis of HuH-7 cells, stably transfected with a bile acid transporter, was enhanced by bile acids. Caspase 8 and 10 activation, bid cleavage, cytosolic cytochrome c, and caspase 3 activation by TRAIL were all increased by the bile acid glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDCA). GCDCA (100 microm) did not alter expression of TRAIL-R1/DR4, TRAIL-R2/DR5, procaspase 8, cFLIP-L, cFLIP-s, Bax, Bcl-xL, or Bax. However, both caspase 8 and caspase 10 recruitment and processing within the TRAIL death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) were greater in GCDCA-treated cells whereas recruitment of cFLIP long and short was reduced. GCDCA stimulated phosphorylation of both cFLIP isoforms, which was associated with decreased binding to GST-FADD. The protein kinase C antagonist chelerythrine prevented bile acid-stimulated cFLIP-L and -s phosphorylation, restored cFLIP binding to GST-FADD, and attenuated bile acid potentiation of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms of bile acid cytotoxicity and the proapoptotic effects of cFLIP phosphorylation in TRAIL signaling.     

The death domain kinase RIP is essential for TRAIL (Apo2L)-induced activation of IkappaB kinase and c-Jun N-terminal kinase

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) (Apo2 ligand [Apo2L]) is a member of the TNF superfamily and has been shown to have selective antitumor activity. Although it is known that TRAIL (Apo2L) induces apoptosis and activates NF-kappaB and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) through receptors such as TRAIL-R1 (DR4) and TRAIL-R2 (DR5), the components of its signaling cascade have not been well defined. In this report, we demonstrated that the death domain kinase RIP is essential for TRAIL-induced IkappaB kinase (IKK) and JNK activation. We found that ectopic expression of the dominant negative mutant RIP, RIP(559-671), blocks TRAIL-induced IKK and JNK activation. In the RIP null fibroblasts, TRAIL failed to activate IKK and only partially activated JNK. The endogenous RIP protein was detected by immunoprecipitation in the TRAIL-R1 complex after TRAIL treatment. More importantly, we found that RIP is not involved in TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In addition, we also demonstrated that the TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) plays little role in TRAIL-induced IKK activation although it is required for TRAIL-mediated JNK activation. These results indicated that the death domain kinase RIP, a key factor in TNF signaling, also plays a pivotal role in TRAIL-induced IKK and JNK activation.     

GDP-mannose-4,6-dehydratase (GMDS) deficiency renders colon cancer cells resistant to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor- and CD95-mediated apoptosis by inhibiting complex II formation

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis through binding to TRAIL receptors, death receptor 4 (DR4), and DR5. TRAIL has potential therapeutic value against cancer because of its selective cytotoxic effects on several transformed cell types. Fucosylation of proteins and lipids on the cell surface is a very important posttranslational modification that is involved in many cellular events. Recently, we found that a deficiency in GDP-mannose-4,6-dehydratase (GMDS) rendered colon cancer cells resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, resulting in tumor development and metastasis by escape from tumor immune surveillance. GMDS is an indispensable regulator of cellular fucosylation. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of inhibition of TRAIL signaling by GMDS deficiency. DR4, but not DR5, was found to be fucosylated; however, GMDS deficiency inhibited both DR4- and DR5-mediated apoptosis despite the absence of fucosylation on DR5. In addition, GMDS deficiency also inhibited CD95-mediated apoptosis but not the intrinsic apoptosis pathway induced by anti-cancer drugs. Binding of TRAIL and CD95 ligand to their cognate receptors primarily leads to formation of a complex comprising the receptor, FADD, and caspase-8, referred to as the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). GMDS deficiency did not affect formation of the primary DISC or recruitment to and activation of caspase-8 on the DISC. However, formation of secondary FADD-dependent complex II, comprising caspase-8 and cFLIP, was significantly inhibited by GMDS deficiency. These results indicate that GMDS regulates the formation of secondary complex II from the primary DISC independent of direct fucosylation of death receptors.     

Expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and its receptors in rat testis during development

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha family of cytokines that is known to induce apoptosis upon binding to its death domain-containing receptors, DR4/TRAIL-R1 and DR5/TRAIL-R2. Two additional TRAIL receptors, DcR1/TRAIL-R3 and DcR2/TRAIL-R4, lack functional death domains and act as decoy receptors for TRAIL. In this study, the presence of TRAIL and its receptors was investigated in the rat testis during development. TRAIL and its receptors were immunolocalized to the different testicular cell types. TRAIL and its receptors were also identified in the rat testis in terms of protein and mRNA. Our immunohistochemical studies indicate that TRAIL, DR5/TRAIL-R2, and DcR2-TRAIL-R4 are detected in Leydig cells, whereas ligand and all receptors are localized in germ cells. TRAIL was permanently immunodetected in germ cells from the fetal stage to adulthood, whereas its receptors were immunolocalized exclusively in postmeiotic germ cells. The expression of TRAIL and receptor mRNAs was consistent with the immunodetection of TRAIL and receptor proteins. Indeed, TRAIL ligand mRNA was also identified in the rat testis from the fetal stage to adulthood. The mRNAs of the death receptors, DR4/TRAIL-R1 and DR5/TRAIL-R2, were weakly detected during the perinatal period and increased from the pubertal stage to adulthood. The mRNAs of the decoy receptors, DcR1 and DcR2, were present in the rat testis at all ages studied, but the DcR2/TRAIL-R4 mRNa level was higher from the pubertal period to adulthood. Together, the present findings demonstrate that 1) TRAIL and its receptors are expressed in the testis during normal development, and 2) TRAIL protein is present in the different germ cell types, whereas its receptors were predominantly detected in the postmeiotic germ cells.     

Generation of new TRAIL mutants DR5-A and DR5-B with improved selectivity to death receptor 5

TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor (TNF) related apoptosis-inducing ligand) has been introduced as an extrinsic pathway inducer of apoptosis that does not have the toxicities of Fas and TNF. However, the therapeutic potential of TRAIL is limited because of many primary tumor cells are resistant to TRAIL. Despite intensive investigations, little is known in regards to the mechanisms underlying TRAIL selectivity and efficiency. A major reason likely lies in the complexity of the interaction of TRAIL with its five receptors, of which only two DR4 and DR5 are death receptors. Binding of TRAIL with decoy receptors DcR1 and DcR2 or soluble receptor osteoprotegerin (OPG) fail to induce apoptosis. Here we describe design and expression in Escherichia coli of DR5-selective TRAIL variants DR5-A and DR5-B. The measurements of dissociation constants of these mutants with all five receptors show that they practically do not interact with DR4 and DcR1 and have highly reduced affinity to DcR2 and OPG receptors. These mutants are more effective than wild type TRAIL in induction of apoptosis in different cancer cell lines. In combination with the drugs targeted to cytoskeleton (taxol, cytochalasin D) the mutants of TRAIL induced apoptosis in resistant Hela cells overexpressing Bcl-2. The novel highly selective and effective DR5-A and DR5-B TRAIL variants will be useful in studies on the role of different receptors in TRAIL-induced apoptosis in sensitive and resistant cell lines. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

TRAIL-R2: a novel apoptosis-mediating receptor for TRAIL.

TRAIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines and induces apoptosis in a wide variety of cells. Based on homology searching of a private database, a receptor for TRAIL (DR4 or TRAIL-R1) was recently identified. Here we report the identification of a distinct receptor for TRAIL, TRAIL-R2, by ligand-based affinity purification and subsequent molecular cloning. TRAIL-R2 was purified independently as the only receptor for TRAIL detectable on the surface of two different human cell lines that undergo apoptosis upon stimulation with TRAIL. TRAIL-R2 contains two extracellular cysteine-rich repeats, typical for TNF receptor (TNFR) family members, and a cytoplasmic death domain. TRAIL binds to recombinant cell-surface-expressed TRAIL-R2, and TRAIL-induced apoptosis is inhibited by a TRAIL-R2-Fc fusion protein. TRAIL-R2 mRNA is widely expressed and the gene encoding TRAIL-R2 is located on human chromosome 8p22-21. Like TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2 engages a caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway but, in contrast to TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2 mediates apoptosis via the intracellular adaptor molecule FADD/MORT1. The existence of two distinct receptors for the same ligand suggests an unexpected complexity to TRAIL biology, reminiscent of dual receptors for TNF, the canonical member of this family.     

TRAIL pathway components and their putative role in granulosa cell apoptosis in the human ovary

Extensive apoptotic oocyte reduction occurs during fetal ovarian development. The regulatory pathways responsible for oocyte selection to programmed cell death are, however, poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential involvement of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and its death receptors TRAIL-R1/DR4 and TRAIL-R2/DR5 and decoy receptors TRAIL-R3/DcR1 and TRAIL-R4/DcR2 in the apoptotic process characterizing human fetal and adult ovaries. For this purpose, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were applied to human fetal and adult ovarian samples to study the mRNA and protein expression of TRAIL pathway components, and a human granulosa cell tumor-derived cell line (KGN) was used to elucidate functional effects of TRAIL on apoptosis. TRAIL was expressed in human fetal ovary from the 11th week until term. The pro-apoptotic TRAIL-R2/DR5 and the anti-apoptotic TRAIL-R4/DcR2 were also expressed in human ovaries throughout the fetal period. Among the different ovarian cell types, these TRAIL pathway components were mainly localized in the oocytes, and their expression increased towards term. Expression of TRAIL-R1/DR4 and TRAIL-R3/DcR1 was negligible in all of the fetal ovaries studied. Adult ovaries expressed TRAIL, TRAIL-R2/DR5, TRAIL-R3/DcR1 and TRAIL-R4/DcR2 in granulosa cells and oocytes of small primary/secondary follicles as well as in granulosa and theca cells of more developed antral follicles. In KGN cells, TRAIL efficiently induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, and this was blocked by a caspase inhibitor. The results indicate a role of the TRAIL pathway components in the regulation of granulosa cell apoptosis in in vitro and suggest that these factors may have a role in regulating ovarian apoptosis also in vivo.     

Modulation of tumor necrosis factor apoptosis-inducing ligand- induced NF-kappa B activation by inhibition of apical caspases.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the TNF family, induces apoptosis in many transformed cells. We report TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation, concomitant with production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-8 in the relatively TRAIL-insensitive cell line, HEK293. In contrast, TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation occurred in HeLa cells only upon pretreatment with the caspase inhibitor, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-(OMe) fluoromethyl ketone (z-VAD.fmk), indicating that this was due to a caspase-sensitive component of TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation. NF-kappaB activation was mediated by the death receptors, TRAIL-R1 and -R2, but not by TRAIL-R3 or -R4 and was only observed in HeLa cells in the presence of z-VAD.fmk. Receptor-interacting protein, an obligatory component of TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation, was cleaved during TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We show that receptor-interacting protein is recruited to the native TRAIL death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and that recruitment is enhanced in the presence of z-VAD.fmk, thus providing an explanation for the potentiation of TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation by z-VAD.fmk in TRAIL-sensitive cell lines. Examination of the TRAIL DISC in sensitive and resistant cells suggests that a high ratio of c-FLIP to caspase-8 may partially explain cellular resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis was also modulated by inhibition or activation of NF-kappaB. Thus, in some contexts, modulation of NF-kappaB activation possibly at the level of apical caspase activation at the DISC may be a key determinant of sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.     

Temperature-sensitive differential affinity of TRAIL for its receptors. DR5 is the highest affinity receptor

TRAIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines which induces apoptotic cell death in a variety of tumor cell lines. It mediates its apoptotic effects through one of two receptors, DR4 and DR5, which are members of of the TNF receptor family, and whose cytoplasmic regions contain death domains. In addition, TRAIL also binds to 3 "decoy" receptors, DcR2, a receptor with a truncated death domain, DcR1, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor, and OPG a secreted protein which is also known to bind to another member of the TNF family, RANKL. However, although apoptosis depends on the expression of one or both of the death domain containing receptors DR4 and/or DR5, resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis does not correlate with the expression of the "decoy" receptors. Previously, TRAIL has been described to bind to all its receptors with equivalent high affinities. In the present work, we show, by isothermal titration calorimetry and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, that the rank order of affinities of TRAIL for the recombinant soluble forms of its receptors is strongly temperature dependent. Although DR4, DR5, DcR1, and OPG show similar affinities for TRAIL at 4 degrees C, their rank-ordered affinities are substantially different at 37 degrees C, with DR5 having the highest affinity (K(D) 相似文献   

TNF-alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand decoy receptor DcR2 is targeted by androgen action in the rat ventral prostate

The apoptotic cell death process in the prostate is known to be under the control of androgens. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the TNF-alpha family of cytokines, known to induce apoptosis upon binding to its death domain-containing receptors, DR4/TRAIL-R1 and DR5/TRAIL-R2. Two additional TRAIL receptors, DcR1/TRAIL-R3 and DcR2/TRAIL-R4, lack functional death domains and act as decoy receptors for TRAIL. In this study, we examined whether TRAIL and cellular receptors expression was targeted by androgens during the apoptotic cell death process in the hormone sensitive ventral prostate. The role of androgens was investigated using two sets of experiment. (1) Androgen deprivation associated with an apoptotic process resulted in a decrease in DcR2 mRNA and protein expression in the ventral prostate 3 days after castration. Testosterone administration to castrated adult rats prevented the decrease in DcR2 mRNA and protein levels in the ventral prostate. In contrast, DcR2 expression was modified, neither in the dorsolateral nor in the anterior prostate following castration. No changes were observed in DR4, DR5, DcR1, and TRAIL mRNA and protein levels in prostate after castration. (2) A specific decrease in DcR2 expression was observed in the ventral prostate after treatment of rats with the anti-androgen flutamide. Together, the present results suggest that testosterone specifically controls DcR2 expression in the adult rat ventral prostate. Androgen withdrawal, by reducing DcR2 expression, might leave the cells vulnerable to cell death signals generated by TRAIL via its functional receptors.     

The death receptor DR5 is involved in TRAIL-mediated human osteoclast apoptosis

The number and activity of osteoclasts (OCs) are critical for maintaining normal bone turnover. The number is determined by the rates of cell differentiation and death. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a member of the TNF superfamily, induces apoptosis by interacting with its death receptors, (DR4, DR5). However, its activity can be modulated by two decoy receptors, (DcR1 and DcR2). In this paper we show that TRAIL treatment causes reduced OC viability as well as an increased apoptotic OC number. Loss of nuclei integrity and derangement of the actin microfilament were also induced by TRAIL in OCs. Moreover, we demonstrated the expression of all TRAIL receptors in both precursors and differentiated OCs, and the upregulation of DR5 during OC differentiation. Interestingly, DcR2 was upregulated in the early stage of osteoclastogenesis and downregulated at the end of the differentiation process. We showed that DR5, upregulated by TRAIL, could be the mediator of TRAIL-induced OC apoptosis, since the addition of anti-DR5 neutralizing antibodies restores the OC viability previously reduced by TRAIL. Furthermore, the intracellular pathway induced by TRAIL in OCs involves caspase-8 and Bid activation. In conclusion, our data highlight an important role for the TRAIL/TRAIL receptor system in the regulation of OC apoptosis.     

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is not required for tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is selectively toxic to tumor compared with normal cells. Other members of the TNF family of death ligands (TNF, CD95L) engage their respective receptors (TNF-R1 and CD95), resulting in internalization of receptor and ligand and recruitment of adaptor proteins to the caspase activation platform known as the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). Recently, TNF-R1 and CD95 have been shown to induce apoptosis with an absolute requirement for internalization of their corresponding receptors in the formation of a DISC. We show that TRAIL and its receptors are rapidly endocytosed in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Blockade of receptor internalization with hyperosmotic sucrose did not inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis but, rather, amplified the apoptotic signaling of TRAIL. Plate-bound and soluble TRAIL induced similar levels of apoptosis. Together these results suggest that neither ligand nor receptor internalization is required for TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Internalization of TRAIL is mediated primarily by clathrin-dependent endocytosis and also by clathrin-independent pathways. Inhibition of clathrin-dependent internalization by overexpression of dominant negative forms of dynamin or AP180 did not inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Consistent with the finding that neither internalization of TRAIL nor its receptors is required for transmission of its apoptotic signal, recruitment of FADD (Fas-associated death domain) and procaspase-8 to form the TRAIL-associated DISC occurred at 4 degrees C, independent of endocytosis. Our findings demonstrate that TRAIL and TRAIL receptor 1/2, unlike TNF-TNF-R1 or CD95L-CD95, do not require internalization for formation of the DISC, activation of caspase-8, or transmission of an apoptotic signal in BJAB type I cells.     

Inhibition of TRAIL-induced apoptosis and forced internalization of TRAIL receptor 1 by adenovirus proteins

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) induces apoptosis through two receptors, TRAIL-R1 (also known as death receptor 4) and TRAIL-R2 (also known as death receptor 5), that are members of the TNF receptor superfamily of death domain-containing receptors. We show that human adenovirus type 5 encodes three proteins, named RID (previously named E3-10.4K/14.5K), E3-14.7K, and E1B-19K, that independently inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis of infected human cells. This conclusion was derived from studies using wild-type adenovirus, adenovirus replication-competent mutants that lack one or more of the RID, E3-14.7K, and E1B-19K genes, and adenovirus E1-minus replication-defective vectors that express all E3 genes, RID plus E3-14.7K only, RID only, or E3-14.7K only. RID inhibits TRAIL-induced apoptosis when cells are sensitized to TRAIL either by adenovirus infection or treatment with cycloheximide. RID induces the internalization of TRAIL-R1 from the cell surface, as shown by flow cytometry and indirect immunofluorescence for TRAIL-R1. TRAIL-R1 was internalized in distinct vesicles which are very likely to be endosomes and lysosomes. TRAIL-R1 is degraded, as indicated by the disappearance of the TRAIL-R1 immunofluorescence signal. Degradation was inhibited by bafilomycin A1, a drug that prevents acidification of vesicles and the sorting of receptors from late endosomes to lysosomes, implying that degradation occurs in lysosomes. RID was also shown previously to internalize and degrade another death domain receptor, Fas, and to prevent apoptosis through Fas and the TNF receptor. RID was shown previously to force the internalization and degradation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. E1B-19K was shown previously to block apoptosis through Fas, and both E1B-19K and E3-14.7K were found to prevent apoptosis through the TNF receptor. These findings suggest that the receptors for TRAIL, Fas ligand, and TNF play a role in limiting virus infections. The ability of adenovirus to inhibit killing through these receptors may prolong acute and persistent infections.     

Playing the DISC: Turning on TRAIL death receptor-mediated apoptosis in cancer

Formation of the pro-apoptotic death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) can be initiated in cancer cells via binding of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) to its two pro-apoptotic receptors, TRAIL receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1) and TRAIL-R2. Primary components of the DISC are trimerized TRAIL-R1/-R2, FADD, caspase 8 and caspase 10. The anti-apoptotic protein FLIP can also be recruited to the DISC to replace caspase 8 and form an inactive complex. Caspase 8/10 processing at the DISC triggers the caspase cascade, which eventually leads to apoptotic cell death. Besides TRAIL, TRAIL-R1- or TRAIL-R2-selective variants of TRAIL and agonistic antibodies have been designed. These ligands are of interest as anti-cancer agents since they selectively kill tumor cells. To increase tumor sensitivity to TRAIL death receptor-mediated apoptosis and to overcome drug resistance, TRAIL receptor ligands have already been combined with various therapies in preclinical models. In this review, we discuss factors influencing the initial steps of the TRAIL apoptosis signaling pathway, focusing on mechanisms modulating DISC assembly and caspase activation at the DISC. These insights will direct rational design of drug combinations with TRAIL receptor ligands to maximize DISC signaling.     

Receptor-selective mutants of apoptosis-inducing ligand 2/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand reveal a greater contribution of death receptor (DR) 5 than DR4 to apoptosis signaling

Apoptosis-inducing ligand 2 (Apo2L), also called tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), triggers programmed cell death in various types of cancer cells but not in most normal cells. Apo2L/TRAIL is a homotrimeric protein that interacts with five receptors: death receptor 4 (DR4) and DR5 mediate apoptosis activation, whereas decoy receptor 1 (DcR1), DcR2, and osteoprotegerin counteract this function. Many cancer cell lines express both DR4 and DR5, and each of these receptors can initiate apoptosis independently of the other. However, the relative contribution of DR4 and DR5 to ligand-induced apoptosis is unknown. To investigate this question, we generated death receptor-selective Apo2L/TRAIL variants using a novel approach that enables phage display of mutated trimeric proteins. Selective binding to DR4 or DR5 was achieved with three to six-ligand amino acid substitutions. The DR4-selective Apo2L/TRAIL variants examined in this study showed a markedly reduced ability to trigger apoptosis, whereas the DR5-selective variants had minimally decreased or slightly increased apoptosis-inducing activity. These results suggest that DR5 may contribute more than DR4 to Apo2L/TRAIL-induced apoptosis in cancer cells that express both death receptors.